Does anyone have any thoughts on whether or not it`s a good idea to use a rubber bed mat between a slide in camper with a 1 1\8" spacer and the truck bed ?
it seems to sway, or rock around more than the previous truck with a spray in bed liner that I use it on .

Thanks , Doug

 

I put my slide-in right on top of a regular bed liner with no problems. The camper manufacturer recommends against it, but when I called them, they could not give me a reason why.

Jim

 

I always use a rubber bed mat with a slide in Camper. It keeps the camper from moving and I don't believe the mat would increase your sway. Mine is 1/2" thick hard rubber and it does not compress enough to effect handling IMO.
I also use a wood spacer at the front bottom of the bed and this keeps the camper about 1/2" back from the top bed rail which bends very easily if your camper ever shifts.
I had a camper do that in one of my previous trucks.

 

A rubber bed mat is fine it will help the camper from sliding around in the bed. The plastice drop in bed liners are not recommended do the surface being as slippery as it is. When I deliver a truck camper to a customer, and they have a plastic liner I recommend to put a bed mat between the camper and the box.

Toyman

 

Glad I searched and found this thread before asking a similar question. I have a rubber mat type and will leave it in.

I agree on not using a plastic type.

 

I would not carry a truck camper without the rubber bedmat between the camper and the bed. Not only does it keep the camper from sliding around but also keeps it from wearing from sitting directly on the bed. That's just my opinion though but my dealer definitely recommends having a rubber mat in the bed.

 

I went to my local Farm & Ranch Supply store and purchased a Horse Stall Rubber Mat for my truck bed.
I've also always used Happijac Front TieDowns for my Campers.
They are the only ones I've found that keep the Camper secured against the front of the bed.
Lance Camper offers Ft bumpers you install at the Base of the Camper. They Keep the Camper the perfect distance between the Ft of the Camper and the Bed.

 

Just got back from an 800 mile run to pick up our new to us Hallmark slide-in. Rubber mat was in place the entire way as we discovered once we got there that Torklift turnbuckles were too long for the front and too short for the back so we had to resort to using standard turnbuckles and feel the bed mat helped limit movement.

Steve

 

Another vote for stall mat. I found a 4x8 sheet and cut it to fit. Works great for truck campers. Also gives the camper a tad more clearance over the top of the cab.

In terms of keeping the camper from moving forward and denting the front of the bed, I finally came up with a solution that works great. I bought a piece of 3"x4"X1/4" steel angle, and drilled it to accept the front two bed bolts. I then got 2 bed bolts that were 3/4" longer. I then had the angle sprayed with Linex seperately when they shot my bed. Here is a pic. It works awesome, and no more screwing around with lumber to try and protect the front of the bed. It really helps - especially off-road.

 

Functional and looks sanitary. looking. Good idea!

Steve

 

Thank you, Sir. Appreciate the feedback.

 

I use a rubber mat and because i need the cabover clearance i use an 8x4 2" Blue styrafoam sheet . it does not compress like you might expect , and it helps prevent the cab over porposing, that i had without it . Compression per square inch is way more than the camper weight. So no worries.