If You Have a Camping Trailer, You Know All About Tie-Downs

Writing about tie-downs is part of my job. Occasionally, I will find myself in a conversation with someone whose expression turns to a blank stare when I mention tie-downs. Yet I seem to never have that experience with camping trailer owners. If you own a camping trailer, you know what I mean. You are intimately familiar with tie-downs.

I will be honest and say that I paid little attention to tie-downs when I was a kid. Even though we had both a pop-up trailer and a truck bed camper, and used tie-downs quite a bit, I barely gave them a second thought. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I finally appreciated how valuable a good tie-down was. We use them a lot on every camping trip.

Mainly Rope for Us

Way back when – this was in the 1970s by the way – it was mainly rope for us. I have no idea whether rope was our only option or my father just preferred not to use other types of tie-downs. Either way, my siblings and I became very adept at using rope to keep things secure. We learned all of the knots, too.

I remember tying down my father’s homemade kayaks. We used to carry them on the top of the pop-up trailer. The trailer frame had built-in anchor points along the sides, so it was a matter of wrapping the rope around each anchor point before carrying it across the trailer to the other side. We would lash back and forth to create a virtual net of rope across the kayaks.

If I were doing the same thing today, I would not use rope. Instead, I would probably use three cam buckle straps with hooks to attach them to the anchor points. My preferred brand is Rollercam, but any good cam buckle strap will do.

Different Tie-Downs for Campers

I am now in my late 50s and have long given up the primitive camping of my youth. But I have stayed abreast of how campers use tie-downs. I am fascinated by the fact that there are so many different options these days.

Ratchet straps have long been a good choice for camping trailer owners. But they are not the only choice. Do some looking around and you can find:

  • Frame-Mounted – Frame-mountain tie-downs are mounted to a truck frame and meant to be permanent. They are utilized to secure a truck bed camper in the most stable and consistent way.
  • Bumper-Mounted – I have also seen bumper-mounted tie-downs that are attached to a vehicle’s rear bumper. You find them mostly on pickup trucks. They come in handy for those same truck bed campers.
  • Bed-Mounted – Bed-mounted tie-downs attach to the bed rails of a truck. Most I have seen can be installed and removed as needed. However, bed-mounted tie-downs can be attached permanently.

The most intriguing of all are camper-specific tie-downs. These are tie-down straps designed for unique uses and particular models of camping trailers. They are designed to secure awnings, propane tanks, and things like bikes and lawn chairs. Camper-specific tie-downs usually come in custom sizes and include specialized hooks, fittings, etc.

If you are a camper, you know the value of a good tie-down. Maybe ratchet straps are your thing. Maybe you prefer cam buckle straps or lashing straps. One way or another, you rely on a good selection of tie-downs to keep your gear in place. If you are like me, you use them so frequently that you no longer give them a second thought. Tie-downs are just part of camping.

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