happy jack vs torklift

[motrhed]

There has not been a substantial OEM bumper on any full size truck built since the 80's, they are all made out of "cheese"!
I wouldn't trust them strength wise to secure or tow anything... just my opinion.

[cnynrat]

There has not been a substantial OEM bumper on any full size truck built since the 80's, they are all made out of "cheese"!
I wouldn't trust them strength wise to secure or tow anything... just my opinion.

X2!

The flimsy bumper on our '99 F350 was a big part of the reason why we went away from the Happijacks and installed Torklifts.

[olsen_karl]

I installed Happijacs with the "frame mount" tie-in and the centering kit on my 2000 GMC Sierra. The centering kit really helps line up the camper and keeps it from moving side-to-side. I have a rubber bed mat under the camper too, but there was still some shifting during dirt road driving, until I got around to installing the centering kit. FWIW, this is for holding down a Northstar pop-up camper; guesstimating total weight at around 2000 lbs wet + loaded.

When I bought the camper, it came with Torklift tie-downs, but for a Ford truck. The Torklift hardware is much heavier-duty than the Happijac stuff, so if you have a large, heavy camper (most hard wall ones), I think that would be the way to go. The Happijac kit is much less expensive than Torklift. I sold the Torklift kit on craigslist. Since my camper almost never comes off the truck, and I drive on dirt/4WD roads with it, I wanted the better ground clearance of the Happijac kit (I also removed the camper jack legs and stored them).

IMHO:
Torklift advantage: strength, appears easy to install (I think most of their kits use existing frame holes, so supposedly no drilling involved). Disadvantage: ground clearance, expense.
Happijac advantage: light weight, inexpensive, good ground clearance. Disadvantage: kind of a PITA to install (drilling into bed, holding the front "ear" brackets in place while trying to thread bolts through bed wall -- my dull drill bits didn't make this any easier), not as reassuringly heavy-duty as the Torklift stuff.

There is a Happijac rear bumper brace tie-in kit for Ford trucks. According to Happijac, the Ford rear bumpers are flimsier than the Dodge or GM trucks, and need reinforcing in order to use the Happijac "button" mounts on the bumper.

[FishPOET]

There is a Happijac rear bumper brace tie-in kit for Ford trucks. According to Happijac, the Ford rear bumpers are flimsier than the Dodge or GM trucks, and need reinforcing in order to use the Happijac "button" mounts on the bumper.

All stock rear bumpers need reinforcement if you plan on using the Happijac system.

[Cell Block 726]

I have been apprehensive on installing the happijac setup that came with the TC I just bought...so I went and got some torklift mounts and will just try and sell the happijac on CL..

[poriggity]

I was very impressed with how easy my happijac mounts were to install. I went with happijacs due to price, and friend and family recommendations. Happijac would NOT continue to sell their product if it was not adequate for hauling a camper. Torklifts are nice, but the $$ for them is a bit ridiculous IMHO.

Scott

[wcj]

I have a very similar 2004 chevy with hapijac mounts and a 8 foot Alaskan. Works great would not change, don't have any ground clearance to spare. My friends with hard sided heavy campers prefer the torklift. With the lower travel center of gravity on the Alaskan it works well, I have no personal experience with your style camper.

[cnynrat]

I was very impressed with how easy my happijac mounts were to install. I went with happijacs due to price, and friend and family recommendations. Happijac would NOT continue to sell their product if it was not adequate for hauling a camper. Torklifts are nice, but the $$ for them is a bit ridiculous IMHO.

Scott

As someone who has actually used both, I can say unequivocally that the Torklifts do a much better job of controlling a big camper. Definitely worth the money for that application. I could see where with a lighter camper they may be overkill.

I ended up with Happijacs in the first place because it's the easy and standard solution for camper dealers to install. I suspect that is how most Happijacs get installed.

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Thanks guys! I appreciate all the knowledge this thread has shared.

Some of you will when i say this, but im going to go with the happyjack system and fastguns for the following reasons,

Its still a relatively light camper

they are cheap (yes you get what you pay for)

In less then a year I will build a flatbed for it anyway and if i need can always fab up some frame mounts, or prob steel brackets through the flat bed enforced with direct square steel mounts direct through the frame, so i can get the best of both worlds.

And Im betting here before to long i will Take off my rear bumper and either fab one up or place some reinforced square tubing inside, like 2 inch.

I will make sure and keep this thread updated with the results i see.

Thanks everyone I think this is a good thread to keep going

[TCcruzn]

It seems the only people who complain about Torklift are the ones who don't have them. I have not heard of a Torklift owner changing out for happi jac, but i sure have read about Happijac owners upgrading to Torklift. If you need a hitch extension the Torklift system makes even more sense since the rear mounting points are built right into the Superhitch.