Securing a deck in the back of my pick-up?

[Rev_Man]

Just bought a 08 F350 Crew Cab Long bed and a 8'8" Marathon deck. This is my first deck ever as they are hard to get in New England. Whats the best way to secure these so they are fairly easy to remove? Marathon suggests drill and bolt but I use the truck for other stuff during the winter. Right now I have it secured with some chain and turn buckles to the factory tie points in the bed and it "seems" ok but don't know how those little brackets will take the beating through the frost heaved roads to get to my riding area.
Suggestions?

 

[Climbit]

Very nice ! , I have got one of these decks planned for my truck this year as well, It is not suggested though to use the factory tie down points , you really should bolt it as marathon suggests , even if you need to take it out its not a big deal with a ratchet and a wrench on the other side.

 

[Extreme-One]

I installed 4 eye hooks in the bed of my truck near the frame with large plates of metal for add strength under the bed. I use 4 heavy duty 10,000 lbs straps on each corner with ratchets. I've used this system for 5 years and no issues.

I've seen one truck that had it bolted down and slide off the road and it just pulled the bolts right out of the floor of the bed. I don't think it really matters just tie it down good.

 

[vmaxfrank]

I currently use turnbuckles to the factory tie downs. No problems, yet. Not the best solution, but I figure they are as strong as the ski tie downs. I figure in an accident everything is coming off anyways.

I may bolt through the bed eventually. If I do, does anyone have any advice on bolts? Should it go into the frame? I was thinking of using brackets like a fifth wheel hitch. Should I use stainless bolts? Is there a grade and minimum size to use?

 

[teeroy]

I may have went overboard a bit, but I have mine secured using turnbuckles inside the box to the factory supplied tiedown points in the inside corners of the box, as well as turnbuckles down to a set of camper bars front and back. 8 tiedown points altogether. the camper bar setup doesn't seem to be an option for the slide in wing style deck, I would go with the fifth wheel setup as mentioned, "L" shaped plates bolted to the frame and secured through the floor of the box.

 

[snowbank]

i have used the factory tie downs in my dodge for about four years and no probs. i will recommend puting on a nut to lock the turn buckle in place, this is the only problem we had with the first set up, we have 4 of them set up this way good luck

 

[Cyle]

Mine is secured down to my gooseneck hitch. I wouldn't trust the factory tie downs, a long box is a little safer because the sleds aren't sticking back so far off the box but I still wouldn't trust them.

 

[BigTruck]

I have turnbucles tied to the factory tie downs as well. Hasnt moved a bit since installed!!!

 

[Top]

i have turnbucles tied to the factory tie downs as well. Hasnt moved a bit since installed!!!

x2

 

[knee deep in it]

if you are running heavy sleds like Yammi apex, that is a lot of weight a long distance from the attacment point. I had a deck and only did one trip with turnbuckles. I was so stressed out by it that i replaced it with bolts.

The idea of installing eye bolts and using 10,000 high quality tie downs would be ok as well. The important thing is to use a plate under the box to secure the eye bolt, not just a washer. There is a terrific amount of force pulling on the eye bolt and you want to spread this over a large area of the box floor.

 

[Poleman]

I have turnbucles tied to the factory tie downs as well. Hasnt moved a bit since installed!!!

x3
With the weight of the sleds on top the decks not going anywhere. If you should ever crash no tie down/in system will make a differnce.

 

[hilinerider]

buddy has i bolts into the frame in all four corners with 1/2 trunbuckles, works good

 

[Cyle]

I think some people are missing the point of tieing down the deck. If your running a short box, when your loading/unloading theres a huge tip factor of the front of the deck being pulled up, which could easily pull your factory tie downs out of the box, because many of them are plastic I know I don't trust them. Didn't you all see the pic of the deck that tipped out when something in the tie downs failed? I know I don't want that happening to my deck

 

[Snoman69]

I think some people are missing the point of tieing down the deck. If your running a short box, when your loading/unloading theres a huge tip factor of the front of the deck being pulled up, which could easily pull your factory tie downs out of the box, because many of them are plastic I know I don't trust them. Didn't you all see the pic of the deck that tipped out when something in the tie downs failed? I know I don't want that happening to my deck

Exactly..... Don't want this to happen.... Better to be safe then SOOOOORRRRYYY!

note- this is not me, but taken from someone else.

 

[24drnkz]

^^^^^^LMAO^^^^^^WHOOPS..................


Don't forget your straps also!

 

[06MXZXRenegade800]

Mine is secured down to my gooseneck hitch. I wouldn't trust the factory tie downs, a long box is a little safer because the sleds aren't sticking back so far off the box but I still wouldn't trust them.

Got any pics of your setup?

I have a 'sliding goose' hitch in my truck. I was planning on building a deck and using the goosneck hitch's mounts to somehow secure the deck. I can pull 20,000lbs with the hitch so i suppose it can handle the weight of a deck and a couple sleds...

 

[Cyle]

Got any pics of your setup?

I have a 'sliding goose' hitch in my truck. I was planning on building a deck and using the goosneck hitch's mounts to somehow secure the deck. I can pull 20,000lbs with the hitch so i suppose it can handle the weight of a deck and a couple sleds...

I can take a pic but all I did was hook both ends of the strap to the chains of the deck, and the strap though were you hook up your breakaway chains for the gooseneck. Ya the deck would never pull the hitch out.

 

[m7john]

I currently use turnbuckles to the factory tie downs. No problems, yet. Not the best solution, but I figure they are as strong as the ski tie downs. I figure in an accident everything is coming off anyways.

I may bolt through the bed eventually. If I do, does anyone have any advice on bolts? Should it go into the frame? I was thinking of using brackets like a fifth wheel hitch. Should I use stainless bolts? Is there a grade and minimum size to use?[/QUOT
i also have an 08 and i can not see drilling it YET.

 

[lightening800]

deck

I have turnbucles tied to the factory tie downs as well. Hasnt moved a bit since installed!!!

same hasent moved any even in the whoops in the early spring getting to the alpine.

 

[Wade]

I have a camper tiedown system on my truck. So, I'm welding a big steel square tube onto the front of mine, and using TorkLift tiedowns and turnbuckles to secure it to the truck. They are made to hold a camper in a wreck. And attach directly to the subframe of the truck. Should hold a sled deck.

For the rear, I used the Ford bed bolts to secure a piece of heavy steel bar to the bed, then drilled and tapped holes for high quality bolts. Doubt it will go anywhere.