There is no better way to get away from the stress of everyday life than to get out on the road in your truck camper. Whether you are an off-road camper or more of a “stick with the trails” kind of person, truck camping is a convenient way to camp without sacrificing a bit of comfort. To be sure your truck camper stays in the best condition and is properly held down, you are going to want to be sure to take care of the equipment you are using to haul it. To be sure you are taking the best care of your Original FastGuns, read on.

Perform regular maintenance

One of the most important ways to care for your Torklift Original FastGuns is to make sure to clean them regularly. The Torklift FastGuns come in four different finishes to match the style of your truck and camper – each finish is made with high impact powder coat and steel and aluminum to ensure that they stand up against normal wear and tear that comes with off-grid truck camping. Depending on your selected finish, maintenance may look a bit different:

Powder-Coated Finish

The Torklift FastGuns are composed of 100% aircraft grade aluminum and stainless steel featuring several different finishes to customize the look of your truck and camper. In some cases, the Torklift FastGuns are subject to harsh and sometimes extreme conditions, including but not limited to being repeatedly sprayed with corrosive road chemicals such as salt and road debris. To minimize corrosion from environmental factors, we recommend regularly cleaning and inspecting your FastGuns. You will want to be sure to touch up any affected areas with enamel or urethane based aerosol paint. If any surface rust occurs, we recommend spraying the FastGuns with a rust inhibitor – such as Rust-Oleum – which can be found at any automotive store.

Polished Stainless Finish

The polished stainless steel finish not only looks beautiful alongside your truck and camper set up, but also does a great deal with preventing corrosion. Stainless steel is known for its ability to combat corrosion, but excess dirt, dust and grime can put the finish at risk for corrosion. The best way to keep your stainless steel FastGuns nice and shiny is to follow these four rules: 

  1. Use water and a cloth to spot clean. To prevent water spots, make sure to dry with a towel or cloth. 
  2. Use mild detergent and a cloth. If you find spots that appear to be a bit more stubborn, use mild detergent and warm water to remove. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and towel dry. 
  3. Use glass cleaner to remove fingerprints. 
  4. Stainless steel cleaner. To remove staining or minimize scratching on your FastGuns, use a stainless steel cleaner. This will also polish the stainless steel surface nicely to make them look good as new. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and towel dry.

Be sure to adjust them to the correct tension

Another thing you can do to ensure the long life of your Torklift FastGuns is to be sure that they are installed and tensioned correctly at all times. Since the Original FastGuns are spring-loaded, this requires them to be tensioned at 300 ft/lbs according most camper manufacturer’s recommendation. Failure to tension the FastGuns to their recommended tension can cause damage to your FastGuns, tie down points, camper anchor points and your vehicle itself. 

Keep them safe from thieves

Protect your Torklift FastGuns from pesky thieves by securing them with FastGun Locks. The FastGun Locks work as a deterrent to thieves to keep them from swiping your FastGuns from your camper set up and are key alike for convenience. They also come with weather caps to prevent weather damage and road debris. 

For your convenience, FastGun routine maintenance is available in the instructional booklet that is included in your turnbuckle kit. If you have any further questions or concerns regarding the care of your FastGuns, send an email to [email protected] or give us a phone call at 800-246-8132. We are in the office Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 5pm PST. 

Written by Jasmyne F:
 Jasmyne has been a proud member of the Torklift family since January of 2021. In her free time, you’ll find her reading, watching the Grey’s Anatomy, or cuddling with her puppy, Thor.