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And it's still not working....... I'm copying and pasting from Imgur the same as I typically do but when I paste the tag into the post here it converts the "[" and "]" symbols to 5%B or some such nonsense, very frustrating when i'm supposed to be here relaxing at the campsite.
I'll have my IT Department (my son) have a look at it later, looks like I'm a better fabricator than I am a computer user!
Regarding getting kayaks up on the roof, I use this three step Werner step stool. I got it @ Lowes on a black Friday deal... about $15. It replaced my two step stool which was ok, but I really needed a taller one since my Excursion is so manly.
We are back home today after 12 incredible days camping in the White Mountains of NH. I'm the first to complain about our long, cold winters here, but I've got to say we are lucky to have so much to do and see here within an hour or two from home ! The weather couldn't have been better with just a little rain two nights over night. Many days in the mid- nineties while we camped.
We had the campground shuttle us up the Pemi River and drop us off. Spent four hours making our way back to the campground, which is right on the river. What a blast !
Also spent a day taking the tram up Cannon Mountain. Incredible view ! Should have done this years ago.
Guy called the Wolfman chases the train around. Looks like an old sprint car with a machine gun on it.
While in northern NH we found this strange looking machine. Asked a few of the locals about it..... they claimed that you could put change into it and talk to people ?
Did lots of tubing down the river. An hour ride right within the campground. Great way to enjoy a beverage or two..
Summer has officially arrived in SW Montana about 2 weeks ago. However, I spent the last 2 weeks removing the lift on our EX and preparing for a wedding so I haven't really been able to enjoy it. That being said, the camp trailer DID get pulled out of the shop for the first time in 11mos yesterday. I had to move it to get my boat out.........
I used 1/4" wall channel and tube on the hitch build and 3/16" plate for the gussets, I also built two racks to carry my 11.5" X 11.5" X 6" blocks used for under our stabilizer jacks.
The goal was to have a very stout hitch system that could handle up to 4 bikes and that genny you box. The Jayco had a rear slide out cargo tray option that opted out of, but the fram mounted attachment plates were there. I used their 52" length to guide my build, along each side of the TT frame there are 52" channels mounted with twelve 3/8" bolts up through the channel and bottom I beam frame flange. These channels are welded to the bottom of the 2.5" square 1/4" wall cross tube. Welded to ends of the cross tube are 30" channels that are then bolted, with eight 3/8" bolts each side, to the side of the trailer frame. So with 40 bolts in double shear the hitch should stay where I mounted it!
Welds were all done with my 220 volt TIG machine. Here are few build pictures.
Some of the welds on the channels to get started.
The center receiver tube after welding the 1/4" reinforcing band around the end, this tube is mounted to the bottom of the cross tube.
One of the two outboard receiver tubes, these tubes are mounted to the rear face of the cross tube. Here you can see the unwelded reinforcing band tacked in place and some of the gussets.
A side shot of the same outboard tube and the top and bottom gussets in place.
Weld bead on the center receiver tube to the cross tube before the gussets were added.
Center receiver tube all welded up with the gussets.
Close up of the above.
And the two racks designed to carry 14 of the wood blocks. These are built from 2" X 1/8" angle and 2" X 1/8" plate.
Dinner is ready, so I'll be back later to show a few finished pictures.
To drill the 24 holes up through the bottom flange on the I beam TT frame I had to use the redneck drill press.
That 1/4" plate with the 8 bolts is for the rear stabilizer jack mount, there are nuts welded to the back side of the plate.
Here the hitch and both racks are upside down getting their base coat of Chassis Saver aluminum paint, it was followed up with Chassis Saver Gloss Black top coat.
At the ends of the cross tube you can see where the two channels capture the bottom and open end of the cross tube, it's fully seal welded so no moisture will get inside.
Here it is mounted and in use carrying the bikes, I still have to build the genny platform that will go into the outboard receivers. You can see some of the mounting bolts to the frame in both directions. And some of the wood blocks that the racks carry.
From the other side...
This shows some of the attachment to the TT frame, stabilizer jack mount and how I closed in the end of the one channel that would have been hard to repaint the inside of when needed.
Closer shot of that mounting hardware and the rear rack mounted to the lower channel via the 3 bolts running horizontally forward of the jack.
The rear rack that carries 7 of the wood blocks and the keeper rod and spring pin with lanyards attached.
The rear rack from the other side, it is only 2" lower than the rear jacks when they are fully retracted and the TT rides high enough that I've never drug the rear of it.
The front rack is mounted forward of the front stabilizer jacks bolted to the bottom flange of the TT frame. Here you see the blocks in place and the keeper rod and spring pin latched.
Different angle of the front rack with blocks loaded.
So far we have logged about 3K miles with the two bikes loaded on the hitch and all the hardware is still tight and the welds are solid. The Gloss Black paint is however starting to get chalky, like the can said would happen with sun exposure, I will be making a few small mods to the hitch and will give it a sprayed top coat then to keep it looking good.
Very nice Tom. I love the racks for the blocks.... keeps them out of the storage compartment when they get wet. Only thing I might add would be a built in hitch tightener, at least in the receiver for the bike rack ( but I'd probably do all 3 recievers).
P.S. On the pins that keep the blocks from escaping....... why is one side adjustable (eye bolt) instead of just a tab on both ends of that rod? Just curious.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
