Everybody needs that get away place.

 

jeff i found a better bolt (leaf spring tie bolt) to use that is several inches longer, grade 8, with fine thread's just about the length of the bolt.. should work good for what we need

 

Morning all. Dog decided that 7:00 was late enough so I'm up and working on the first cup of coffee. Not sure what's on the wife's agenda, but I'm finishing up the hitch install and taking the beast out for a shakedown run. Once I finish my coffee that is.

 

i may regret changing trucks yesterday.. i waited until the weather got warmer before i licensed the bronco because it don't have a rear window and is kinda breezy on the hiway... now the weather has turned back into winter so too cold to drive the ford.... i may have to drive a chebby today

 

The outside temperature reading on the Dangitdon'tgo LIES. It claims it was 46° out but I'm thinking it's much colder than that. I was right! According to our outside temperature thingie it's just 40°. I'm in trying to warm up and get feeling back in my hands.

So far I have stripped the camper tongue of the old WD hitch and sway hardware. I put the bolts from the sway plates back in with a washer behind them to avoid having open holes in the tongue to avoid water, wasp, and/or bees from getting in. Now I'm checking specs to start installing the new hardware.

Alan - Does your Zinger have the safety chains mounted on a steel loop that's welded to the tongue right behind the coupler? Mine does and it's the dumbest thing I've ever seen. How is that supposed to catch the tongue in the event of a break-away scenario?

 

Morning folks, I was going to drop the Bronco pan and replace it. But dang it chilly out side today, dang weather guessers missed if for sure.

 

Just as I finish up installing the pick-up brackets on the trailer, my oldest texted his mother that they were coming home the weekend we were planning on going out camping again.

Brackets installed...




Before anyone asks, yes that is a grade 5 bolt connecting the safety chain. The factory mount at the very end of the tongue under the coupler. The old hitch would hit it when turning a corner and the new hitch was even closer than the old one. I extended the chain with a section rated higher than the factory installed chain and mounted it up behind the tongue jack similar to how the chains on the old Kodiak were routed. Not the most ideal solution, but far better than trashing the hitch & tongue by constantly running into it.

After looking at the picture, I realized I had the pick-up assemblies on the wrong sides. That was quickly resolved.

 

Dave, if your compressor is a belt drive, get me the nameplate information off the motor and the pulley od. I can do some math to see if the Harbor Freight pump will work with it.

 

It's a direct drive - compressor housing mounts right to motor. I don't even know if they can be separated.

 

Dangit. Ten characters

 

I'm thinking that I'll be money ahead to just wait until something shows up used that is priced right for what it is. Local feed store has a 60 gallon unit with a cast iron compressor for $599 and a lighter duty one with an aluminum compressor for $499. I don't have enough laying around after buying the hitch to pull the trigger on one now but maybe they'll go on sale or something in the future. Replacing the hitch tapped me out.

 

Final mock-up of the hitch to check clearances and mobility. This system is very rigid compared to the old system. It turns right & left, but moving the end of the draw bar up or down is nearly impossible by hand.

 

April thread up and running!

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...bs-thread.html