Bolt-together fiberglass Jeep-tub trailer kit - Page 83

RareSS · 02-11-2012, 09:17 AM

Jeff,
You could braze/weld the tubing on the end of the 'J' hook. That way it wouldn't get lost, you don't have a lot of pieces to find and put together, and it would be easier to fit under the lip. Just an opinion.

**Sundowner** · 02-11-2012, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakecarder

its 82 pages long, its not that imprtant.

I don't normally jump on people for comments that they make, but: if a thread is 82 pages long it just MIGHT have some pretty popular and/or important information in it. Also, if you had read through the postings, you would have found the answer to your question. In the past I've been guilty of doing the same thing, and I can tell you from experience that you're better served to read through the postings and actually LEARN something about the subject rather than simply skipping to the end and going about it the lazy way. No offense intended...just something to think about.

**jscherb** · 02-11-2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RareSS

Jeff,
You could braze/weld the tubing on the end of the 'J' hook. That way it wouldn't get lost, you don't have a lot of pieces to find and put together, and it would be easier to fit under the lip. Just an opinion.

Yes, you could weld the two parts together, but the reason I did it this way is because the average DIY-er has a hacksaw and a drill, but probably not a welder. So in keeping with my DIY design goals, anyone should be able to do this.

moemuledeer · 02-11-2012, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by RareSS
Jeff,
You could braze/weld the tubing on the end of the 'J' hook. That way it wouldn't get lost, you don't have a lot of pieces to find and put together, and it would be easier to fit under the lip. Just an opinion.

Yes, you could weld the two parts together, but the reason I did it this way is because the average DIY-er has a hacksaw and a drill, but probably not a welder. So in keeping with my DIY design goals, anyone should be able to do this

If you were to drill a small hole in the J hook put it in the tubing and thread some tie wire through the hole twist rings in the ends of the wire so it wont slip out of the J hook the clamps would be free floating and stay together.

moemuledeer · 02-11-2012, 11:55 AM

Quote:

This would have a slightly different inner skin, with recesses for the bolts for the side hinges, similar to what I've done for the drop-down tailgate (shown below), but the recesses would be on the side.

This picture is form post # 1174 page 79.
If you were to put recesses for all hinge options drop down, swing right and left and offer different brackets to fit in the recess for drop down option for cables and latches, they could be bolted through the tailgate with stainless button head bolts for a smoother look. One tailgate with multiple mounting options.

**jscherb** · 02-11-2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moemuledeer

This picture is form post # 1174 page 79.
If you were to put recesses for all hinge options drop down, swing right and left and offer different brackets to fit in the recess for drop down option for cables and latches, they could be bolted through the tailgate with stainless button head bolts for a smoother look. One tailgate with multiple mounting options.

I've been working on exactly that idea, and I'm about ready to build a prototype. I'll post a drawing soon showing how things will be laid out, but the end result should be one tailgate that could be configured by the kit builder to drop down or to side-swing, hinged either on the right side (Wrangler style) or hinged on the driver's side.

Sample latches (both t-handle and flush) are on the way to me now, so as soon as they get here I'll start work on building an example.

**jbjorgen** · 02-11-2012, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscherb

Yes, you could weld the two parts together, but the reason I did it this way is because the average DIY-er has a hacksaw and a drill, but probably not a welder. So in keeping with my DIY design goals, anyone should be able to do this.

JB Weld it?

**jscherb** · 02-12-2012, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moemuledeer

If you were to drill a small hole in the J hook put it in the tubing and thread some tie wire through the hole twist rings in the ends of the wire so it wont slip out of the J hook the clamps would be free floating and stay together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbjorgen

JB Weld it?

Really, guys, the two parts don't need to be permanently attached to each other, they work just fine as they are, but if one felt the need to attach them, both of those methods you suggest would work fine.

It figures jbjorgen would recommend JB Weld

.

**jscherb** · 02-12-2012, 10:43 AM

A little more work on the tent platform today...

Here's a view of it upside down on the workbench. The side edging is all installed. On the far side there's a 36" wide gap in the edging, that's where the tailgate closes. There will be a jamb piece attached to the underside of the platform for the top of the tailgate to seal to but that piece isn't attached yet.

And here's a close view of one of the corners. Everything still needs sanding and finished, but you can see how the corner will "cap" the shape of the corner of the tub really nicely. There will be weatherstrip on the angles and on the underside of the plywood so a seal is made both to the top edge of the top, and to the angled edge.

The woodworking is just about done on this project, only a few details left to take care of. Next I'll lay out the mounting holes for the tent, and a square "riser" because the particular tent I have needs to be raised a little off the platform so you can zip the travel cover on.

**jscherb** · 02-12-2012, 02:19 PM

The tent plaform is 95% done, here's a few shots of the final fitting. Imagine it in black bedliner...

I don't have a few necessary hardware bits on hand to complete the installation today, so I'll have to make a trip to the hardware store before I can put the tent on it. Probably will get the tent on it tomorrow.

**Sundowner** · 02-12-2012, 06:38 PM

Looking nice. I love the idea of the tent, but I want a gear/canoe rack more.

**jscherb** · 02-13-2012, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundowner

Looking nice. I love the idea of the tent, but I want a gear/canoe rack more.

Funny coincidence you should mention that, just last night I had a new design idea for easy-to-bolt-on "stake pockets" to support racks like that.

tweenerlj · 02-13-2012, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscherb

I've still got red dust in the engine compartment of my LJ from last year's Easter Jeep Safari!

About the tonneau, are you asking how the surface will hold up to dust?

I am curious how the tonneau will seal out dust from entering the interior of the trailer. Dust is very different from rain as you mention in an earlier post.

**Sundowner** · 02-13-2012, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscherb

Funny coincidence you should mention that, just last night I had a new design idea for easy-to-bolt-on "stake pockets" to support racks like that.

If you're talking about bolting them to the outside of the tub, fore and aft of the fender flares, then we're on the same page. That was the first idea that I had for something quick to fabricate that would allow for a rack and also not interfere with the operation of the soft tonneau cover.

My second idea came from examining CB radio antenna mounts that sandwich between a tail light housing and the body tub...maybe built a plate-style mount with a socket of some sort on top.

The third idea was to take the mounting all the way to the trailer frame itself, and use a pivot point in front of the trailer tub for a "tilting" rack, similar to the ones that are designed to be used over a soft top without interfering with the operation of the top itself.

None of those are very elegant solutions, though...at least not in the form that I had them. They're still a far cry from a solid-mounted rack on a hard tonneau, with trunk/hood lifters installed to help raise the cover when there's a load on it.. In that configuration, my rough ideas used a sheet of aluminum as a backing plate/MOLLE bag mount...basically, the same kind of idea as the Springtail MOLLE system. That way, any sort of emergency or immediate-use gear that had to go in the trailer would always be on top, and could be deployed quickly...especially if the velcro-backed bags are used. Pop the top and grab what you need. It also keeps the sides of the trailer looking nice and clean.

Food for thought...maybe it'll help you come up with something awesome.

**jscherb** · 02-13-2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweenerlj

I am curious how the tonneau will seal out dust from entering the interior of the trailer. Dust is very different from rain as you mention in an earlier post.

I just called the manufacturer to ask them about dust. They've sold thousands of these tonneau covers for pickups over the years, and they tell me they've never had a complaint about dust getting in. They say the seals they use are pretty common across the industry, so they're well proven, and the only places they've seen dust get in is around the poor seals on the sides and bottoms of truck tailgates, but that's not a function of the tonneau cover on top, it's a function of the poor seal of some pickup truck tailgates. The tonneau cover provides a seal at the top of the tailgate, and since the Jeep tailgates have a seal all the way around, they didn't think this would ever be an issue if the tonneau is properly installed.