My Evil Plan

[chiefairwrench]

Is this a solution It seems it would work as long as i pin the bed up and pin down. What do you think?
http://www.mcmaster.com/#extension-springs/=12ehstm

[flboy]

What does yours look like. Any pics?

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[chiefairwrench]

Here is where I am at today and the bed I am building.

[flboy]

Very Nice. I thought about that design also. I have seen it on Pinterest at some point. Nice job!

I am going to do the rails and guide like yours (except only run the channels down 3.5ft where the bed with rest in the down position), but I am going to try the gas struts before I try the cables and springs.

btw... I wanted to say your CTC Toy Hauler is looking great. Best of luck on the maiden voyage in a few weeks! Just remember when building a camper... you are never done. Every time you go camping you'll think of something else you'd like to do to it.

I am building one also for hauling my bikes. Camping and riding... what a great mix!

[chiefairwrench]

Well I cheated I built removable winches and I pin the bed in the up position so I can get my bikes in. Next project is the wheel locks then floor paint. hopefully this week will go well so I can relax a little next weekend.

[flboy]

That is cheating! Nice idea though! Did you get the winches at Harbor Freight? They had some nice deals on some light winches.

Do both winches run at the same time so the bed goes up even? If you had one side of the cables go through the floor to a pulley underneath the trailer and across to the other side under the chassis and back up through the other side via a second pulley and figure out how to modify the winch pulley to wind both cables at the same time, you could use one winch and leave it permanently mounted. That would be cool!

[chiefairwrench]

That would not be difficult. No I had to winch both sides my wife helped but can do on my own just have to do one side then the other but very easy.But for my test run it will work great and i like the under the floor idea.

[McDave]

Hmmmm....
Seems like I've seen that winch idea somewhere before.


Postby McDave » Sat May 14, 2016 12:22 pm




chiefairwrench wrote:
I am having trouble wih my bed I can not get the bed low enough using the springs . How long is your spring?

Usually just a month or so, then it's right into summer!
But seriously folks,
Maybe the whole spring/strut approach isn't the solution. If you can't go through it, and you cant get over it, go around it. Just brainstorming here.
How about a small winch and pulley/cable system? This could give you infinite range of up/down position, as opposed to set up/down positions. Or, maybe you could co-opt the existing axial spring used for the ramp? Possibly using the ramp door as a lever to lift and lower in a controlled fashion via cables/pullies, pin the bed in the up or down position and then remove the cables? There is always the "actuator" threaded rod "happyjack" style, but they can get spendy. How about counterweights? Pneumatics, Hydraulics? Are you using "C" or "J" channel as would be used in garage doors? Maybe a pic of where you are at now would help us help you.


McDave


Hard to say for sure, I had couple cocktails after mowing the lawn. Sooo...

McDave

P.S. That's a real nice rig you've made yourself there. Something to be proud of. And very rapid progress, too.

[chiefairwrench]

I did my hitch(tongue) weight on my 7x14 v-nose tandem wheels I ended up empty without the bikes 320Lbs it has a max of 700lbs is this normal? It all built not painted yet and I placed my motorcycle wheel locks they are 32 lbs a piece towards the front.

[McDave]

Estimate your current weight empty. (Stock trailer + A/C, cabinets and fixtures, bed etc.)
Multiply x 15% = target tongue wt.
Example. GVRW = 2990 (empty =1200 + 1700 payload). Empty (1200)+ installed fixtures (700) = 1900. So, 1900 x 15% = 285. This would be your target tongue wt without the bikes. (your numbers will vary) GVRW 2990 -1990 = 1000 left for Screamin' Eagle 110 Street Glide. FLHX SE = 800 wet. 1000 - 800 =200 for whisky and smokes. You can use this weight as ballast and move forward or backward as necessary to achieve target wt. Target tongue wt. in this case is 448 loaded.
Remember to weigh trailer in its flight position. Hitch ball should be at height of trailer hitch when frame is level in flight.

Good Luck and Have Fun, =

McDave

[chiefairwrench]

5 more days til test run to Marathon Island FL. Just have to tie everything down let me know if you see anything i might want fix before leaving.

[flboy]

You took of the winches? How do you get the bed up and down now?

Best of luck on your trip. Have fun!

[chiefairwrench]

I modified them so I can lift the bed pin then remove the winches to give more room for the bikes.

[flboy]

I see. Nice! I am just curious.. is the bed that heavy where two of you can't just push it up to the ceiling and lower it down? I have still yet to build mine and I am soaking it all up. Thanks.

Enjoy your time in the keys. I'll be going down in early July. I hopefully will get some Scuba Diving and some fishing in... I am going down with a youth group for summer camp... so I will be busy doing that and driving the ski boat . In fact, if I have my trailer finished and I take my trailer, it will be loaded down with luggage and etc. for the summer camp... I will stay in the camper if I do take it down to haul luggage however (no motorcycles this time ). I have done that with my last hauler. I just put some 2*4's horizontal across the camper in the e-trac and drill in plywood to make a head wall. The entire back from floor to the ceiling can be stacked with luggage and sleeping bags. In the front half, we put coolers, plastic totes with cooking stuff, and etc. These toy hauler campers are versatile!

Later this year, I am going to pack it up with my motorcycle and take a long weekend down there however! Make sure to post some pics!

[chiefairwrench]

Thanks my bed ended weighing about 60 lbs not too bad to lift with 2 people but a lot easier with the winch and 1 person. We may be going back down at the end of June to the springs for diving and riding