Yep Destaco seems to be the "boss" of the latch industry. I'm looking at their 324, 334 - R line... I really want something with a latch and locking mechanism.
However what seems so simple would be a hole through the latch and body that one could put hitch bolt through. This would keep the latch from disengaging and would be a very simple solution, none so far that I've seen seem to have this.
I hope you get It all worked out. I will help you with a positive suggestion. Do not use the green rachet strap. For about $23.00 you can buy a heavy duty 15 or 20 ft 2 inch strap. I have used straps for 30 years, the small ones will come loose. I have never had a 2 inch or larger come loose unless freight shifted, very seldom. Also all potential friction points that could fray nylon should be lined with hard plastic. Good Luck. !
With a lot of locktite and a couple of cotter pins I was able to get everything together last night.
Design Changes I have made -
Latch to hold it in place -- Toggle Latch is out, they were just too expensive ($65) for a quality locking latch. I went with a 1/2 spring latch pin. Its very stout and keeps the carrier locked in very nicely.
Tire Carrier -- The original tire carrier I ordered for about $30 and though it was stout it didn't have enough depth. In looking for options I knew a wheel spacer would solve this problem. However it needed to be an inch plus and they seem very $$. Finnally I decided to go to the junk yard and I removed a tire carrier from a 95 Nissan Pathfinder which work perfectly, and with the entrance fee it only cost me $8. Its a very stout part and it comes with a peg for a lock. My only error was not taking the lug nuts from the pathy, as it doesn't have the same thread pattern as my FZJ
Here are the rest of the build pics, it's pretty much done, its working well and I'll post up after my trip... Enjoy
So, now that you've completed a working model, how much $$$ do you have in actual $$$ spent (not including labor). Do you feel you could have purchased anything comparable for the same or slightly more that would have accomplished your goals?
I'm asking because I inevitably start out doing the same thing, and by the time I'm done, I would have been able to save my time (and usually then some) by just buying something already available.
I got an LC REALLY cheap, but by the time I get done with my PM I'll have $6K in it, albeit, it will be a "near new 19 year old truck...." and that does NOT include any of my labor.
