De Sta Co latch issues

[liljlandon]

I get what you're saying, but for the DIY'er, these things don't come with instructions. For me it's been trial and error. No offense, but don't assume everyone who works on their own truck is a mechanical engineer. Some of us are just relegated to a budget.

It's not a matter of engineering, I'm a DIY person and some research led me to build my carrlane latch on like this, and the carrier was on a budget of 50 bucks.

Added the safety pin for the washboard roads around here.

helping the government read my mind on a daily basis

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Good info. Thanks Nick. I appreciate that vs. throwing popcorn!

I would also recoment what britklr did. The pin is good for safety and also take some stress off the latch its self. On my brother truck we set his up with a pad lock so it secures the rear of the truck from theft.

 

[StevenS]

Thanks for all of the tips. I have an idea in mind that will incorporate the locking pin, repositioning of the De-Sta-Co latch, and some security built in to lock it all up. I'm going to weld a small plate horizontally at the end of the swing arm, drill a hole in it (and the bumper) and drop a locking pin in it. Next, for the De-Sta-Co latch, I'm going to remove it from its current location, weld on a block that will put it at the same level as the latch catch plate from the old latch, turn the De-Sta-Co 90 degrees, and bolt it into place. Anyone think this option will NOT work?

**edit** - I realize this will require relocating the Hi-Lift Jack. So be it. Probably better not to have all that weight on the bumper anyway.

I also think welding a handle on the swing arm would help with opening and closing. I have some ideas for this but it may have to wait until the other items are installed to see what kind of room I have left.

 

[bogus one]

as was stated earlier

it's not positioned properly, to begin with
secondly, McMasterCarr has the same latch (& manufacturer) with a secondary catch

I learned the hard way, as well

 

[bsilva132]

why not rotate the latch 90 degrees (so the handle points to the PS when closed) from where it is mounted right now and have it latch to the swing arm stop that hangs down so you do not have to relocate the hi-lift (just like your original catch was set up)? Also, a secondary catch can easilly be added to it as it has all the holes to mount the catch. I have the secondary catch on mine and when I built my buddy's carrier with the one you have I notice that they were exactly the same less the catch(just a thin piece of metal), pin for the catch to rotate on and a spring. I can get you a trace of the catch if you want, just PM me.

 

[StevenS]

why not rotate the latch 90 degrees (so the handle points to the PS when closed) from where it is mounted right now and have it latch to the swing arm stop that hangs down so you do not have to relocate the hi-lift (just like your original catch was set up)? Also, a secondary catch can easilly be added to it as it has all the holes to mount the catch. I have the secondary catch on mine and when I built my buddy's carrier with the one you have I notice that they were exactly the same less the catch(just a thin piece of metal), pin for the catch to rotate on and a spring. I can get you a trace of the catch if you want, just PM me.

Pretty much on track with what I was thinking, you just said it more eloquently than I did. PM'd you for a trace. Thanks for the offer. BTW, not to sound obtuse, but what is PS?

Steven

 

[bogus one]

Passenger Side

 

[StevenS]

Passenger Side

Got it! Thanks! Sitting here camping in the woods but I do have to admit a part of me is obsessing over getting this spare tire carrier adjusted correctly! Ah well, back to nature......

 

[bogus one]

You're camping
and looking at Mud on some device?


Palleeease

 

[StevenS]

You're camping
and looking at Mud on some device?

Palleeease

LOL - "on the fly advice". It helped me figure out why my tent fly was all sticky.

Yeah, yeah - save it for S chat.

Forum Runner for iPhone. Check it out.

 

[RiverRatMatt]

Bit off topic but does anybody make a rear bumper like this for Tacomas? Without the ladder, obviously...

 

[StevenS]

Bit off topic but does anybody make a rear bumper like this for Tacomas? Without the ladder, obviously...

Why would you not want the ladder, and what makes it obvious that you don't?

 

[RiverRatMatt]

Why would you not want the ladder, and what makes it obvious that you don't?

Well, I'd assume that unless you had a really solid (heavy aluminum or steel) topper, you wouldn't get much use out of the ladder. Most toppers are fiberglass and not really safe for people to stand on. I don't have a topper so it'd be a ladder to nowhere

 

[StevenS]

Well, I'd assume that unless you had a really solid (heavy aluminum or steel) topper, you wouldn't get much use out of the ladder. Most toppers are fiberglass and not really safe for people to stand on. I don't have a topper so it'd be a ladder to nowhere

I see. The word choice was throwing me. Some truck drivers would love a ladder. I have a fiberglass topper and I would also love one - if nothing more than to have easy access to rooftop loads. Climbing on your tires to get your luggage down gets old. I don't think I would have a problem standing on my cap - it's pretty stout. Anyway, just sayin'. I can give you the contact info for my builder, but judging by this thread, it's obvious you may wind up having to make some adjustments after delivery and installation.

 

[Mark W]

As stated above in this thread, the problem is the design. The latch need to pull the carrier closed, not down. it will never work well like that and will always be easily defeated.

Other than pulling the latch closed the only other lath alignment that really works is when the latch pulls on the outward side of a pair of swingouts... pulling them together and also inward/closed (like on the 4x4 labs bumpers)

I have built carriers with all three approaches. The downward pull only works if you ad a lip that the carrier has to bump over before it can open. This is a bit of a kludge to solve the problem if you don't want to redesign, but it can work well enough.


Mark...

 

[StevenS]

As stated above in this thread, the problem is the design. The latch need to pull the carrier closed, not down. it will never work well like that and will always be easily defeated.

Other than pulling the latch closed the only other lath alignment that really works is when the latch pulls on the outward side of a pair of swingouts... pulling them together and also inward/closed (like on the 4x4 labs bumpers)

I have built carriers with all three approaches. The downward pull only works if you ad a lip that the carrier has to bump over before it can open. This is a bit of a kludge to solve the problem if you don't want to redesign, but it can work well enough.


Mark...

Mark-

Thanks for chiming in on this issue. I think I have it licked - well, at least I have a plan in place for licking it. Next is implementation. I will follow up and post once I get it all installed!

Thanks everybody for your help!

S

 

[cody c]

If you dont sort it out, I used the latching parts off a pathfinder at the local pick-your-parts, It works really well and the release mechanism is easy to use while being up out of the way. Just need to get the whole thing powder coated someday...