RTT set up... (1 Viewer)

[MANUCHAO]

So, I got my RTT on top of my trailer.

Im going to get rid of the yakima rack and bolt it down to the lid.
Just like Exiled did..

Any pros, cons on this....??

I didn't like the way the RTT sits on the top, it makes the COG higher and I need to haul 4-5 bikes on this trailer but I dont have a hitch nor do I want to install one on the rear...

Im trying to come up with some sort of cage that would sit on top of the RTT during transportation and could lift to the side whenever I set the tent up.....

Any pics or ideas are most welcome...

Also..
I was watching cool tools and they feature this gadget.. dont know how good it is but they said it held up on speed up to 90mph

http://www.gemplers.com/product.aspx?itemNo=126533&s_kwcid=ez%20grabbit|2662678825

 

[Exiled]

I've run mine like that for years, primarily for the low profile. Lately I've been thinking of another design, sort of a rack assembly that mounts to the lid (bolted) and allows the tent to mount in the center, but with the ability to carry a boat over the rack. I can't leave well enough alone, it's like a disease...

 

[MANUCHAO]

Exiled... yes that's is what Im looking at doing.. I want to carry primarily bikes but obiously I could carry other items as well.. I already did dropped it and bolted it to the lid.. and it looks a LOT better.. now I just gotta come up with a home made rack basket that wraps around the tent and opens to the side....

Im also working on some of the jerry can's saddles that came with the trailer but I want to mod them so they can hold Scepter fuel cans which are plastic...

 

[Box Rocket]

What about instead of the load bars you just mounted some 1" square tubing directly to the lid. You could make these new "load bars" wide enough (wider than the lid) that you could mount your RTT to it but keep it all the way to one side leaving an extra foot or so of exposed "loadbar" on the other side for your bike mounting system. That way you get a much lower profile/lower COG and can still carry a couple bikes without a rack above the tent to get in the way when you want to deploy your tent.

Maybe I'm missing something but that's the idea that popped into my head.

 

[MANUCHAO]

Adam.. I forgot to mentioned that I also wanted to keep the RTT on the center of the trialer...
I initally I had it to one side and it made the whole lid twist a bit.....

The idea of keeping enough space on the one side does work.. thing is that I need to load 4-5 bikes on the top..... so I really need to come up with some sort of cage/roof rack top for it..

Im also thinking I could get rid off of the aluminum box and install a hitch square tubing and intall my bike rack there.. but then I would need to come up with another place for the two marine batteries, water pump and AC battery charger....


Exiled is right.. its a never ending addiction..

 

[Box Rocket]

Ok, so how bout this.......

What if rather than a full rack over the tent, if you just built a single hoop at the rear of the trailer that was high enough to have your mounts for all the bikes. Then the bikes could essentially hang vertically down the back of the trailer with the rear tires resting on the rear bumper of the trailer or thereabouts. That way you could still deploy your tent and open your lid without the bikes being in the way. The only downside would be that you would not have access through your tailgate but you could still get to everything through the lid.

Again, just brainstorming.

 

[samibattlemaiden]

i have seen (i think) a hitch mounted bike rack that doesn't actually occupie your hitch. i think it's a sleeve exxentially that goes around the it but still leaves you able to pull a trailer.

i know thats not what you asked for but it's an idea.

also another thought would be a set up similar to your "lid" like a secound lid that when closed would hide your rtt and you could put the bike rack on that. make it only open 90% and lock in place.

 

[Exiled]

One of the main reasons I subscribe to "Australian 4WD Action" is for the trailer coverage; the latest episode has a trailer buyer's guide and you can get a lot of ideas/inspiration from the various models.

To follow on Adam's suggestion, what if you did a rectangular "hoop" that mounted around the RTT to the lid, roughly following the contour of the lid, with hinges on the back of the trailer and quick pins on the front. Then add a couple of C-shaped hoops that mounted vertically over the RTT at the right distance to install mounts for the rear tires and the front forks. Add struts to help lift it, and now you have your bikes securely mounted and all you need to do is pull the pins out and lift the frame with the bikes on to open the RTT, and your bikes and stay in place (and locked). Does this make sense? The Aussies make these frames strong enough to mount aluminum boats to, but they open to the side (allowing you to slide your boat up to the side of the trailer, open the frame, connect the boat, then close the frame up with the boat on it).

Something made out of light square tubing) should be strong enough for this, assuming you had the space on the lid.

 

[davegonz]

Why not just weld on a hitch tube on the rear bumper and run a yakima hitch rack for 5 bikes? That's what I'm going to do once I free up some time.

 

[MANUCHAO]

Wow.. great idea guys... I knew I should of posted here earlier this month.... plz keep them coming...

Exiled, I think I get yah and it makes perfect sense idea: that is if we are in the same page ) I try to do some drawings and see how that works..

Davegonz, I really dont want to do a rear hitch for two reasons... I would have to beef up the rear and I have a 38 water tank sandwiched between the frame rails at the rear..... I think I would be putting a lot of weight on the rear ...

My bike rack is about 100@ and bikes would be another 150@..
+ I already bought some roof racks for cheap on ebay and are much much lighter...
Yakima's king cobras

Thank you all so much for yer replies !!!!

 

[davegonz]

Yeah, I see your point if you're running that much stuff back there. My hitch will only be for the bike rack (30lbs rack plus 4x30lbs in bikes). It shouldn't need too much beefing up in the rear.

 

[MANUCHAO]

Im still trying to figure out the bike rack on top.. but I did installed the saddle jerry can holders back on.

I mod them a little so I could carry my plastic cans instead and provide some protection from road debris hitting and damaging the cans...

I used 16 GA sheet metal and although not a welder at all..... I been practicing and the end result came out a little warped but pretty good over all...

Here are some pics...

Old style..

 

[MANUCHAO]

in progresssssssssss

 

[MANUCHAO]

powder coated flat black $40

 

[MANUCHAO]

Installed... total cost $48

Now I really gotta figure out the bike rack option..

 

[Box Rocket]

Those turned out good. nice job.

 

[photogod]

I like the can work. Nice job.

 

[MT-PTK]

Please forgive my crude MS paint sketching….

What if you used square tubing on each end similar to the drawing that could either hinge down (forward on the front, back on the rear) or be removed when not needed. Attach fork mounts at the front and a short tray with the latch at the back. If you put two fork mounts on the back, you could possible run three bikes facing forward and two facing back. When you lock the bikes in it would firm up the whole structure. When you get to your destination, take the bikes down, fold the bars down and open up the tent. I’m not an engineer but it’s an idea that popped into my head. I’m looking at a similar trailer right now and the bike issue has been rolling through my head as well.

In a way, it’s similar to what I set up on my 60. I wanted a rack but I wanted room to mount a couple of bikes as well. So I happened upon a rack fabbed up by a local mudder that would give me the room to mount a bike on each side. I mounted the rails so that with a fork mount the back tire rested on the back rail. I went down to my local bike shop and they had some Thule trays kicking around in back and gave them to me. I cut them down and mounted them up. I purchased a pair or Thule ratchet clamps and it’s good to go.


William

 

[MT-PTK]

Cont...

 

[REZARF]

Can't you just bolt some bike trays on the floor of the tent? Take the bikes down to deploy it and your moving!

Nice trailer BTW.