Trailer Hitch Idea

[Wallace]

Here is a photo of a home made trailer hitch - I hope to attach it.
http://www.draft.org/draft3/Portals/0/UltraPhotoGallery/487/3/thumbs/IMG_1314.JPG

Let's see if this test works.

[Wallace]

PAM: I obviously did not do all I needed to in order to get the photo to display.

1. I went to the DRAFT Photo Album in order to Copy the URL of the image I want to imbed.
2. I returned to the SEGCHAT site began the SC thread and put in [img] the photo URL followed by [img] as the TAG.

I thought the picture was too large and exceeded the limit on byte size and it would not display.

Yesterday, you left a note after making changes to the TAG and a small - smaller than a thumbnail- PIC does now show up. I cannot get it to open up nor can I figure out how to resize it.

Please show me the modified URL yu wrote so I can see what to do right next time.

[pam]

All I did was change your [url] [url] to - {URL] {/URL] (have to use curley brackets in this post, or it doesn't show - I left straight brackets in your post). I didn't edit the actual URL itself. The URL between the codes points to a thumbnail, apparently. If you would like to send me a copy of the full size photo, I'll be happy to get it up for you.
Pam

[Wallace]

Thanks to PAM and TARKUS - and Photobucket.com

Here is ROVER disguised as a Pack Animal - Loaded with Trade Show materials (About #250+ pounds) using a slightly modified moving dolly and the hitch frame fabricated from perforated steel angle iron and some scrap aluminum.

Loaded up and ready to GO!

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h265/tripodROVER/IMG_1322.jpg


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h265/tripodROVER/IMG_1309.jpg

The frame slips over the Rear of the Platform Mat. The Angle Iron side pieces lay along the gear housing ends so they are out of the way in use.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h265/tripodROVER/IMG_1312.jpg

One Inch wide, NYLON strapping with "D" rings encircle the Angle Iron on each side, wrap around the platform and batteries and back to the beginning. This is a trial run. I can make a more permanent attachment which uses bolts in the Gear Housings or under the mat to the aluminum base plate covers.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h265/tripodROVER/IMG_1316.jpg

[polo_pro]

Thanks for sharing your hitch design! The pictures really helped! I had a few suggestions if you want them.

If you unscrewed the nut and bolt that hold the black angle iron pieces to the yellow preferated angle iron, you'd might be able to attache the yellow preferated angle iron by itself to the platform if the holes lined up with the 4 screws under the mat along the back of the platform that hold the platform together.

I've seen hitches similar to yours, and the existing platform screws seem to be long enough to handle the addition of the preferated angle iron. You could always use a drill bit or file to widen an existing hole in the preferated angle iron if its a close fit. Maybe add a few washers to broaden out the head of the screw if it might slip through the modified preferated holes.

ps - You might have to modify how the actual hitch attaches to the preferated angle iron if those bolts and nuts prevent the angle iron from fitting properly to the platform as you try to attach it using the existing platform's screws.

And yes, I did notice the difference in size of the black angle iron pieces to accomodate the kickstand!

[Wallace]

Thanks for the suggestions. This was a Quick and Dirty - Saturday afternoon with what was on hand. The Trade Show was the next Tuesday and I had to get something that would work. I like the idea of being able to take the thing off easily and not putting undue stress on the cover plate screws whch are at the trailing edge of the platform base. If I wanted to leave the hitch attached for long periods of time I would probably drill holes in the verticals and use the Gear Case Cover screws to firm things up. As it is now, the rightside has a 25.0 Cargo Carrier bracket in place and the angle iron just fits under it by compressing the floor mat a little.

PS. You might be interested in the folding ramps I made up shown elsewhere in this chat.