Z Hitch Prototype
02-05-2005, 03:04 PM
#41
Hitch is installed! Thanks to Jim for assisting with the installation. He's put together a comprehensive package with detailed directions... only difficulty is getting the two white clips on each side of the bumper to rotate, allowing the bumper to slide off. Other than that, the workmanship is top notch and looks crisp!
02-05-2005, 06:41 PM
#42
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Can't wait to get mine. Now I have to think of more things to buy since I can carry more to the track. 
Can people post pictures of their trailers? I'll be going the harbor freight route with plywood floor and am looking for innovative design ideas.
Can people post pictures of their trailers? I'll be going the harbor freight route with plywood floor and am looking for innovative design ideas.
02-06-2005, 02:49 AM
#43
I'm not all that creative (my brain goes on vacation on the weekends), so I'm going to be putting together a design similar to Jim's trailer. I hope to have it completed later today (sunlight, patience, and beer permitting) and I'll be sure to snap a few photos...
02-06-2005, 04:59 AM
#44
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Originally posted by John
I'm not all that creative (my brain goes on vacation on the weekends), so I'm going to be putting together a design similar to Jim's trailer. I hope to have it completed later today (sunlight, patience, and beer permitting) and I'll be sure to snap a few photos...
I'm not all that creative (my brain goes on vacation on the weekends), so I'm going to be putting together a design similar to Jim's trailer. I hope to have it completed later today (sunlight, patience, and beer permitting) and I'll be sure to snap a few photos...
Were you able to get the trailer parts into the Z or did you have to go back and get the Superpoo?
Here are some recommendations for the trailer setup.
- get all pressure treated lumber, even if you decide to paint
- Use galvanized nuts & bolts (or stainless steel if you're made of money)
- Use carriage bolts to fasten the plywood deck to the frame.
Have fun with it, and I'll see you Friday evening.
02-06-2005, 06:38 AM
#45
I arrived at the Potomic Mills HF at 5:30 (two hours from VA Beach... ), and even though their computer said they had 7, they had none in stock. Went up to Gaithersburg this morning and am about to start the construction.
Do you have to get the trailer inspected before plates can be issued? The manager indicated that I had to...
), and even though their computer said they had 7, they had none in stock. Went up to Gaithersburg this morning and am about to start the construction. Do you have to get the trailer inspected before plates can be issued? The manager indicated that I had to...
02-07-2005, 03:34 PM
#46
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Originally posted by John
Do you have to get the trailer inspected before plates can be issued? The manager indicated that I had to...
Do you have to get the trailer inspected before plates can be issued? The manager indicated that I had to...
02-08-2005, 02:01 PM
#48
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Originally posted by DmanG281
roark your P.M. box is full. Just making sure you recieved my payment.
Thanks
Dustin
roark your P.M. box is full. Just making sure you recieved my payment.
Thanks
Dustin
Yes, Payment received, but I don't know exactly when I'll be able to get another order together. Let me see what interest there is at the track this weekend, and I'll let you know next week. If it looks like it's going to be some time, I'll send back if you'd like.
Sorry for the full inbox. It's now cleared. I'm traveling this week, with limited internet access.
02-09-2005, 05:30 AM
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This hitch is pretty much the same as the one I designed last year, and has worked well for me. Two items, however:
1) I began hearing creaking sounds after several months of use, and discovered the source was the bumper-to-body brackets, which are two-piece spot-welded sheet metal. BEFORE you install the kit, I strongly suggest you have these brackets seam-welded to eliminate flex/squeaking (and, possibly, eventual damage). They are held to the body with four fasteners, so easily removed and dealt with once the bumper is removed.
2) To minimize shock-loads and the accompanying annoying tapping noise, I drilled and threaded a hole on the front side of the receiver, above the hitch pin hole, to install a large machine screw. The screw can be tightened, and 'pins' the insert against the inside wall of the receiver. This keeps the insert from rotating around the hitch pin and tapping the front and rear inside walls of the receiver tube (which is an issue particularly with vertical-orietned receivers). It's possible this won't be an issue with higher tongue weights -- I limit mine to 50 lbs.
picture here: http://groups.msn.com/PugetSoundATV/...to&PhotoID=141
And, here are a couple of pictures of my trailer:
http://groups.msn.com/PugetSoundATV/...to&PhotoID=139
http://groups.msn.com/PugetSoundATV/...to&PhotoID=138
1) I began hearing creaking sounds after several months of use, and discovered the source was the bumper-to-body brackets, which are two-piece spot-welded sheet metal. BEFORE you install the kit, I strongly suggest you have these brackets seam-welded to eliminate flex/squeaking (and, possibly, eventual damage). They are held to the body with four fasteners, so easily removed and dealt with once the bumper is removed.
2) To minimize shock-loads and the accompanying annoying tapping noise, I drilled and threaded a hole on the front side of the receiver, above the hitch pin hole, to install a large machine screw. The screw can be tightened, and 'pins' the insert against the inside wall of the receiver. This keeps the insert from rotating around the hitch pin and tapping the front and rear inside walls of the receiver tube (which is an issue particularly with vertical-orietned receivers). It's possible this won't be an issue with higher tongue weights -- I limit mine to 50 lbs.
picture here: http://groups.msn.com/PugetSoundATV/...to&PhotoID=141
And, here are a couple of pictures of my trailer:
http://groups.msn.com/PugetSoundATV/...to&PhotoID=139
http://groups.msn.com/PugetSoundATV/...to&PhotoID=138
02-10-2005, 06:31 PM
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Originally posted by Lateapex
[B]This hitch is pretty much the same as the one I designed last year, and has worked well for me. Two items, however:
1) I began hearing creaking sounds after several months of use, and discovered the source was the bumper-to-body brackets, which are two-piece spot-welded sheet metal. BEFORE you install the kit, I strongly suggest you have these brackets seam-welded to eliminate flex/squeaking (and, possibly, eventual damage). They are held to the body with four fasteners, so easily removed and dealt with once the bumper is removed.
[B]This hitch is pretty much the same as the one I designed last year, and has worked well for me. Two items, however:
1) I began hearing creaking sounds after several months of use, and discovered the source was the bumper-to-body brackets, which are two-piece spot-welded sheet metal. BEFORE you install the kit, I strongly suggest you have these brackets seam-welded to eliminate flex/squeaking (and, possibly, eventual damage). They are held to the body with four fasteners, so easily removed and dealt with once the bumper is removed.
Lateapex, I like the design of your trailer. I think I might do something similar myself. I like the idea of haveing it enclosed to keep everything hidden for those nights in the cheap trackside motels. Do you have any building tips or lessons learned from your project?
02-10-2005, 07:04 PM
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LateApex,
When my metalurgist examined those brackets, he looked at those spot welds too. He didn't have much concern, since the bolts actually take the load. It goes to show that there's no substitute for real-world road testing. How many miles of towing before you started to hear creaking? How heavy is your trailer loaded?
I noticed that same chatter in my prototype. I tapped in a similar anti-chatter bolt to the prototype, and welded a nut to the 6 I just had produced.
BTW, I just got all the parts back from the powdercoater. I need to to do a bit of work on each kit before I can send them out. I'm hoping to have them all shipped by next weekend.
I'm off to the track.....
When my metalurgist examined those brackets, he looked at those spot welds too. He didn't have much concern, since the bolts actually take the load. It goes to show that there's no substitute for real-world road testing. How many miles of towing before you started to hear creaking? How heavy is your trailer loaded?
I noticed that same chatter in my prototype. I tapped in a similar anti-chatter bolt to the prototype, and welded a nut to the 6 I just had produced.
BTW, I just got all the parts back from the powdercoater. I need to to do a bit of work on each kit before I can send them out. I'm hoping to have them all shipped by next weekend.
I'm off to the track.....
Last edited by roark; 02-10-2005 at 07:07 PM.
02-10-2005, 07:31 PM
#53
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Originally posted by daveh
Roark, did your metal specialist have any of the same concerns?
Lateapex, I like the design of your trailer. I think I might do something similar myself. I like the idea of haveing it enclosed to keep everything hidden for those nights in the cheap trackside motels. Do you have any building tips or lessons learned from your project?
Roark, did your metal specialist have any of the same concerns?
Lateapex, I like the design of your trailer. I think I might do something similar myself. I like the idea of haveing it enclosed to keep everything hidden for those nights in the cheap trackside motels. Do you have any building tips or lessons learned from your project?
Basically, I designed it as I went along.
Here are some photos --
Trailer front: http://groups.msn.com/PugetSoundATV/...to&PhotoID=164
Interior 1: http://groups.msn.com/PugetSoundATV/...to&PhotoID=165
Interior 2: http://groups.msn.com/PugetSoundATV/...to&PhotoID=166
Interior 3: http://groups.msn.com/PugetSoundATV/...to&PhotoID=167
02-10-2005, 08:07 PM
#54
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Originally posted by Roark
He didn't have much concern, since the bolts actually take the load. It goes to show that there's no substitute for real-world road testing. How many miles of towing before you started to hear creaking? How heavy is your trailer loaded?
He didn't have much concern, since the bolts actually take the load. It goes to show that there's no substitute for real-world road testing. How many miles of towing before you started to hear creaking? How heavy is your trailer loaded?
I don't know how many miles it was... probably 1000? Loaded weight is 600-650, depending on where the event is, etc.
Oh, something I needed to plan better, was the weight distribution. I miscalculated and ended up light in the front, so, for now, I'm carrying an old battery against the inside of the front wall. Shortly, I will be replacing that with a plate of some kind, attached to the tongue, which will lower the total weight a little.
02-14-2005, 02:07 PM
#56
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Well, here are my observations from the trip to VIR this weekend.
Mechanically, the tow package worked out great! I received a few inquiries and compliments from people attending the event. Towing 500lbs (trailer and payload) did not upset the car or the milage much (~25mpg highway/surface road mix)
We discovered a minor problem with the electrical kit. The turn signals will not work properly with the engine running. I strongly suspect that the additional turn signal lamp has dropped the circuit resistance below what the flasher relay can work with. Usually, you can simply use a variable resistance flasher module, but our car has it built into the BCM, so that's not an option. I'll measure and add appropriate resistors to the wiring kit to compensate.
This will delay the shipping of the first kits until next week. I also need to do a bit of work on each receiver assembly for a cleaner installation. The two kits without the wiring will go out this week.
I would like to get some feedback from the initial run kits before starting another group buy. There seems to be enough people interested though, so I'd say the chances are very good for another run.
Mechanically, the tow package worked out great! I received a few inquiries and compliments from people attending the event. Towing 500lbs (trailer and payload) did not upset the car or the milage much (~25mpg highway/surface road mix)
We discovered a minor problem with the electrical kit. The turn signals will not work properly with the engine running. I strongly suspect that the additional turn signal lamp has dropped the circuit resistance below what the flasher relay can work with. Usually, you can simply use a variable resistance flasher module, but our car has it built into the BCM, so that's not an option. I'll measure and add appropriate resistors to the wiring kit to compensate.
This will delay the shipping of the first kits until next week. I also need to do a bit of work on each receiver assembly for a cleaner installation. The two kits without the wiring will go out this week.
I would like to get some feedback from the initial run kits before starting another group buy. There seems to be enough people interested though, so I'd say the chances are very good for another run.
02-21-2005, 05:23 AM
#58
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Sorry for the delay in getting these shipped out guys. I had an uexpected family commitment come up last week, and a few pieces had to go back to the powdercoater because the fitment wasn't good enough.
Today is a Holiday, so I'm working the powdercoat and wiring issues. Thanks for your patience.
Today is a Holiday, so I'm working the powdercoat and wiring issues. Thanks for your patience.
02-21-2005, 02:46 PM
#59
Originally posted by roark
Sorry for the delay in getting these shipped out guys. I had an uexpected family commitment come up last week, and a few pieces had to go back to the powdercoater because the fitment wasn't good enough.
Today is a Holiday, so I'm working the powdercoat and wiring issues. Thanks for your patience.
Sorry for the delay in getting these shipped out guys. I had an uexpected family commitment come up last week, and a few pieces had to go back to the powdercoater because the fitment wasn't good enough.
Today is a Holiday, so I'm working the powdercoat and wiring issues. Thanks for your patience.
02-21-2005, 03:17 PM
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OK,
The electrical issue is solved. As I speculated, a 1 ohm resistor did the trick. With some luck, I'll be shipping most if not all (still have one kit at the powdercoater for a redo) out the door this Friday.
Here are a few pics of the trailer on the way to VIR
and on the way back from VIR
Somehow, I managed to bring half the paddock back, stuck to my tires, and about a bushell of grass in the cabin from a little excursion (720).
The electrical issue is solved. As I speculated, a 1 ohm resistor did the trick. With some luck, I'll be shipping most if not all (still have one kit at the powdercoater for a redo) out the door this Friday.
Here are a few pics of the trailer on the way to VIR
and on the way back from VIR
Somehow, I managed to bring half the paddock back, stuck to my tires, and about a bushell of grass in the cabin from a little excursion (720).