Quote:
Originally Posted by Cottwood
Those Pedego's weigh 60-65 #'s a piece correct? Do you have any plans for building that rack? Have you had sway issues? What do you tow with? What trailer do you have? Did you weld a receiver on? What did it weight? What does the rack weigh? Thanks!
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There is no set of plans though I could take some measurements and post them along with a parts list. I still consider this a “beta” version though I haven’t made any changes to it in 18 months. There are some things I would do differently though. I have the Tim Allen syndrome and it is way overbuilt. I used too thick of tubing. (Equal to schedule 80 pipe) I would use schedule 40 aluminum pipe next time as that is what the fittings were designed for. The only welded portion is the base mounts where I fabricated two flanges to mount on the frame. Haven’t found a better way to do that. The main support legs and the bicycle holding tray were bent on a tube bender. The rest was just “measure and cut to fit”.
I did put an extra self tapping screw into each joint because I feared the set screw would back out but I’d probably just use locktight if I built it again.
The actual wheel and bike frame clamps are Thule purchased off of their web site.
There have been zero sway issues with this carrier. When I first posted the first version of it on the forums, I believe one of the first comments was that it would cause sway and the trailer would roll. I’m still trying to figure out if that person was a chicken little impersonator or if the comment was sarcastic. After 12000 miles there have been no issues at all.
The airstream is a 30 Classic RBQ pulled by a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 with a 5.7 Hemi.
There is nothing welded onto the airstream for this bike rack. The bottom flanges are bolted to the frame with self tapping bolts (three on each side) and the top braces are screwed with #12 screws to the body. Those screws were tough to put it. I predrilled the holes and the screws cut there own threads through the struts but had to use a socket wrench to install them. The top flanges have three holes but only two are aligned with the body frame. The third hole has a screw but it’s just for looks as it carries no strain.
I haven’t weighed the rack as it was built in place but based on the published data of the tubing and fittings it probably weighs in at about 20 pounds or so. I have stood on it (275 lbs) and it didn’t even creak. It has withstood some pretty rough roads as well with both bikes on it.
It will hold the bikes with the batteries but we tend to travel with the batteries pulled and in the airstream for theft reasons.
The changes I still have planned:
The tray folds up when not used but has to be held up by a bungee cord. It would be nice to have some sort of latch there.
It needs a license plate holder and tail lights so I can cover the bikes when traveling. If the weather is bad they get pretty dirty back there.
The bottom rail needs to be raised about an inch for better access to the rear hatch. Another inch would allow the 50A anaconda to slide under the rack into the hatch for storage.
Nothing is anodized so you get black oxide on your hands when you mess with it. When done, I’ll disassemble it and have it anodized.
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