Mr. Leary
Glamping Excursionaire
So a couple of us have been thinking about the possability of letting the trailer "pull its own weight" so to speak.
The original ideawas to use a front suspension assembly from a 3rd gen 4Runner for the rear of a camping trailer. For me, that would mean independent suspension and spare parts for the truck if I break something up front. Upon re-examination, using a rear axle would make the system more survivable. You can get a lot more places with just the rear wheels pushing than the front ones. Anyways, that is how the rear axle assembly instead of a standard trailer axle came about.
So you install the rear axle, with OEM suspension components, etc. for spares and whatnot. You machine a flange that will carry a v belt onto the yoke, and connect a driveshaft onto the other end. Hook the v-belt up to an alternator or two, and a bank of batteries can be charged while going down the road. Problems with excessive rotation of the yoke can be addressed by changing the size of the flange, all calculated in advance.
The driveshaft would be hooked up to an electric motor that can be engaged in tougher spots and controlled by a pulse actuator, similar to how an electric brake controller works. Add an auto locker to the axle and it will be able to fully differentiate unless you need it locked in the tough stuff.
This is one idea of how to attempt a "hill billy PTO."
Any ideas / information / critiques / advice?
This is the thread! :sombrero:
The original ideawas to use a front suspension assembly from a 3rd gen 4Runner for the rear of a camping trailer. For me, that would mean independent suspension and spare parts for the truck if I break something up front. Upon re-examination, using a rear axle would make the system more survivable. You can get a lot more places with just the rear wheels pushing than the front ones. Anyways, that is how the rear axle assembly instead of a standard trailer axle came about.
So you install the rear axle, with OEM suspension components, etc. for spares and whatnot. You machine a flange that will carry a v belt onto the yoke, and connect a driveshaft onto the other end. Hook the v-belt up to an alternator or two, and a bank of batteries can be charged while going down the road. Problems with excessive rotation of the yoke can be addressed by changing the size of the flange, all calculated in advance.
The driveshaft would be hooked up to an electric motor that can be engaged in tougher spots and controlled by a pulse actuator, similar to how an electric brake controller works. Add an auto locker to the axle and it will be able to fully differentiate unless you need it locked in the tough stuff.
This is one idea of how to attempt a "hill billy PTO."
Any ideas / information / critiques / advice?
This is the thread! :sombrero:
. I really like the idea of a regenerative brake controller as well.
