A new twist on bed mounted RTT's

[pray4surf]

For what it's worth...

The basic rack weighs in at ~50 lbs and maybe another 40-50 lbs for the remaining assembly... Would like the total weight to come down some, might forgo the 1" x .065 square tube frame that the RTT bolts to - that'll shave ~15 lbs...

I've spent about 90 hours cutting and fabbing all the individual pieces. Boring 1"+ diameter holes in the 1/4" angle iron required 4 hours per hole with a rotary file once I drilled out as large a hole as my drill set could do. Been a labor of love :coffeedrink:

Sure makes a pretty picture with all the component pieces neatly arranged on the table...

But I can't stem the anticipation of putting all the pieces together.

 

[TacoDell]

looking good Rick

in for the win !

 

[ExpoMike]

For what it's worth...


I've spent about 90 hours cutting and fabbing all the individual pieces. Boring 1"+ diameter holes in the 1/4" angle iron required 4 hours per hole with a rotary file once I drilled out as large a hole as my drill set could do. Been a labor of love :coffeedrink:

OMG!!! You could have come over and used my 1" hole saw in my drill press and been done in about a half hour. Ideally a Rotabroach would be best, as they work fast and very clean holes but hole saws work well if the tolerances can be a little loose.

Nice design and idea on the system.

 

[Morticon]

subscribed.

 

[iamsuperb]

Looks like a great idea!

 

[Johnston]

I did something like this. I thought I would post pics for you might help you envision it. I already had the headache rack on the truck so used that in the design. Worked out great.

 

[pray4surf]

That's intriguing Tad...

It appears that you are lifting the RTT, pivoting it forward and resting it upon the headache rack. How much effort is required to do that? Is it a one-man job?

That's the $64 question when it comes to my setup...

This weekend begins my education in welding - good thing I have plenty of scrap to practice on...

 

[pray4surf]

Looks like a great idea!

Glad you think so!

Noticed this was your first post to the forum. -- Welcome to ExPo!

 

[Johnston]

Yes I can do it by my self but not the easiest. The middle of the bed has to be empty so I can get under it. Any other way it twist to much. If you do it the way I think you are planing it might be easier. You can just stand on the tailgate and lift and lower from there.

 

[94monster]

I did something like this. I thought I would post pics for you might help you envision it. I already had the headache rack on the truck so used that in the design. Worked out great.

With your design could you use a ratchet strap or even a rope and pulley with the pulley attached lower on the headache rack to pull the tent in place. Heck, a light electric winch could do it at the push of a button from in the cab...

 

[Johnston]

The way mine works is there is a channel over the front fixed bar that you unpin then has to go up 2" to remove it from that bar so then it is "free" to lift up over headache rack to set that channel down over it and pin on to that. With 2 people it is pretty easy to set up. I thought about rigging something up but the amount if time I use it it wasn't worth it. I can use the tent in the down position also when I don't need the lower room.

 

[ExpoMike]

This weekend begins my education in welding - good thing I have plenty of scrap to practice on...

Not that I would call myself an expert but I have been welding projects for the last 15 years or so. I would be happy to help teach you some tricks.

What type of welder are you using (MIG with gas, MIG with flux core wire, TIG, Arc) and if MIG, what size wire? I am free Saturday afternoon (have a memorial service mid morning).

 

[pray4surf]

Not that I would call myself an expert but I have been welding projects for the last 15 years or so. I would be happy to help teach you some tricks.

What type of welder are you using (MIG with gas, MIG with flux core wire, TIG, Arc) and if MIG, what size wire? I am free Saturday afternoon (have a memorial service mid morning).

Fantastic offer Mike

I'm borrowing a flux-core welder from a neighbor - one that will run on 110VAC - I should be fine - nothing I'm welding is thicker than .120. I presume the wire is .030.

I figure, I'll spend today watching YouTube videos and once I pick up the welder I'll mess around with it on leftover scrap. If it seems to daunting, I figure out a plan B.

Rick

 

[007]

If you can put toothpaste on your toothbrush, you shouldn't have any trouble wire welding :drool:

I'm anxious to see how this turns out!

 

[ExpoMike]

Fantastic offer Mike

I'm borrowing a flux-core welder from a neighbor - one that will run on 110VAC - I should be fine - nothing I'm welding is thicker than .120. I presume the wire is .030.

I figure, I'll spend today watching YouTube videos and once I pick up the welder I'll mess around with it on leftover scrap. If it seems to daunting, I figure out a plan B.

Rick

Practice A LOT. Flux-core welding suck IMHO. It's not very clean and much harder to get a nice bead than a gas unit. You try a gas rig and you'll never touch a flux-core setup again.

Practice with your scrap and if the welds are coming out looking like crap without good penitration, let me know and you can come by and use my rig.