Double Hitch Mount Storage Carrier

[theendresult]

Hey Y'all. Been trying to figure out how Im going to mount everything on my jeep. Came up with some ideas n thought Id run it by all of you to get some feed back

Im going to get a yakima roof rack with storage bag; that way I can fold the bag away if not using it. I was going to mount the jerry cans and propane bottle on the rack but thats a lot of weight up top. So I drew up this double hitch carrier on photo shop so you can get the general idea.

Im hoping that I wont run into any situations that would bottom out the rack. It is lifted 3" higher than the hitch so I should have lots of clearance.

Ill have to weld a post on the bottom rack to mount the top rack. Ill put a pin in it so I can take it off easily to get into the lower box.

Any thoughts or recommendations......:smiley_drive:

 

[theendresult]

Let me know if the picture isnt working.............

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Take your idea to a local welding shop and have them give you feedback, I have seen others do it on the back of RV's. And the car will bottom out before the rack ever will.

 

[Shawn686]

That would seem that it might shear off with the side to side movement of off roading. That would be a lot weight on one upright with no side to side support. The water and fuel alone are 220 lbs. and that is just your top rack. I think you would be better served with a swing out type rack and new rear bumper. In the long run it will do what you want and will have less issues.

Shawn

 

[SWITAWI]

^^x2. Interesting idea. Never thought about adding another rack over my cargo carrier. Since these carriers typically aren't made of heavy-gauge metal I'd be afraid welding would just weaken it. I'd rather weld the post to a plate and then bolt that plate to the bottom carrier. Or start with something like this and get a 12-18" vertical riser tube welded to the front of the upper rack...

Just remember that for every pound of carrier weight you add, a pound of payload capacity is lost. If you're starting with a Class III 2" hitch (like the Jeep in your picture) with a 500lb tongue weight rating, and you put together 150lbs of cargo rack that only leaves you another 350lbs for payload. If you're starting with a Class II 1.5" hitch that's only rated for 350lbs of tongue weight, then one rack is probably better.

Good luck with what ever you decide to do and be sure to share it with us here. :sombrero:

 

[JamesDowning]

That's also a very long lever arm from your gas cans to your hitch. It would probably be fine for on-road travel, but if you're doing any bumpy driving, I would suggest against this plan.

Are you sure you need that much fuel? That's a lot of range... very few areas in N.A. require that kind of range. Get your fuel consumption and range understood, then figure out what kind of auxiliary fuel capacity you need. If you really need that kind of range, you may be better suited to an auxiliary under-vehicle tank.

As for the water, I'd work on storing it inside anyways... on the back it could get a bit warm.

 

[theendresult]

Thanks for the input!

My original reason for doing an extra rack on top was because I dont think it would be the safest thing to have a propane bottle at bumper height in case someone rear ends me. I did consider a new rear bumper with swing out tire carrier but at $1300 Ive decided against it.

@switawi Thats a great idea! definatly add some more durability rather than welding a extension to the bottom rack. Its a class IV hitch so Im good for 750lbs.

@James Youre right that is a lot of fuel. It gives me about 1600km range. I dont think I need that much but I figure too much is better than not enough. My vehicle needs ULSD because of the (for lack of nicer words ) awesome dpf! And past a certain point in alaska there isnt ulsd. But after doing a bit of research it wont hurt it running diesel with a higher sulphur content as long as Im running ulsd most of the time. And yea I guess the water should be stored inside.

220 lbs is a lot to have up on the 2nd rack so I think what I might do is move the water inside and maybe only carry 2 fuel cans that way its around 100lbs.

Thanks for the feedback

 

[SWITAWI]

Glad to see you've got a Class IV hitch. At least that's enough capacity to make this a worthwhile endeavor. Though I do have to agree with the others about the load weight on bumpy terrain. Sometimes it's not so much about the static weight on the hitch as it is about the leverage that weight is exerting on a single point (the hitch) as it bounces up and down.