M1101 Base Station Trailer: Spare Tire Carrier modification ideas requested from group

[WhiskeyGatherer]

Hey guys. I've had the spare tire carrier fabricated to be as simple of a design as possible with minimal moving parts and heavy duty. Problem is, I can't seem to move forward on the design from here. I would like (once unpinned) to have a system designed so that the tire stays upright and not fall back towards me, easily pulled and folding down like my truck's tailgate assist. Obviously the weight would determine what size gas shock to use. Side mounting would be fine but would there be a way to add another shock for the ease of pushing it back into its closed/locked position? I feel like I've seen that somewhere but didn't save any info for reference.

The spare tire and mount just needs to be lowered to a level so that the tailgate can lower and not rub. Currently it has to be manually lowered to the ground, resting the bike rack on the ground. Not optimal but I figured it would be temporary.

I'm open and free for any ideas you guys might have as to how to go about the design. I'm new at this forum so hopefully this will reach the right people interested in helping out. Thanks.

James

 

[J!m]

I don’t fully grasp what you’re getting at, but the gas assist- maybe I can help there.

At the local Subway restaurant they have new coolers for the toppings. A big glass sheet that covers the food (closed) that hinges up to create the “sneeze guard”.

It has four gas struts- two for assisting raising, and two others for assisting lowering. It’s a good size chunk of glass, probably double pane to insulate... maybe 100#? Anyway, I think you’d need to calculate the weight you will lift (mechanical calculation based on location of strut) and length open and closed, and then get a pair (or four) pushing in opposite directions. I think it essentially makes the glass (in Subway’s case) “weightless”. But I do think there is a mechanical component so fully up and fully down you “over cam” it so it stays up or down solidly.

If I understand you correctly, you want to do the same thing.

Bottom line: lunch at Subway tomorrow. I’m sure it was/is a ton of calculations to get it to work so slick but seeing it may help you a lot.

 

[WhiskeyGatherer]

Yes, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Great ideas from like minded folks. Much appreciate the info, Jim. I'll head out today and take a look for myself. I agree, it might end up over engineered and costly using 4 struts so I've thought of a more basic, utilitarian method using a spring that has just enough tension to allow the spare tire carrier down and give me enough help on the way back to its locking position. Haven't weighed it all but should before going further either way.

 

[J!m]

If you go with a spring you might consider a garage door spring or a hood hinge spring. Some hoods used a “clock spring” type that’s more compact than the typical expansion coils.

If you do use a spring a gas lift might make sense to control speed of the motion. Parked other than “flat” it might move differently.

 

[WhiskeyGatherer]

Well... I tried a little experiment that didn't work. Contacted a bungie jumping operation in PA that makes custom cords. Gave them the weight, they configured the right amount of stretch needed and length. We hooked it up and it gave absolutely no relief. Could not tell it was even there.
Good thing that was only $28 of loss. I had decided to try the idea of a heavy duty bungie pulling the swing down tire carrier against the back of the trailer with a 12v small winch mounted underneath mid ship with the cable running along the outer perimeter of the swing arm. The idea was that all I had to do was engage the winch and pull it down to the level I wanted it, with the bungie tension providing the resistance needed.

update: I went to Subway and looked at that strut set up. Called orrorr.com and couldn't get through but they have, what seems to be, the answer to my situation. It's called BLOCK-O-LIFT. https://truck-hardware.orrorr.com/item/gas-springs/bloc-o-lift-gas-springs/item-4029
Gas Springs provide force to a system, yet are self-locking for infinite, precise positioning. BLOC-O-LIFT gas springs are oil- or gasfilled to achieve rigid or elastic locking and offer a controlled rate of travel. Compact size, dependability and cost-effectiveness make the BLOC-OLIFT ideal for all types of counterbalance applications where positioning is a requirement.

Once they get in touch with me and I give them my pics/drawings/need requirements... then it's just fabricating the end mounts to my system. Done.

Thanks for your input, J!m and I'll post the finished product once completed.

 

[WhiskeyGatherer]

Decided to try another route. Bought 2 linear actuators and hooking them into my 12v system with a deadman switch. Hope it works.

 

[Superduty]

I always thought tire holders that hinge towards the ground were a bad idea. If i were you, my energy would be redirected to finding a way to create a swing carrier if possible.

 

[WhiskeyGatherer]

I always thought tire holders that hinge towards the ground were a bad idea. If i were you, my energy would be redirected to finding a way to create a swing carrier if possible.

I agree with ya. Problem is that a swing out tire carrier would get in the way of my slide in tables that are located at the rear. I figured when we were fabricating it that one day, the idea would come for an easier system. The linear actuators should do the trick with minimal amp draw to my 12v system.

 

[Superduty]

Got a link to the linear actuators? Will they provide assist going up and down?

Sounds interesting.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[WhiskeyGatherer]

Got a link to the linear actuators? Will they provide assist going up and down?

Sounds interesting.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Amazon.com: WindyNation (2pcs) 12 Volt, 225 lbs Linear Actuators + Up Down DPDT Switch + Mounting Brackets + Connectors (Momentary or Maintained Up Down Switch) (12" Linear Actuator, Maintained Switch): Home Improvement

Amazon.com: WindyNation (2pcs) 12 Volt, 225 lbs Linear Actuators + Up Down DPDT Switch + Mounting Brackets + Connectors (Momentary or Maintained Up Down Switch) (12" Linear Actuator, Maintained Switch): Home Improvement

www.amazon.com

I went with these after looking at a ton of what seemed very similar (yet more expensive). Grainger is expensive and there are a ton of cheap Chinese versions out there to choose from. I mostly liked the mounts but may be under powered, given the weight of the tire/assembly that's almost 24" past the strut push rod connection. Might have to return and get a more expensive/higher load rating LA.

 

[WhiskeyGatherer]

Well... I decided against the LA's. After speaking with a multitude of engineers and propellerheads, the math worked out with 2-150 lb pull springs from McMaster's-Carr.com. Thanks to everyone involved. Worked out perfectly.