Modifying my LV-416 Explorer
- Thread starter 60Dan
- Start date
One of the nice mod's I saw was a 2" receiver hitch on the side of a trailer. Then a cutting board/table that mounted into that hitch with a pin to lock it. Something I've always thought about for the table was something along these lines, even if it's only a couple small hitch type receivers (1" or smaller) that the table/counter can slide into. Mount those on either side of the fender (but on the fender).
Something like this (ignore the dots), x's being the receiver to slide the table/counter in, solid lines being the fender.
...____
x/........\x
/...........\
Or that. Like that better.
Last edited:
Mark Harley
Expedition Leader
Nice work, Tailgate turned out well.
60Dan
Explorer
Thanks Mark!
I like the idea of the pins to hold the table in place, i think im going to do that.
Ive also thought about using a small receiver hitch for a table, but im running out of room! Just mounted the propane tank on the right, and would like to eventually put one on the left.
Feels like ive been working day and night on this project .... im headed over to the UK in 3 days for my sisters University graduation and we have a camping trip planned the weekend I get back (trying to get a few trips in before the weather completely goes to crap!), so ive been in the garage every waking moment outside of work
Last Xmas my loving wife got me some LED lights (got to love Amazon wish list
). I wanted to convert every light on the trailer to LED's, and add some more running lights for night time visibility as just because I think they look cool
Well this turned out to be waaaaay more effort than I originally thought but I think it came out well in the end
I got 6 LED running lights (3 per side).
I dont like Chrome. I think its fine for Harley's, but not much else. The housings were all chrome, so scuffed them all up and painted the black to go with the eventual paint theme
60Dan
Explorer
Painted and mounted
Then I built a wiring harness for each side.
Took a piece of 1" round electrical conduit from Lowes and sprayed it with truck bed liner to match the inside of the tub. Cut a slit down the middle and pushed the wires through so they would be protected and hidden.
Then took some flexible 1" pipe which I ran down the inside of the tub near the tailgate so I could splice into the trailer wires.
Temporarily mounted everything to make sure the connections were sound ....
Then mounted it ...
I kinda messed up the first side. I realized after I put it all together, that im going to need to remove it again for paint - well I used Butt connectors so will need to cut the wiring when it comes time for paint
So when I did the right side I used male to female connectors for easy removal. Oh well Live and learn I guess!
Then I built a wiring harness for each side.
Took a piece of 1" round electrical conduit from Lowes and sprayed it with truck bed liner to match the inside of the tub. Cut a slit down the middle and pushed the wires through so they would be protected and hidden.
Then took some flexible 1" pipe which I ran down the inside of the tub near the tailgate so I could splice into the trailer wires.
Temporarily mounted everything to make sure the connections were sound ....
Then mounted it ...
I kinda messed up the first side. I realized after I put it all together, that im going to need to remove it again for paint - well I used Butt connectors so will need to cut the wiring when it comes time for paint
So when I did the right side I used male to female connectors for easy removal. Oh well Live and learn I guess!
dstock
Explorer
I kinda messed up the first side. I realized after I put it all together, that im going to need to remove it again for paint - well I used Butt connectors so will need to cut the wiring when it comes time for paint
So when I did the right side I used male to female connectors for easy removal. Oh well Live and learn I guess!
Posi-lock connectors will solve your problem....
http://www.posi-lock.com/posilock.html
60Dan
Explorer
That's cool, I've never seen those before!
M35A2
Tinkerer
Really nice build. Here's an idea for attaching the table top: get a few large neodymium magnets from Amazon. They are available in all shapes and sizes. Bigger ones, like 1/2 x 1/2 x 3, are strong enough to pinch off skin if you are working with two at a time. Epoxy the magnets in a mortise you cut in the table top - maybe two flat magnets for the edges of the fenders, and a few cylindrical ones set into the back edge of the table. It will hold! And you will never drop a screwdriver off the top. 
dstock
Explorer
They are awesome, you will love them. Fantastic trailer build by the way, really nicely done.
60Dan
Explorer
Update time ...
It's time for a long overdue update ...
Due to new job commitments I've had to put our Yellowstone trip off until 2014, so work on the trailer has been slow ..... Until about a 2 weeks ago when we decided to do a short trip out it the Carolina's starting the first week of August.
So the past 10 days or so I've been making headway on a long list of additions to the trailer.
Items completed since my last update:
- Awning brackets installed and awning mounted
- Tongue box, battery and electrical wiring added
- LED strip lights in tongue box, tent, awning and trailer tub
- Welded studs to the right fender to secure table
- Jerry cans mounted behind tongue box
It's by no means ready for a 3500 mile round trip to Yellowstone - but this planned trip to North Carolina will make for a good shake down.
I don't have pictures at the moment but will post up in the next few a days.
In the meantime I need some advise ..... The trailer lid is waaay to heavy now I've added the tent, brackets, and awning!
It takes everything in me to lift it, and once it's up the gas struts won't hold it. I estimate the lid weighs around 300-350lbs (guessing).
What do you recommend? Stouter struts or linear/track actuator? If so which struts/or actuator?
It's time for a long overdue update ...
Due to new job commitments I've had to put our Yellowstone trip off until 2014, so work on the trailer has been slow ..... Until about a 2 weeks ago when we decided to do a short trip out it the Carolina's starting the first week of August.
So the past 10 days or so I've been making headway on a long list of additions to the trailer.
Items completed since my last update:
- Awning brackets installed and awning mounted
- Tongue box, battery and electrical wiring added
- LED strip lights in tongue box, tent, awning and trailer tub
- Welded studs to the right fender to secure table
- Jerry cans mounted behind tongue box
It's by no means ready for a 3500 mile round trip to Yellowstone - but this planned trip to North Carolina will make for a good shake down.
I don't have pictures at the moment but will post up in the next few a days.
In the meantime I need some advise ..... The trailer lid is waaay to heavy now I've added the tent, brackets, and awning!
It takes everything in me to lift it, and once it's up the gas struts won't hold it. I estimate the lid weighs around 300-350lbs (guessing).
What do you recommend? Stouter struts or linear/track actuator? If so which struts/or actuator?
60Dan
Explorer
Linville Falls camping trip
Just got back from a 5 day trip to NC.
Camped at Linville Falls, drove and camped on the NC105. Beautiful scenery, and great weather.
All the mods I did to the trailer got a workout on our 800 mile trip, but everything held together and functioned flawlessly.
I got some more ideas for future mods before we leave for Yellowstone next year - these projects seem to continually evolve done they!
Thinking about cutting a door in the side and using a marine hatch to have access to a slide out drawer.
The LEDs were great too and drew minimal power from the on board 12v power system.
Here are some pictures from our trip:
Just got back from a 5 day trip to NC.
Camped at Linville Falls, drove and camped on the NC105. Beautiful scenery, and great weather.
All the mods I did to the trailer got a workout on our 800 mile trip, but everything held together and functioned flawlessly.
I got some more ideas for future mods before we leave for Yellowstone next year - these projects seem to continually evolve done they!
Thinking about cutting a door in the side and using a marine hatch to have access to a slide out drawer.
The LEDs were great too and drew minimal power from the on board 12v power system.
Here are some pictures from our trip:
60Dan
Explorer
Thanks for the compliment!
I'm still working on a RTT lift but the additional weight is starting to put me off - I'm undecided if I should continue or not.
Thinking about putting in a marine style hatch on the side to access the front of the tub.
Also may put a roller drawer system the length of the trailer so I have maximum access when the tent is deployed.
Other ideas I had was a kitchen swing out, more lights, potentially a SOA and of course paint to match the tow rig!
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