RTT Rack Height Dilemma - Need Some Advice

[Egan70]

I have an M101A3 which I am building up in a separate thread. I added the DiamondBack cover because I liked the idea of a locked and weather tight trailer bed. I didn't think everything through as well as I should have because I am now running into issues while designing my RTT rack.

I want to be able to remove the front and rear cover sections while the rack is on the trailer. Each section is 41" long which means the rack bottom would have to be at 95" AFF or so to give me enough room to flip the covers up and remove them. I only need the rack at 78" AFF to put the Mt Rainier at the right height for the changing room to be optimal. The image below is my CAD drawing of my trailer. You can see that just to get the covers open enough for basic access (not for loading anything big) my final RTT height is about right. If I want the covers completely open where the struts are maxed out, I have to go up another 12" to 90" AFF.

My ideal stowed height for the bottom of the rack would have been around 65" AFF to help keep the drag down.

So, do I build a rack that can telescope from 65" to 78" and then again to 95"? Does this complicate strut sizing and add more bracing to the rack?

Do I just go with 65" and 78" and on the rare occasion I need to remove one or both covers for items too tall to fit under the cover, just remove the entire RTT rack? (I plan to put eyebolts in the top of the RTT rack so it and the RTT can be hoisted up, leaving only the base of the rack).

Here's my trailer and you can see how high up the cover goes:



Here's my CAD drawing painfully illustrating my dilemma:

 

[Egan70]

Or do I go a different route and mount right to the cover with a fixed height rack like the one below?

 

[dstock]

My 2 cents based off my build, 95" is going to be way to tall and unstable unless you seriously support it. Even then I wouldn't do it. The other issue is with 30" inches of travel, and only 19" side rails, to get down to the 65" height your rack legs are going to stick down past the bed of the trailer when it's at rest.

I would go with the lift the rack off method when you need that much access, I can unhook the struts from mine in about 3 mins and lift the whole rack off for utility duty.

Mounting direct to the Diamondback would limit your access to the bed and would still have your rack at a pretty tall height for travel if you go with the 78" height for the annex.

 

[CGCruiserDude]

I agree with dstock, 95" will be way too tall. I built my M116 trailer thinking I would use the springs that came with my Dexter axle but then decided to just utilize the springs that existed on my trailer which kept the height pretty high. I just cut my rack down nine inches to 78" thinking it would maximize my use of the annex and allow me to easily mount my awning under it. Now that I have that done it's ok but I wish it was a few inches shorter still, maybe 74" or 75". My 2 cents, if you can don't go above 78". At 95 even the ladder extension will be too short.

 

[CGCruiserDude]

Oh, one question as well. I have a 10lb propane tank to mount next. Did you use the Powertank mount or is that a different make? Sorry, had to ask!

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

It'll be hard to find the thread here, but I've seen someone to a pivot/articulating rack for their RTT.

I can't find the exact one I'm thinking of, but the concept would be similar to the first one here:
http://tventuring.com/trailerforum/thread-83-post-11889.html#pid11889

Your trailer is quite long compared to the RTT, would you have enough length to do this?

Maybe some more ideas in here:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/124775-Height-Adjustable-RTT-Rack

Or even him:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/127104-Early-Bronco-Expo-Trailer-Build/page5

 

[Egan70]

Oh, one question as well. I have a 10lb propane tank to mount next. Did you use the Powertank mount or is that a different make? Sorry, had to ask!

That's the PowerTank bracket for the Worthington 11lb bottle.

Build details: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/130986-Egan-s-M101A3-Build

 

[Egan70]

Just for clarity, the 95" was not intended to use the tent at, but only to lift it there temporarily to get the covers off.

I think you guys are right though, the 95" just complicates the rack and removal of the covers will likely be rare, so removing everything and hoisting it out of the way is a better way to go. I'll go with a 65/78 design and call it good - thanks for the sanity check!

 

[Egan70]

It'll be hard to find the thread here, but I've seen someone to a pivot/articulating rack for their RTT.

I can't find the exact one I'm thinking of, but the concept would be similar to the first one here:
http://tventuring.com/trailerforum/thread-83-post-11889.html#pid11889

Your trailer is quite long compared to the RTT, would you have enough length to do this?

Maybe some more ideas in here:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/124775-Height-Adjustable-RTT-Rack

Or even him:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/127104-Early-Bronco-Expo-Trailer-Build/page5

I found that tventuring link yesterday while doing some research - lots of great ideas in there! Thanks!