Alternate uses for jack brackets

[bsam92]

My Fleet sticks on my Tacoma full time - so I keep the actual jacks in storage. Has anyone come up with any creative alternate uses for their jack brackets? I'm thinking bolt on storage boxes, fly rod holders, ski racks, fold down tables, anything that can be bolted on and avoid drilling more holes into the camper!

As ski season approaches this year I'm trying to think of some way to build a ski rack that I can bolt onto the jack brackets to avoid having to store my skis on the roof or inside, especially when ski camping and the top is popped.

Interested in hearing any ideas!

Longtime lurker - this is my first post so I feel I have to include a photo of my pup and I looking over Mt. Bachelor the other day, longing for it to look more like winter.

 

[Ace!]

Bottle opener?

 

[Wallowa]

My Fleet sticks on my Tacoma full time - so I keep the actual jacks in storage. Has anyone come up with any creative alternate uses for their jack brackets? I'm thinking bolt on storage boxes, fly rod holders, ski racks, fold down tables, anything that can be bolted on and avoid drilling more holes into the camper!

As ski season approaches this year I'm trying to think of some way to build a ski rack that I can bolt onto the jack brackets to avoid having to store my skis on the roof or inside, especially when ski camping and the top is popped.

Interested in hearing any ideas!

Longtime lurker - this is my first post so I feel I have to include a photo of my pup and I looking over Mt. Bachelor the other day, longing for it to look more like winter.

Ski rack..interesting never thought of that [not much weight]...just make certain anything you attach does not increase the width or hang below edge of the camper [if you go off road]; all my skis are 190 cm or less...will measure today.....but either side of our Hawk would block the propane door and interfere with entrance door or the right rear window...perhaps an off set rack on the right rear inboard of the truck bed.

Let us know how you solve the issue of freezing the water system on ski trips...I am still working on that..

Thanks...Phil

 

[Wallowa]

Bottle opener?

Ace,

I thought your Keystone Light came in cans?

Phil

 

[bsam92]

Ski rack..interesting never thought of that [not much weight]...just make certain anything you attach does not increase the width or hang below edge of the camper [if you go off road]; all my skis are 190 cm or less...will measure today.....but either side of our Hawk would block the propane door and interfere with entrance door or the right rear window...perhaps an off set rack on the right rear inboard of the truck bed.

Let us know how you solve the issue of freezing the water system on ski trips...I am still working on that..

Thanks...Phil

Any reason not to increase the width? Last night after a few beverages I decided to mess around with some scrap wood, cardboard and tape to play with the idea of a bolt on box on the side / potentially use some square tubing to just mount my existing ski rack horizontally to the side of the camper. I've seen similar things done where people will mount their paddle boards / surf boards on the sides of their vans.

Ideally if I had a few thousand dollars to burn I could convert my Tacoma to a flat bed and all of my exterior storage issues would be solved...oh well maybe someday.

And the freezing water is easy for me, I've got a shell so no plumbing!

 

[bsam92]

I couldn't figure out how to post two pictures at once...

 

[ntsqd]

Don't I recall an identical reasonably recent thread on this topic?

 

[Wallowa]

Good question...about width...if you only attach the rack in winter when you most likely are not going "off road" where a wide load can get snagged or torn off..anything that goes beyond the camper size is counter to our use of my Tundra and Hawk.

A shell? Damn that is cheating! Our Hawk is the full-Monty....I have attempt a few 'fixes" to combat freezing temps not just for the plumbing but for the inside...trouble is if they fail and I bust a pipe, well that would prove my assumption was wrong..

I concur with you idea of not putting any holes in the camper...also remember those steps can be load bearing.
Please keep posting as you progress..I would, and I believe you are, have my skis enclosed from the road grit.

Phil

Ps...Weight is also a consideration, but your concept should be light.

PPs...Also check the vehicle code where you plan to drive, some states [Ca] limit the addition [distance] of anything sticking out beyond the right side of the vehicle...think bicycles or peds....if considered a "load".

 

[Alley-Kat]

Several years ago I asked my local marine, stainless steel, welder to teach me how to weld stainless steel. He did and I built this exterior driver's side fold down table.

Folds flat against the camper and locks in the up position when traveling, and folds down when at camp. Had to always do that if I wanted to use the furnace as it blocked the furnace exhaust on the driver's side of the camper. Used it only one Summer before a guy in another camper offered me more than I had invested in it (a lot more), after we saw that it would fit his camper.

If the drawings aren't good enough to explain it... From the stowed position, pull the locking pin out, push up on the table out of the inside drop slot, slide out and into the outside drop slot, then rotate the table into the down position. Cable holds the table securely in a flat position, no legs required, thus no problem with uneven terrain. Reverse the steps for stowing away.

Haven't got around to making another one, but , I think I will, maybe next year or the year after.

 

[kmacafee]

mounted an awning to those brackets

 

[takesiteasy]

Several years ago I asked my local marine, stainless steel, welder to teach me how to weld stainless steel. He did and I built this exterior driver's side fold down table.

...

Very clever. I like that idea- may copy it.

 

[rubberlegs]

Yeah, that fold down table design is very clever. Is it pretty stable, such that it doesn't bang against the side of the camper on rough roads?

 

[Alley-Kat]

Very clever. I like that idea- may copy it.

Have at it.

Yeah, that fold down table design is very clever. Is it pretty stable, such that it doesn't bang against the side of the camper on rough roads?

I had some soft rubber/sponge material (almost like wet suit material) attached to the top edge of the table when stowed that compressed against the side of the camper. Enough compression that I had to press the table tight against the camper to push in the locking pin. I used a quick release locking pin, like these at West Marine, same diameter as the jack bracket bolts. Never came loose, never made any noise, and didn't leave any marks on the side of the camper. Except for where the under wing bracket was screwed into the wood of the camper, you would never know any of it was ever there.

I also later devised a spring under the front edge of the table that retracted the support cable when the table was stowed. The spring was pretty light, & long and simply attached to the loops of the front and rear support cable under the table. Each cable had a stainless flat washer that stopped the cable at the right length when deployed. I didn't think of that initially, however, seeing a large loop of stainless cable flapping in the breeze at both the front and rear of the table convinced me that I either needed to remove the cable when driving (not an ideal process) or figure out how to retract it (automatically). Sorry I didn't take any photos of it when I was building it or using it. Hopefully you get the idea from my description.

 

[rubberlegs]

Well if you ever have time to take photos, it would be great to see them. You must have been a mechanical designer in a previous life (or current life), or at least an experienced tinkerer.

 

[Alley-Kat]

Well if you ever have time to take photos, it would be great to see them. You must have been a mechanical designer in a previous life (or current life), or at least an experienced tinkerer.

I'll take photos on the next build, in a year or so. The original unit is somewhere in Canada now, a long way away from where I live. I know his first name, but, I have no contact information. We transferred ownership on a spur of the moment in a campground in Utah. Cash deal, all smiles, on all sides.

Mechanical Designer... close, by education an Aeronautical Engineer and for fun a shade tree engineer. I do like to dream up, design and then build things of purpose, and sometimes things of no purpose.

 

[Bseek]

Alley-cat. I have coveted that drop down shelf ever since I saw the diagram. If you ever get serious about making them, sign me up.

 

[rubberlegs]

Alley-Kat, until recently I was a mechanism designer at a large commercial airplane manufacturer, so I could tell your design was well thought out! Any idea how much it weighs?

Your trade sounds interesting. What did you get?

 

[Wallowa]

Several years ago I asked my local marine, stainless steel, welder to teach me how to weld stainless steel. He did and I built this exterior driver's side fold down table.

Folds flat against the camper and locks in the up position when traveling, and folds down when at camp. Had to always do that if I wanted to use the furnace as it blocked the furnace exhaust on the driver's side of the camper. Used it only one Summer before a guy in another camper offered me more than I had invested in it (a lot more), after we saw that it would fit his camper.

If the drawings aren't good enough to explain it... From the stowed position, pull the locking pin out, push up on the table out of the inside drop slot, slide out and into the outside drop slot, then rotate the table into the down position. Cable holds the table securely in a flat position, no legs required, thus no problem with uneven terrain. Reverse the steps for stowing away.

Haven't got around to making another one, but , I think I will, maybe next year or the year after.

Yup, furnace and refrigerator vents on our Hawk are where that table would stow away. Nice plans; a stand-up table would really come in handy for outside cooking. You inferred material was SS; why not aluminum?

 

[trikebubble]

AT Overland 10 pound propane tank holder. I carry the 3rd tank for our little propane firepit.

 

[Alley-Kat]

Alley-Kat, until recently I was a mechanism designer at a large commercial airplane manufacturer, so I could tell your design was well thought out! Any idea how much it weighs?

Your trade sounds interesting. What did you get?

Thanks for the compliment. If you are referring to what I got in exchange for the fold down table... A big wad of cash. It was reasonably heavy, maybe 50 lbs.

Yup, furnace and refrigerator vents on our Hawk are where that table would stow away. Nice plans; a stand-up table would really come in handy for outside cooking. You inferred material was SS; why not aluminum?

I wanted to learn how to weld stainless steel, my welder friend that had made all my custom designed sailboat hardware had offered to teach me, so I took advantage of that before he retired.

I think aluminium would be better for lightness, however, the top surface may have to be thicker than the stainless steel or have some underneath bracing for the rigidity needed. That's another welding technique I'll have to get better at, or learn from a master. Maybe Jeff at All Terrain Campers would teach me. I do have another BIG project I'd like to do. and it could be right up ATC's alley, as a recreational project, sort of.

The stainless steel, as surface, was really nice as a serving/buffet table when I camped in large groups and there were no other tables in the area or brought with us.