Protective cage around plumbing

[ShrimpBurrito]

Inspired by member's Joseph's comment on how his mud flap did little to protect his plumbing from a tire blowout, I finally took the plunge on what I had been wanting to do for some time: I installed a metal cage around the plumbing. In anticipation of an upcoming 8,000-mile trip, where we will be loaded and going through hot states in the middle of the summer, I figured now is as good a time as any.

I went to my local metal shop, and had him craft a simple box out of 11 gauge galvanized steel. This thing is beefy -- it weighs about 20 pounds. At first, I was thinking of having him weld a brace across the back, but after getting this thing mounted, I don't think it is not necessary. I gave it a few good kicks with my shoe, and although it does vibrate a little, it does not move or bend one bit.

I attached the front of it by putting two 3/8" bolts through the protruding frame member directly behind the wheel. The rear is also attached with 2 fasteners: I drilled and tapped a hole for a 3/8" bolt in one of the two center frame rails, where the box is attached with a galvanized angle bracket, and one lag screw going up into the outer edge of the floor where there is a wood stud (the box of the trailer is attached to the protruding frame member this way).

I'm hoping clearance won't be an issue. Being a bit over an inch below the drain connector, it is 11" down from the floor, which is only about 1.5" lower than the bottom of the grey water tank, and further back, the rear stabilizer jack. So I think I will be ok -- I haven't scraped either of those two yet, and I figure if I'm going to scrape anything, scraping the new box will be a good warning that I am cutting it close to the grey water tank.

Dave