TrailManor Owner's Forum - View Single Post

**rickst29** · 03-21-2023, 01:01 PM

Although this could theoretically go into the floor's street side "corner sideways, I don't remember that wood wall brace being very tall - and it would have all of the lift bar's stress going through that one screw. I think that a length of 90 degree angle stock, maybe 3" x 3", is still desirable to provide for more screw connections to the TM floor. (That length and width can also probably provide for a second screw between the "countertop" bar and the vertical side of the 3x3 sheet stock.

After considerable search time, I settled on this set of counterop supporting bars: https://www.amazon.com/Countertop-Su...dp/B0B393B1GJ/

The individual bars are rated for 250 lbs. The 2-2/2" width is the "biggest" which amazon has, and the 3/16 thickness makes for a good cross section. With no angled support bar included, only the cross section (at the 90 degree bend) resists distortion. That would seem to be a good match for gas struts rated at 120 or 150 lbs maximum. "200 lbs" is possibly too much for these cheap mounting bars, and maybe also too much for the "hanger" from the floor.countertop support brackets above.
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The other items in my shopping list could be: one of these on angled mounts on each lift bar (using 5 screws each), https://www.amazon.com/Angled-Suppor...dp/B074R6GT2W/. Along with one of the "large outside mount brackets" https://www.amazon.com/Angled-Suppor...dp/B074R6GT2W/ from the same listing (using only 3 screws, but that's probably enough, and I could drill out to a slightly large screw size). These are only galvanized, and a bit prone to rusting over time. For the shocks themselves, I'm not going to pay $$$ for stainless before I'm sure of the strength to buy. Mut my first guess is this pair, at 120 lbs each: https://www.amazon.com/ARANA-C16-080.../dp/B08B3Y7Y7W

The attachment to the lower box of the TM should probably be made with angle bar, at least 12" long, to provide for an adequate number of screws into the floor. My first guess is a pair of these (one per front corner) at about $15 each. https://www.ebay.com/itm/224412511327 Those are stronger, but need to be painted. 3" height (vertical) allows for 2 bolts into the angled mount brackets, and prevents changes in the angle of that mounting bracket.

A 2x2x12 stainless steel angle bar is available for only a few $ more, but the 2" height probably provides for only one screw into the angled mounting bracket. When the shell is rotated up and forwards, the fully extended gas strut will probably create some amount of compressive force at the at the strut attachment end. That force (at maybe 70 degrees of angle to the bar, almost perpendicular will try to rotate the end of the mounting bracket up and into the trailer. Such movement would tend to loosen a mounting bolt at the opposite end (into the angle bar), with possibly bad results. A second bolt at the other end (into the angle bar) prevents that motion. SS is also a lot weaker than cold-rolled.

03-21-2023, 01:01 PM	#21
rickst29 yes, they hunt lions. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,318	A long "countertop" L bar seems optimal for this. Although this could theoretically go into the floor's street side "corner sideways, I don't remember that wood wall brace being very tall - and it would have all of the lift bar's stress going through that one screw. I think that a length of 90 degree angle stock, maybe 3" x 3", is still desirable to provide for more screw connections to the TM floor. (That length and width can also probably provide for a second screw between the "countertop" bar and the vertical side of the 3x3 sheet stock. After considerable search time, I settled on this set of counterop supporting bars: https://www.amazon.com/Countertop-Su...dp/B0B393B1GJ/ The individual bars are rated for 250 lbs. The 2-2/2" width is the "biggest" which amazon has, and the 3/16 thickness makes for a good cross section. With no angled support bar included, only the cross section (at the 90 degree bend) resists distortion. That would seem to be a good match for gas struts rated at 120 or 150 lbs maximum. "200 lbs" is possibly too much for these cheap mounting bars, and maybe also too much for the "hanger" from the floor.countertop support brackets above. - - - The other items in my shopping list could be: one of these on angled mounts on each lift bar (using 5 screws each), https://www.amazon.com/Angled-Suppor...dp/B074R6GT2W/. Along with one of the "large outside mount brackets" https://www.amazon.com/Angled-Suppor...dp/B074R6GT2W/ from the same listing (using only 3 screws, but that's probably enough, and I could drill out to a slightly large screw size). These are only galvanized, and a bit prone to rusting over time. For the shocks themselves, I'm not going to pay $$$ for stainless before I'm sure of the strength to buy. Mut my first guess is this pair, at 120 lbs each: https://www.amazon.com/ARANA-C16-080.../dp/B08B3Y7Y7W The attachment to the lower box of the TM should probably be made with angle bar, at least 12" long, to provide for an adequate number of screws into the floor. My first guess is a pair of these (one per front corner) at about $15 each. https://www.ebay.com/itm/224412511327 Those are stronger, but need to be painted. 3" height (vertical) allows for 2 bolts into the angled mount brackets, and prevents changes in the angle of that mounting bracket. A 2x2x12 stainless steel angle bar is available for only a few $ more, but the 2" height probably provides for only one screw into the angled mounting bracket. When the shell is rotated up and forwards, the fully extended gas strut will probably create some amount of compressive force at the at the strut attachment end. That force (at maybe 70 degrees of angle to the bar, almost perpendicular will try to rotate the end of the mounting bracket up and into the trailer. Such movement would tend to loosen a mounting bolt at the opposite end (into the angle bar), with possibly bad results. A second bolt at the other end (into the angle bar) prevents that motion. SS is also a lot weaker than cold-rolled. __________________ TM='06 2619 w/5K axle, 15" Maxxis "E" tires. Plumbing protector. 630 watts solar. 450AH LiFePO4 batteries, 3500 watt inverter. CR-1110 E-F/S fridge (compressor). TV = 2007 4runner sport, with a 36 volt "power boost".