Front shell center latch support retrofit, second try

[BrucePerens]

This is my second try at a retrofit of the support for my front shell center latch. The first image shows the torn end of the shell support bar, most of the way through hand-sawing the torn end off. I received the trailer with the holes torn that way. While removing the torn end, I cut at an angle to avoid nicking the torsion bar. The second image shows the 1/8 inch steel plate I fabricated to support the latch. The latch is attached to the back of this plate.

This version holds the latch in place reliably and is stronger than the Trailmanor design. On my next try, I'll make it neater and a bit shorter at the top, I'll add a second plate behind the bar to better distribute the force of the bolts over the bar and the underlying torsion rod, and I'll paint the plates and the support bar.

I have nothing against nylock nuts. It just happens that my hardware store didn't have any, not to mention any in stainless. They had stainless nuts with integral star lock-washers for the small fasteners, and wedge lock nuts for the large ones. I used Locktite blue on all fasteners. I should probably not be using washers under the wedge-lock nuts. I might try to find Nord-Lock fasteners for the next try.

Even if I eventually replace the shell support bar, I'll continue to use this plate design. It's stronger and more reliable than attaching the latch to the bar end, and it prevents damage to the support bar.

After installing this, we pulled the TM to Bullard's Bar (about 3 hours from Berkeley). We brought:

• A Sea Eagle 14 foot inflatable white-water kayak
• A Tower 10.4 foot inflatable stand-up paddle-board (SUP for short).
• Three mountain bikes.
• A telescope and tripod.
• All of the usual camping stuff.
• Three people, including my 6'3" 16-year-old CAP cadet Stanley, and Valerie and I, who are merely tall.

The SUP fit in one bag, the kayak and its paddles, seats, and accessories fit in 3, and all of that fit in the Trailmanor. The bikes rode on top of the Grand Cherokee, but I might try the rear hitch bracket on the Trailmanor and a hitch rack for two of them next time.

Everything worked perfectly.

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Bruce, that looks like it won't break anytime soon. I will like to see the finished product though. As to stainless hardware, Lowes has an excellent selection and Ny-Lock nuts too. How thick was the plate that you have in the photos? On my website you can see what I did to secure the bar that the hook sets into on page 26 "Center Latch Catch". Since you're doing the latches you might want to do the other part or the catches that are on the bottom of the shell.
Tom

[BrucePerens]

It's 1/8 inch plain steel plate, 4 inches wide by um... 18 inches or two feet long, from the Home Depot. I cut it to 6 inches long with a fiber chop saw from Harbor Freight and drilled the holes on a drill press. This plate actually bent slightly around the torsion bar under the force of the bolts, and I think the support bar is also bent the same way, but it's no problem. It's soft steel, easy to work.

The final should be a lot neater. I didn't set this one up carefully with bluing, a scribe, and a punch, and I didn't file or sand anything. I just drew marks and aimed a large drill at them.

I'll probably leave the catch alone until it acts up, as I've a lot of other work to do to accessorize the trailer. But it's good to know someone's already worked out a way to reinforce that part, and thanks for publishing your work on it.

I'll look into Lowes. There isn't one as close as the Home Depot, but I pass two on the way to a customer in San Jose.

By the way, I'm not making money from perens.com/rv either, but hey readers, if your tech business has compliance or intellectual property issues, see LegalEngineering.com :-)

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you need to establish your signature on the bottom of your post pages and there you can also put your website address so everyone can read about the neat stuff you have done...and thank you back for publishing your site as well...Like I have said on here...it's not about money...it's about the free exchange of ideas! People do sell stuff on here but that's not the idea behind my website...or yours either....later my friend
Mods Happen
Tom

[BrucePerens]

OK, here is the full ego version. :-)

[fairweatherfisherman]

Thanks for the links Bruce. Good stuff!!

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Originally Posted by BrucePerens

OK, here is the full ego version. :-)

that's more like it...this way folks can have a faster and greater access to your ideas...you EGO MANIAC!
KE5VYI
Tom