Hope someone can help, this is our first post, so I trust we are in the correct area. Stella and I are preparing our 2003 Jayco Freedom caravan for extended touring in the near future. We would like to fit an extra gear carrying box to the rear spare wheel/ protection bar on the van. Has anyone fitted a carry box to this model Jayco ? We are more than aware off the dangers of overloading and upsetting the balance of the van so it will only be used for carring light items. Its the attaching of the box to the galvanised bar that I require advice on. I am a retired Boat Builder so building a light, high strength box is no problem. The box cannot sit on top of the bar and must be hung off the back so to speak. We have seen other nomads with boxes attached to other rear end bars but not to Jaycos rear style bars. Any advice will be very welcome. We hope to be regular posters on this great Forum
All the best, great fishing and safe travels, Tim & Stella Miria-Robinson.
blaze said
11:10 AM Oct 9, 2011
We have our storage box there but not a jayco. What I did was make up some square u shaped chanel (square section rear bar) and weld them to our all the aliminum box and then put 4 tech screws in it. cheers blaze
blaze said
11:11 AM Oct 9, 2011
ps and a big welcome cheers blaze
jimricho said
07:20 PM Oct 9, 2011
Welcome aboard Tim,
I have a box fitted to the rear bar of my Goldstream as shown in my profile picture. Like you I'm conscious of not loading heavy items in it so as not affect the stability of the rig or cause any structural issues. The rear bar has two factory fitted jerry can holders that I don't use so I figure it should be ok for the box. It's mounted on two pieces of angle that are U bolted to the bar.
The spare wheel is mounted on the inside of the rear bar and is accessed by either lifting over the box or dropping it down the space between the bar and the van. Apart from my fitting the box this is how it come ex factory and was done this way to allow a bicycle rack to mounted on the rear of the bar.
Sorry I can't help you with the Jayco but this may be of some help
Jim
-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 9th of October 2011 07:25:09 PM
Tim Robinson said
08:41 AM Oct 10, 2011
Thanks Blaze
It looks like I will have to design and draw up two simple,braced hangers and find a local steel fabrication shop to assemble and weld up for me.
Tim Robinson
Tim Robinson said
08:44 AM Oct 10, 2011
Thanks Jim.
I was hoping someone would supply me with the address of a supplier of suitable brackets but it looks like its of to the drawing board.
Tim Robinson
_wombat_ said
10:09 AM Oct 10, 2011
Tim
these guys maybe able to help, or perhaps they will know somebody who can help.
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Monday 10th of October 2011 10:10:17 AM
Old Crofter said
02:23 PM Oct 10, 2011
Hi Tim, have just read Wombats post re handbook. I note that they talk about warrenty penalties etc in that. maybe timely to have a read before construction. http://www.bayswaterjayco.com.au/Jay_owners_handbook.pdf
Bob
justcruisin01 said
03:50 PM Oct 10, 2011
As Richo said, mount some supports to the bar first to mount the box to.
I have personally seen the push bike carry bars tear the main bumper bar off a jayco, but then you only have to look at the amount of leverage that is created by the flexing othe carry rack due to the over hang of the bikes.
The bikes may not be very heavy but it is the leverage they create. The people wern't very happy when they found their bikes draging on the road.
jimricho said
06:51 PM Oct 10, 2011
Tim Robinson wrote:
Thanks Jim.
I was hoping someone would supply me with the address of a supplier of suitable brackets but it looks like its of to the drawing board.
Tim Robinson
Sorry Tim, can't help with a supplier, I happened to have a couple of pieces of 50mm angle on hand that I cut to length with a combination of a hacksaw and elbow grease (thirsty work). A couple of U bolts secure these to the bar.
The box is made from alluminium checkerplate and these are readily available from auto stores. I found the el-cheapo galvanised ones were not weatherproof and let in water and dust.
As mentioned earlier I'm conscious of both the weight and moment arm (leverage) issues mentioned above and only carry light loads (plastic chocks, couple of small tarps, couple of small traffic cones etc, nothing heavy. No hammers, tools, pegs, jacks etc). If anticipating an extended drive over a heavily corrugated road I would either empty the box completely and carry the contents in the car or remove the box and carry it inside the van. (only a matter of undoing the U bolts)
Jim
PS: I've seen generators, outboard motors, fold up boat trailers, and small motor bikes carried on rear bumper bars, ummmm!, makes one wonder?????
-- Edited by jimricho on Monday 10th of October 2011 07:12:26 PM
Tim Robinson said
05:24 PM Oct 11, 2011
Hi again
Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and information. I looked at the photos with great care, where that company are offering bike racks etc and it looks as if they are first beefing up the existing bumper bar by mounting box section under it and bolting the section to the original. The obvious weak point would appear to be the angled weld where the two box sections are welded together.
This weekend I trust the storms will stay away and I can remove our hail cover from the van and have another good look at the bumper bar construction. I know it runs back under the van chassis, but not how it is attached. Now i know why I joined this forum, the number of replies and the depth of knowledge amongst the Grey Nomad community is heartening with our travels in the future drawing near. So much to do, but all great fun.
Once again thanks to all, stay safe and happy fishing. Tim & Stella Miria-Robinson.
Hi everybody
Hope someone can help, this is our first post, so I trust we are in the correct area.
Stella and I are preparing our 2003 Jayco Freedom caravan for extended touring in the near future. We would like to fit an extra gear carrying box to the rear spare wheel/ protection bar on the van. Has anyone fitted a carry box to this model Jayco ? We are more than aware off the dangers of overloading and upsetting the balance of the van so it will only be used for carring light items. Its the attaching of the box to the galvanised bar that I require advice on. I am a retired Boat Builder so building a light, high strength box is no problem. The box cannot sit on top of the bar and must be hung off the back so to speak. We have seen other nomads with boxes attached to other rear end bars but not to Jaycos rear style bars. Any advice will be very welcome. We hope to be regular posters on this great Forum
All the best, great fishing and safe travels, Tim & Stella Miria-Robinson.
cheers
blaze
and a big welcome
cheers
blaze
Welcome aboard Tim,
I have a box fitted to the rear bar of my Goldstream as shown in my profile picture. Like you I'm conscious of not loading heavy items in it so as not affect the stability of the rig or cause any structural issues. The rear bar has two factory fitted jerry can holders that I don't use so I figure it should be ok for the box. It's mounted on two pieces of angle that are U bolted to the bar.
The spare wheel is mounted on the inside of the rear bar and is accessed by either lifting over the box or dropping it down the space between the bar and the van. Apart from my fitting the box this is how it come ex factory and was done this way to allow a bicycle rack to mounted on the rear of the bar.
Sorry I can't help you with the Jayco but this may be of some help
Jim
-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 9th of October 2011 07:25:09 PM
Thanks Blaze
It looks like I will have to design and draw up two simple,braced hangers and find a local steel fabrication shop to assemble and weld up for me.
Tim Robinson
Thanks Jim.
I was hoping someone would supply me with the address of a supplier of suitable brackets but it looks like its of to the drawing board.
Tim Robinson
these guys maybe able to help, or perhaps they will know somebody who can help.
http://www.bernsbeaks.com.au/Bike%20Rax/Caravans-P1.htm
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Monday 10th of October 2011 10:10:17 AM
http://www.bayswaterjayco.com.au/Jay_owners_handbook.pdf
Bob
As Richo said, mount some supports to the bar first to mount the box to.
I have personally seen the push bike carry bars tear the main bumper bar off a jayco, but then you only have to look at the amount of leverage that is created by the flexing othe carry rack due to the over hang of the bikes.
The bikes may not be very heavy but it is the leverage they create. The people wern't very happy when they found their bikes draging on the road.
Sorry Tim, can't help with a supplier, I happened to have a couple of pieces of 50mm angle on hand that I cut to length with a combination of a hacksaw and elbow grease (thirsty work). A couple of U bolts secure these to the bar.
The box is made from alluminium checkerplate and these are readily available from auto stores. I found the el-cheapo galvanised ones were not weatherproof and let in water and dust.
As mentioned earlier I'm conscious of both the weight and moment arm (leverage) issues mentioned above and only carry light loads (plastic chocks, couple of small tarps, couple of small traffic cones etc, nothing heavy. No hammers, tools, pegs, jacks etc). If anticipating an extended drive over a heavily corrugated road I would either empty the box completely and carry the contents in the car or remove the box and carry it inside the van. (only a matter of undoing the U bolts)
Jim
PS: I've seen generators, outboard motors, fold up boat trailers, and small motor bikes carried on rear bumper bars, ummmm!, makes one wonder?????
-- Edited by jimricho on Monday 10th of October 2011 07:12:26 PM
Hi again
Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and information. I looked at the photos with great care, where that company are offering bike racks etc and it looks as if they are first beefing up the existing bumper bar by mounting box section under it and bolting the section to the original. The obvious weak point would appear to be the angled weld where the two box sections are welded together.
This weekend I trust the storms will stay away and I can remove our hail cover from the van and have another good look at the bumper bar construction. I know it runs back under the van chassis, but not how it is attached. Now i know why I joined this forum, the number of replies and the depth of knowledge amongst the Grey Nomad community is heartening with our travels in the future drawing near. So much to do, but all great fun.
Once again thanks to all, stay safe and happy fishing. Tim & Stella Miria-Robinson.