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Bike Rack > Materials Question

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Boyink, May 20, 2006.

  1. May 20, 2006
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,197
    Hey -

    I'm starting to scheme a rack for the Bantam trailer that will carry bikes and hopefully in the not too distant future a canoe or PortaBoat.

    In the back the rack will plug into the receiver hitch, and in the front it will have legs that will slide into the end of the Bantam's frame channels. Height-wise it'll probably be 12-16" higher than the top of the trailer.

    What should I use for building this thing - round or square tubing, and what thickness wall? I want it as lightweight as possible, but strong enough to support the wieght of everything....
     
    Boyink, May 20, 2006
    #1
  2. May 20, 2006
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    5,349
    M ike I have a bike rack for the bed of my truck that is made of extruded aluminum tubing that is about 1"x1½" it has been used alot and holds 4 bikes. It uses the lock for the front wheel. I just lay the wheels under the bike in the bed of my truck. Not quite your design but even aluminum is strong enough. You could use ¾" steel tubing and it should be plenty strong enough. My tree stand was made of ¾" square tubing and it was plenty strong enough for 250lbs.
     
    Mcruff, May 20, 2006
    #2
  3. May 21, 2006
    Chris Insull

    Chris Insull All roads lead me back to the beach... 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chesapeake, VA.
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    Sep 22, 2002
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    Mike,
    I am going to do something similar when I get the Bantam back on the road. My thoughts are to use 1.5x1.5x1/8" tube and weld tabs to the top and bottom and make it a bolt together deal for easier storage. From a strength/ weight standpoint, I think it'll work out great.
     
    Chris Insull, May 21, 2006
    #3
  4. May 21, 2006
    Old Bill

    Old Bill Aggressively passive....

    Really Southern...
    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
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    822
    Mike, my powdercoating oven weighs in at around 350lbs, and sits/rolls on a stand made from steel 1/8" wall 1.5" square. With minor reinforcements in the right places to reduce flex, you'll never have a problem with bikes and canoes....
    [​IMG]
     
    Old Bill, May 21, 2006
    #4
  5. May 21, 2006
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,197
    Soo....3/4" or 1.5" eh? R)

    Thinking about shooting the middle and going with 1"...

    Just to be clear - I have a bike rack (shown below), what I need to build is a way to use it elevated above the trailer bed. The rack and 4 bikes really eats up the space in the trailer, and the way I'm going to build it will let me use a tarp over the trailer body with the rack mounted.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Boyink, May 21, 2006
    #5
  6. May 21, 2006
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2003
    Messages:
    2,706
    I would think 1" would be fine. as long as you don't ride depleted Uranium framed bikes.
     
    mb82, May 21, 2006
    #6
  7. May 21, 2006
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
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    I was getting at the smaller the tubing, usually the cheaper it is, we all know how Dutch you are Mike.
    Thads frame that he sits his oven on would support my jeep if you removed the castors.;)
    1" square tubing with 1/16"-3/32" wall would be more than adequate.
     
    Mcruff, May 21, 2006
    #7
  8. May 22, 2006
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,197
    Well, we got to planning out our summer, scheduled a couple of camping trips and I realized I better get cracking on this project. Picked up the metal today - they were all out of the 1" stuff so I went 3/4".

    We'll see how it goes...
     
    Boyink, May 22, 2006
    #8
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