Folding Tire Rack Attachment in Trailer

[CEO]

Looking for some advice on how to mount a folding tire rack in my trailer that will be the sturdiest.

I bought it from Doc, who had it in his garage. It looks like he used a bunch of lag screws to just screw it into the wall studs in his garage. That certainly makes sense for where he had it.

The unit is similar if not identical to this: http://www.redlinestands.com/catalog...enid=ehbkuzgbx

But for me, there will be a lot more stress (bouncing and driving etc) on the attachment points and I don't have sturdy 2x4 studs to mount into. i'm thinking with a set of wheels and a couple sets of tires this could present a problem.

My trailer wall has the outside metal sheeting, the metal studs in the wall (relatively thin I think just steel L-angle or U-channel, I forget), and then the standard 3/8" plywood inside.

I'm wondering if anyone has a good suggestion for how to attach this in the sturdiest fashion or if you've done this before.

Thanks!

[Tricky Mike]

I just used self-drilling/tapping screws... Seem pretty sturdy. Long enough to get through what I wanted to mount, the wood, etc, but not too long as to cause an issue with the exterior skin of the trailer. Could we just weld a horizontal span of aluminum across the top so you have something to locate the studs with? If you got one or two screws into each stud... maybe top and bottom I really can't see it going anywhere

[CEO]

Hmm those screws should work I think, that was one of my first thoughts. Probably 2" or so will be the ballpark length.

I haven't checked yet if I'm lucky enough for the two verical bars that mount the tire rack to the wall to line up with two of the steel studs. If they don't, I'm guessing your suggestion of welding a bar across the top to use multiple studs would be a great solution. That would support all the weight, and then regular screws could be used to secure the bottom of the vertical mount bars into the plywood.

But are you really sure you want to take on another project of mine...?

[SVRACER01]

Wirelessly posted (HTC EVO "DROID" : Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.1-update1; en-us; Sprint APA9292KT Build/ERE27) AppleWebKit/530.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/530.17)

Why not run a bolt through the metal studs to the out side of the trailer? Put a big fender washer on the outside with some silicone under it to keep the water out.

[fjrrider RI]

I second the CEO's bar across a few supports but you don't need to weld just screw the bar into the trailer supports. Bar could be a few inches wide to get more than one screw in each trailer support. Of course you were going to make the top mount bar the stronger one right?

[CEO]

Wirelessly posted (HTC EVO "DROID" : Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.1-update1; en-us; Sprint APA9292KT Build/ERE27) AppleWebKit/530.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/530.17)

Why not run a bolt through the metal studs to the out side of the trailer? Put a big fender washer on the outside with some silicone under it to keep the water out.

Hmm not a terrible idea but I'd like to avoid that if possible... would definitely look pretty silly on the outside.

I second the CEO's bar across a few supports but you don't need to weld just screw the bar into the trailer supports. Bar could be a few inches wide to get more than one screw in each trailer support. Of course you were going to make the top mount bar the stronger one right?

He meant to weld a bar to the tire rack making it more easily mountable... not weld the tire rack to the wall of the trailer...

[SVRACER01]

Wirelessly posted (HTC EVO "DROID" : Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.1-update1; en-us; Sprint APA9292KT Build/ERE27) AppleWebKit/530.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/530.17)

Wouldn't even notice it if you painted them black

[Doc]

Pookie/Arcy had it before me... Maybe PM him.

You could also attach a couple 2x4's the the wall in your trailer and then attach the rack to it.

[CEO]

Wirelessly posted (HTC EVO "DROID" : Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.1-update1; en-us; Sprint APA9292KT Build/ERE27) AppleWebKit/530.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/530.17)

Wouldn't even notice it if you painted them black

Hmm true...

Pookie/Arcy had it before me... Maybe PM him.

You could also attach a couple 2x4's the the wall in your trailer and then attach the rack to it.

That could work.. it would just offset the rack out into the trailer another two inches, but would likely be easier than welding another aluminum bar into the frame of the tire rack.





Thanks for the suggestions... I'll think about which way I want to go with this.

[landricscustoms]

just bring the trailer by Landric's once you rtruck is finished and i'll figure out the proper mounting for it and do it for you..

[ssg]

Screw drilling holes in the outside skin of your trailer, -more hassle than it's worth in the long run.

[CEO]

just bring the trailer by Landric's once you rtruck is finished and i'll figure out the proper mounting for it and do it for you..

Cool rich let's talk about this when I pick up the truck.

You da man

Screw drilling holes in the outside skin of your trailer, -more hassle than it's worth in the long run.

Yeah I'd like to avoid that option... I don't do that ghetto shit

[landricscustoms]

cool... Bring her by