Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **Jiminsav** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:46 pm

it is called a hitch pin.

this is how it works

by **Micro469** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:55 pm

Jim... I see a guy with a square hood on his neck, with a reaaally long nose with a pin on the end. What do you see? :lol:

By the way, the straight side of the pin would go through a hole drilled throught he strut......

by **oklahomajewel** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:31 pm

I like the idea, but something with a bigger hole..... I've seen a couple of folks , struggling trying to get that little pin in a small hole.

I keep looking at the sliding door locks, about $12 and wondering how that would work.

by **Jiminsav** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:34 pm

pair of vice-grips will keep that sucker up..with one hand too..

by **madjack** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:21 pm

oklahomajewel wrote:I like the idea, but something with a bigger hole..... I've seen a couple of folks , struggling trying to get that little pin in a small hole.

I keep looking at the sliding door locks, about $12 and wondering how that would work.

...keep in mind during this discussion that a pair of gas shocks will run you less than 20bucks for a pair...add some mounting hardware and you have still spent less than 30 bucks...
madjack

by **oklahomajewel** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:11 am

Yeah, MJ... I saw another post once that mentioned having to do some maintenance during the winter on those gas struts. Should have to go out and move them, use them every few weeks otherwise some kind of problems will set in...?

I haven't started on the hatch yet, so I"ll consider it later ! I'm eager to get this wiring done though-- got the battery yesterday, etc .. but it seems AWFULLY heavy... I'll have to weigh it and see..

Julie

by **sunny16** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:53 am

Thanks for all the pin info. I did go to Lowe's last night to get me a couple of lynch pins. Wouldn't you know it, they didn't have any that I needed. Not much of a selection. So I will check a couple of other places today. And I really would like gas struts but the cost just wouldn't fit into the budget right now. I just want to "get 'er done"! (If you know what I mean!)

by **Todah Tear** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:38 am

Sunny16,

What did you use to drill through those copper rods. I have some rods that I bought for another project, but I could never drill through it.

I will cover the gap with a piece of rubber wide enough to cover the gap, hinge knuckle and use some aluminum strips to seal and hold it on. I will also use some gasket underneath. Can't be too careful when it comes to water.

The other day when I was at my 2nd home, Lowes, I noticed a rubber strip that is about 4" x 36" in the door weather stripping area that might work

Also, in the plumbing department that they have rubber sheetinging (1/8") for around $4/ft (vertical). The roll is 5' wide. It is supposed be used as backing for a shower (I think). Anyway, I thought about using this as an over-lay between the main body and galley hatch transistion area. :roll:

Todah

by **sunny16** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:08 pm

TT,

It is copper pipe, the kind used for plubing. It is real easy to dril thru. Just keeping it centered can be tough. I know what you mean with the rubber sheeting. I will have to look at it and see if it will work. I called a local place, Elastomer Products, and they have all kinds of rubber material that comes in rolls or sheets and different sizes. So check locally, too.

I found my lynch pins today at a small Nut & Bolt Supply place. $2.00 a piece but worth it. I just hope they fit and hold up the hatch. :thinking:

by **edevans** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:38 pm

After lookinging at your ideas on gas less struts I decided to give it a try with some left over tent poles. Seems to work just fine thanks for sharing the ideas. Pics are in my album do not know how to post them here will try to learn later. Ed

by **rmcelroy** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:27 am

MJ I thought the cost of the gas struts would be higher. I really didn't check into them, with everything else on my mind at the time I didn't set aside the time to deal with the hatch weight/strut angle open/close dimensions and all.

The door locks I'm using will only keep the hatch open-if its windy I'll have to be careful the hatch doesn't sail on me, it is very light.

Mc

by **madjack** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 9:58 am

Mc...from Austin Hardware, I have found the prices to run from 8 to 15 bucks apiece (depending on size/style/weights) plus a buck and a half or so for the mounting bracket(2 required).........
madjack

by **dakotamouse** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:19 pm

Hey Madjack,

I've been looking at the Austin Hardware site and their prices are good but I'm confused

Could you recomend a gas strut model for the Kuffel Creek Cubby and the mounting brackets? :thinking:

by **madjack** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 10:22 pm

I'm sorry Dakota but there are just too many variablesi involved for me to make an informed recommendation...in fact I am working on that same thing myself...all I can say is to get at least a 90# strut or better, after that you are on your own on this one...so sorry for that......
madjack

by **tonyj** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:14 pm

I was going to use Ira's broomstick method. I cut the broomsticks 3 times and they were still too short! :lol:

So I improvised this solution:

The only problem is I would have to buy another ice chest and shop broom, so I guess I'll be ordering gas struts from Austin Hardware.

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Non-gas rear hatch struts

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