Cargo Hitch Rack

[dont slow down]

Had some spare time tonight and wanted to make something for my truck. I wanted something original that I haven't seen before. A little google search and I came up with this:












I have an idea for some mesh to go inside the frame and it still needs some finishing touches before paint. What do you think?

[BadRockNoCookie]

Looks like the real thing. Nice work, very clean!

[hanstone]

Nice, I have one of those for my 1:1, it folds up when not in use.

[F.M.E.15]

ive been waiting to see one of these on here. nice work dude

[SubaruDriftBoy]

looks great, now you need a few scale coolers or a scale dead deer and it will be set.

[dont slow down]

Thanks for the compliments guys. I have some stuff for the mesh but I can't find it. I plan on putting a cooler on there, what other things should I put there? Anyone seen a scale BBQ?

[lambo-27]

thats some smart thinking... funny enough i saw one of these today on the back of a jaguar for some weird reason

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Finished this project up today. Went to two hobby shops looking for the right material for the mesh and came up with nothing. I remember someone saying they used a pen holder from a office store so I headed there and found this. Perfect!




After about 35 min with the snips I had the size I need. I had lots of it left over too so I'll find somewhere else to use this eventually.



After a little paint on the rack it is starting to look like something.



Had to add some supports for the mesh so it didn't bend when loaded.



And here it is installed.





Got some goodies coming in the mail to load up the rack with.

[prusik333]

nice work, very clean
thanks for sharing

[EightFootJezuz]

Damn thats sick!!!!!!!! great job!!!

[RockEd out]

Yea, that came out great! Nice fab job on the tube and inventive idea for the mesh!

[79cutlas]

thats amazing!

[dont slow down]

Got some items in the mail that will be right at home on this rack. Thanks for the compliments guys!

[lilgunz]

that is nice man, and thanks for the idea for the mesh, I was trying to figure out how or where to find some for when I finish my roof rack. Looks good though man.

[79cutlas]

how did you get those joints so clean?

whats your setup?

Also where did you get that "ruler" on your bench?.... Yup, went to the LHS and found it. nevermind

[dont slow down]

Originally Posted by 79cutlas

how did you get those joints so clean?

whats your setup?

Also where did you get that "ruler" on your bench?.... Yup, went to the LHS and found it. nevermind

For the joints the key is getting the angles right. Accurate, clean cuts make it so much easier. To cut the brass I just use a balsa saw with miter box. The brass is soft enough to cut through in a minute or two and the miter box is pretty accurate. For the soldering I use a "pen" style butane torch made by BernzOmatic, got it at Home Depot for like 14$. For solder I'm using Radio Shack 60/40 rosin core for PC work. Seems to adhere the best. Just make sure you clean the brass really well and use lots of flux.

The ruler is my Hobbico 24"x18" cutting mat I picked up from Tower Hobbies.

Got my goodies in the mail on Saturday and I'm not too sure it's the right size, half of me says it's perfect and the other half says too small. Let me know what you guys think! I picked all three item up from ebay for $10. That's a Proline Cooler in there for size reference.

[dont slow down]

Found a couple other things to go on the rack.

[RockBoy]

One Question ? Where we going and what time do we eat well thats two. No really great work looks awsome.

[79cutlas]

yes, that scale looks perfect!

Thanks for the tips on the soldering! I was looking at the butane torch, but I decided to get the weller 950* soldering iron with the 4 tips instead. It does seem to work "ok", but I might try the torch next.

With the weller it REALLY helps to heat up the brass with my MAPP torch before trying to solder it together.

[dont slow down]

Originally Posted by 79cutlas

yes, that scale looks perfect!

Thanks for the tips on the soldering! I was looking at the butane torch, but I decided to get the weller 950* soldering iron with the 4 tips instead. It does seem to work "ok", but I might try the torch next.

With the weller it REALLY helps to heat up the brass with my MAPP torch before trying to solder it together.

I built my hitch with my soldering iron alone. It works but it just takes a lot longer to heat the brass hot enough to get a good solder joint. With the torch I just hold it over the joint for a second or two and it gets the brass and solder hot enough to quickly wick into the joint nice and smooth. The torch was like $14, very compact and has a nice fine flame tip so it's easy to be precise.