DIY Lock Mod for Jayco Gas Bottle Holder

[ROnEM]

The standard Jayco supplied gas bottle holders do not come with the ability to lock the gas bottle into them, some any shifty person with a shifter in their back pocket can have your bottle disconnected and be gone with it in under 30 seconds.



I was originally thinking to just get a couple of cheap bike locks and cables from K-Mart and go through the bottle carry handle and around the A-frame.

However....

The other day I was cutting some length of chain for another job around the house and had these link off cuts - what to do with them?

Step 1: Cut a large link/s of chain in half.

Step 2: Using a grinder, make sure the ends are flat and that the link stands vertical.

Step 3: Before any welding is done, check the link placement by putting the link and lock in place to make sure it all fits. I used some metal glue to stick the link in place to prototype and test. This also makes it very easy for the next step, as the link is already in place, so no need for clamps or magnets at the welding stage.



Step 4: Remove the gas bottle holders from the A-frame

Step 5: Weld, grind (if you need to tidy your welds up a little like I do) and paint/spray with a good cold gal.

Step 6: Reattach gas bottle holders to A-Frame

Step 7: Lock gas bottle in place :lock1:



Step 8: Admire your handy work while having a beer

Cheers,

Rohan

 

[Xpandafan]

Neat as, Rohan. Just knocked one job off the "fridge list" and you've created another.

 

[Pace]

That's great thinking Rohan. Gee I wish I had welding capabilities,there is much to do to line off from the mod list. Thanks for sharing.Pace.

 

[ROnEM]

Pace,

If you don't have access to welding facilities, how about drilling two holes (possibly counter sinking them on the inside of the holder so the bold heads are flush) and mounting some form of "U" or "L" bracket into place that will still allow a padlock through. You can also grind off one side of the nuts to stop them being removed by the shifty with the shifter!

 

[ROnEM]

Neat as, Rohan. Just knocked one job off the "fridge list" and you've created another.

Glad I could be of assistance - If there are no mod jobs left of the "fridge list" then it's time to get a new van!

 

[cruza driver]

:rockon: Great Job Rohan very good idea mate!

 

[Pace]

Pace,

If you don't have access to welding facilities, how about drilling two holes (possibly counter sinking them on the inside of the holder so the bold heads are flush) and mounting some form of "U" or "L" bracket into place that will still allow a padlock through. You can also grind off one side of the nuts to stop them being removed by the shifty with the shifte!

Rohan.to quote a great Aussie mum actress Sal Kerrigan from cult movie The Castle."Your an ideas man". Another great fellow forum member getting someone out of a jam.Thanks again.Pace.

 

[relgate]

Simple and effective. Well done.

 

[chartrock]

Great idea Rohan and well finished. Thankfully my gas bottles are locked inside the front boot. :lock1:

 

[ROnEM]

Rohan.to quote a great Aussie mum actress Sal Kerrigan from cult movie The Castle."Your an ideas man". Another great fellow forum member getting someone out of a jam.Thanks again.Pace.

Pace - and in keeping with your comments, we are looking forward to taking the Expanda, finding a remote camp site, setting up the solar bug zapper and sitting there with a beer in hand listening to the serenity!

 

[leesy]

Simple and smart! have to do a welding course or something, can reasonably master most tools and jobs but welding is a missing piece in the arsenal

 

[zerosecta]

Nice Job - on the List

Thanks for sharing

 

[greggels]

I was reading this the other night and thought to myself must do that sometime, I have just picked the van up from where I store it at my Mother in laws Retirement village, didn't realise till I got home some arsehole has stolen one of the gas bottles! I can't believe how low some people are, thought it would be safe behind a chained off area!!not happy Jan!!

Greg

 

[relgate]

Cant trust those old people.

 

[ROnEM]

Simple and smart! have to do a welding course or something, can reasonably master most tools and jobs but welding is a missing piece in the arsenal

Paul - My welding skills are very average - but you can always tidy it up with a grinder. Must also get myself onto a course so that I can start to tackle the big mods!!

Thinking about it today, an easier way to do the non-weld alternative would be to take a small (25mm) 90 degree angle bracket, drill out one of the holes to fit the padlock shank and then drill two holes in the gas bottle ring and then rivet it on - with the rivet head facing into the gas bottle. Nice and quick and no welding required.

 

[greggels]

Cant trust those old people.

Think it would be some construction workers there! not the oldies lol

 

[macca]

I saw brand new 9kg bottles today at masters for $25. Nice quality ones too. Might even buy a spare so I have one at home to swap over as I don't want to exchange my new Expanda bottles. I think $25 is around the cheapest I have seen them. The 4kg ones were $34.....?

I cannot believe someone stole a gas bottle!

Geoff

 

[greggels]

I saw brand new 9kg bottles today at masters for $25. Nice quality ones too. Might even buy a spare so I have one at home to swap over as I don't want to exchange my new Expanda bottles. I think $25 is around the cheapest I have seen them. The 4kg ones were $34.....?

I cannot believe someone stole a gas bottle!

Geoff

Thanks for the info Geoff, will have to check it out and no I couldn't believe someone would steal a gas bottle either!

Cheers Greg

 

[Burnsy]

Nice mod Ro! Hey Geoff be careful when buying new or swapping gas bottles, there are some that don't fit the Jayco holder, I've been caught before. I check with a piece of string wrapped around the circumference....sometimes there's not much in it! Sorry don't mean to change topic!

Cheers.

 

[ROnEM]

Burnsy,

Great tip on the gas bottles!

Given the Jayco has the adjustable clamp on the ring, does this get around the possible problem of different circumferences?

Cheers,

Rohan