Toolbox

[Boots in Action]

Another question on this thread if I may, promise I will try and leave you all alone after this one, but what would be the best way to mount the toolbox to the drawbar please. I was thinking of using Tek screws to screw it to the top of the drawbar or should I be making a frame and somehow u-bolt it to the drawbar?

Thanks
Geoff

Hi @garfield28 , IMHO, I would only use "U" bolt type attachments to drawbar. Welding is not on and anything that would be strong enough in Tek screws could affect the strength integrity of the drawbar.

 

[Drover]

2 ways, make a frame of angle iron, "U" bolted to draw bar or you could use long cup head bolts thru frame to bolt with 2 hole fish plate to draw bar and bolt the box to that, this will give great support and save the floor of box cracking up later on or you could mount box directly to draw bar using "U" bolts, 2 each side with a plate inside box floor to spread load of bolts, holes slightly larger than bolts, ideally with some neoprean between bolts/box and draw bar, allows just enough movement for flexing, nuts need to be nyloc or double nuts to lock............... there will be some flelxing between the bar and the box..... I would go the frame for the box then you won't find in time the floor cracking and coming away, especially if you intend to chuck 35kgs of gas bottles in it.

Welding on draw bar is a No, No, can cause a weak point if not done correctly and not every welder has the nouse........ so only brackets.......... TEK screws certainly Not they would shear off very quickly and also weaken the draw bar structure......

 

[garfield28]

Thanks men

 

[Drover]

Here you go @garfield28 and @Hitting the road and anyone else , just refreshing this informative link ............. https://autoexpert.com.au/posts/complete-heavy-towing-guide-gvm-gcm-payload-towball-limits-explained

 

[garfield28]

Thanks Drover. I'm Starting to get my head around it a bit more now. I was going away this coming week and was in a bit of a rush to get something sorted but in light of all this rain we canned it, so I can study what I can carry to be compliant and I am going to get the van and car packed and get it weighed so I know exactly where I sit.

 

[achjimmy]

FYI Having fitted a few toolbox’s over the years . I can confirm one thing , adding a 80kg tool box to the drawbar does not add 80kg to the ball weight. In my cases with extended drawbars it seemed to add around half the total loaded box weight .

how it tows with added weight is a bit subjective , on single axle it will give you more grief also.