Mounting storage box

[gbaglo]

I have an aluminum check-plate box, measuring about 48" x 30" x 24", which was intended to secure my camera equipment, but just took up space in the trunk of the company car. It's just taking up space in my carport now.

I was thinking I could maybe acquire it for the Escape. Easiest thing to do would be to pick up a cheap cargo tray from etrailer.com and mount it on the back, using the rear receiver. But, I've read a lot of advice about weight distribution. None of it appears to have stuck.

Anybody able to advise on where to place a storage box, how to balance the weight, other considerations I haven't thought of?

I have the dual propane tanks on the front and only the battery on the back.

I'd like to carry water hoses, power cords, 1 lb. propane and butane bottles, small butane stove, ax, blocks, etc. in the exterior box. And, maybe throw the BBQ and camp chairs on top.

Currently I have all that stuff distributed under seats, on beds, or in a box in the middle of the trailer for travel.

I can see that on an extended trip, all of this could be an issue.

baglo

[escape artist]

Hi: gbaglo... We have a bike rack ready rec. under the back bumper of 'Our Escape Hatch". Our door step also fits into it. I put the step in...and my 220# on the step and the landing gear lifted off the ground...YIKES!!! I stepped off in a hurry. You could get a custom weld shop to fab. a "Y" frame bolted to the bottom of the steel box and fitted into the receiver!!! Wire a high mount center stop lamp to the box to be legal I dunno...just thinkin'
Escape Artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[PGDriver]

Should be OK as long as you don't put to much weight in it (<100 lbs)
otherwise you will lighten your tongue weight up to much.
Best way to mount a carrier would be like this.

[Jim Bennett]

That's a neat idea Doug, I never though or mounting something about the propane, but it would sure help keep the tongue weight down.

[PGDriver]

Hi Jim, I think the tongue weight will go up with the box there,
so not a good idea if you are getting close to your tongue weight max.

ps:- Tammy sent me that picture and she was talking about the box as
an option at one time but haven't heard anything about it since.


Cheers Doug

[Jim Bennett]

Doug, I guess I never explained myself good enough. I am hoping to find a place to mount a small gen set and was thinking ahead of the propane, but by moving it back a couple feet, it would then take some weight off the hitch. If I need to do much outside storage, I will likely try to balance it out by adding to both the front and back though. Still in the thinkin' stage.

[Ace Brown]

I posted a lengthy description on my home built tonge box elsewwhere on this forum and it worked out very well. As several have noted one needs to be real careful of weight balance front to rear and not exceeding trailer or tow vehicle tongue weights. Bu another consideration is clearance between trailer and tower. The box in the photo above would probably destroy the tow vehicles taillights in a very tight turn, or worse in a tight jacknife turn while backing. My tongue box is no wider than the frame rails and prevents this possibility.

There are a lot of tapered tongue boxes on the market from trailer supply places, one being Tractor Supply Company. I actually bought two home to fit try but did not like either and returned them. The small tongue area and propane bottle location makes it difficult. I ended up building my own. However one could use a factory made box if you wanted to do the following:

A. Spend about $200 to $300 to buy a box.
B. Cut the bottom out of it.
C. Weld or bolt a floor to the bottom of the tongue area.
D. Relocate the tanks on the new floor, putting them across as is customary.

After looking at all of this I decided it was cheaper to build my own and I could custom fit it so it looked like a factory job. I opted for a single tank from Escape so I could maximize the front storage area.

I have not taken time to figure out this photo posting process, but if your real serious about wanting to see a photo send me an email to acebrown@vci.net.

Ace

[JeffZ]

Ace:

Wow what great postings you have provided! If you like to post a photo it's pretty easy.. When you create a post or reply to one at the bottom of the page you'll see "Additional Options", click on it and opens up for attaching photos..I think the only requirement is that you keep the photos under 680k in size.. If you have any problems, let me know and I'll see if I can up the size for specific account logons..

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by JeffZ

Ace:

Wow what great postings you have provided! If you like to post a photo it&#39;s pretty easy.. When you create a post or reply to one at the bottom of the page you&#39;ll see "Additional Options", click on it and opens up for attaching photos..I think the only requirement is that you keep the photos under 680k in size.. If you have any problems, let me know and I&#39;ll see if I can up the size for specific account logons..

Or you can use the &#39;Insert Image&#39; button if you have them hosted elsewhere. All you have to do is right click on your hosted photo, select &#39;Copy Image Location&#39;, paste the link on your post, highlight it, and hit the button. This button just adds the tags to the photo link.

This photo below is just one from a canoe trip I grabbed from my hosting site, SmugMug.

[dlehman]

I'm a little puzzled about the weight issue on the back - I have the bike rack receiver and when I put 3 mountain bikes on the back, there is certainly more than 100 pounds added to the rear of the trailer. I've not noticed any handling issues, but is this safe in terms of the weight distibution?

[JeffZ]

Jim:

Your right about the posting of Pics.. If you have them on somewhere else on the web you can post the link.. Thanks, I totally forgot about that, it also saves on my hosting site disc space when it's done that way.. Good call!

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by dlehman

I'm a little puzzled about the weight issue on the back - I have the bike rack receiver and when I put 3 mountain bikes on the back, there is certainly more than 100 pounds added to the rear of the trailer. I've not noticed any handling issues, but is this safe in terms of the weight distibution?

Hi: dlehman... I think 3 bikes+ the weight of the bike rack would be about the MAX wt. for the rear of any fiberglass trailer ie: behind the bumper. There is always exceptions to every rule tho.
Escape Artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[scubarx]

As far as weight distribution goes, on a single axle trailer, 60% of the total weight should be in front of the axle. At least 10% of the total weight should be on the tongue. Too much weight behind the axle will cause the trailer to fish-tail and it will sling itself and the tow vehicle off the road. I learned this the hard way several years ago. I was very lucky not to turn over and nothing was hurt. Very embarrassing though. By the time you get stopped everybody else is looking at you like you're an idiot. Fortunately only my ego was bruised.

This is my first post on your forum. I have just joined tonight. As you can see from my signature line, my wife and I (and the three dogs) own an Oliver. I read all the forums from all the different manufacturers, some folks on the other forums for some reason take offense to people that don't own their brand of trailer. I hope that I am not intruding here. There is a lot of useful info here for everyone.

I am a moderator on the Oliver forums. I would like to invite everyone here to visit with us, we'll be glad to have you....

Thanks,

Steve

[Ace Brown]

Originally Posted by JeffZ

Ace:

Wow what great postings you have provided! If you like to post a photo it's pretty easy.. When you create a post or reply to one at the bottom of the page you'll see "Additional Options", click on it and opens up for attaching photos..I think the only requirement is that you keep the photos under 680k in size.. If you have any problems, let me know and I'll see if I can up the size for specific account logons..

Downsizing is my hang up. I am not currently using a photo editor. Regarding the other suggestion... I do not have my photos on a host site (don't know for sure what that is). I recently emailed Baglo a photo of my tongue box...maybe he can post it.

Ace

[gbaglo]

Ace,

Please send it again. I've searched my inbox and trash and can't find a message from you.

baglo

[Ace Brown]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Ace,

Please send it again. I've searched my inbox and trash and can't find a message from you.

baglo

Done....again.

Ace

[Sandra L]

Originally Posted by scubarx

As far as weight distribution goes, on a single axle trailer, 60% of the total weight should be in front of the axle. At least 10% of the total weight should be on the tongue. Too much weight behind the axle will cause the trailer to fish-tail and it will sling itself and the tow vehicle off the road. I learned this the hard way several years ago. I was very lucky not to turn over and nothing was hurt. Very embarrassing though. By the time you get stopped everybody else is looking at you like you're an idiot. Fortunately only my ego was bruised.

This is my first post on your forum. I have just joined tonight. As you can see from my signature line, my wife and I (and the three dogs) own an Oliver. I read all the forums from all the different manufacturers, some folks on the other forums for some reason take offense to people that don't own their brand of trailer. I hope that I am not intruding here. There is a lot of useful info here for everyone.

I am a moderator on the Oliver forums. I would like to invite everyone here to visit with us, we'll be glad to have you....

Thanks,

Steve

Welcome,
Obviously we all must think (fiber)Glass is great! I too think one can learn lots from others, and it appears that this is a friendly and hospitable group. Thanks for the invitation.
Sandra

[JeffZ]

Yep.. I think everyone should check out all the resources they can.. FYI.. When I was researching purchasing our trailer, I looked at the Oliver and joined the forum as well.. It's another great resource.. Thanks for the invite and welcome to the forum!

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Ace Brown

I posted a lengthy description on my home built tonge box elsewwhere on this forum and it worked out very well. As several have noted one needs to be real careful of weight balance front to rear and not exceeding trailer or tow vehicle tongue weights. Bu another consideration is clearance between trailer and tower. The box in the photo above would probably destroy the tow vehicles taillights in a very tight turn, or worse in a tight jacknife turn while backing. My tongue box is no wider than the frame rails and prevents this possibility.

There are a lot of tapered tongue boxes on the market from trailer supply places, one being Tractor Supply Company. I actually bought two home to fit try but did not like either and returned them. The small tongue area and propane bottle location makes it difficult. I ended up building my own. However one could use a factory made box if you wanted to do the following:

A. Spend about $200 to $300 to buy a box.
B. Cut the bottom out of it.
C. Weld or bolt a floor to the bottom of the tongue area.
D. Relocate the tanks on the new floor, putting them across as is customary.

After looking at all of this I decided it was cheaper to build my own and I could custom fit it so it looked like a factory job. I opted for a single tank from Escape so I could maximize the front storage area.

I have not taken time to figure out this photo posting process, but if your real serious about wanting to see a photo send me an email to acebrown@vci.net.

Ace

Ace sent me a picture and this is it.

baglo

[cheryls]

Nice looking box. Thanks for posting it.