While I was diving at Lake Superior about a month ago I saw this diver drying his drysuit and gear at the campground. He had a midsized car with a 2" receiver hitch. He made this contraption that "plugged into" his receiver that went vertical to about 7' off the ground and it had a "T" shaped bar that went horizontal at the top that he hung his stuff on. I started building one last night for my truck. The one I'm making is made from 1 1/4" tube steel (attached to 2" material to fit the receiver) and using 1" tube steel couplers with spring-pins that can be disconnected easily without tools. The contraption when assembled is 6'-10" hi and 6'-6" wide and extends away from the bumper about 24" to allow the tailgate to be opened while the drying rack is installed. The beauty of the thing is that it can break down into 33" long sections to fit in a small box or in the trunk of a small car. I hope to have this thing done and painted by Sept 28 to try it out at the Gooseberry dive event. Until now I would just hang gear from trees and get sap and crap all over everything. If I made this thing sturdy enough I could speed the drying time by letting my gear dry this way on the way home. (just kidding)
That's cool. I was designing a seat with a rack behind it to put my rig on and sit on between dives. I was going to use the hitch as well. I worked out a design but decided even if it broke down I already carry too much gear and it would stay home. Maybe I will revisit it
It ended up being Luxfer Blue. I made the mistake of cold galvanizing it first and not letting the galvanizing paint cure long enough before the color coats. Cold galvanizing compound emits gasses until fully cured and now there is small bubbles coming through the clear coat. Oh well...
Firsrt question, Too much gear? Arc buddy, get a grip or get a truck.
I like the idea of the receiver hitch, but the idea of breaking-it-down and storing it when not in use, I like a roap, it is simple and sweet and weights next to nothing.
What can I say... I like gadgets. I built a 8' x 12' elevator in my barn that brings two snowmobiles up to the second floor at the same time. I built a 12' high by 6' wide "revolving wall" that spins on car spindles. (kinda like the ones on spooky houses). I have saddle racks on one side and I spin it around from the tack room to the horse alley to saddle up a horse. I built the 36' by 48' gambrel roof barn to replace the 20' by 20' log barn I built. I don't mean to say I,I,I but I just like building things. I think I get that from my dad. If he had a task that took 10 minutes he would spend two days making a contraption that would let him do that task in 5 minutes. These contraptions were not that practical but they kept him busy.
I forgot about this at Gooseberry... I need to show you my PVC folding hangers - they'd make a good companion piece for your rig! (and I may have to duplicate your effort as well! I like to make things too! sounds like your list has bigger things than I usually create though...)
Here are 4 photos of the elevator:
Here are 4 photos of the revolving wall:
Here are 4 photos of the log barn: (under construction and completed)
Here are 4 photos of the new barn: