Caster wheels for the rear?

[austinado16]

The previous owner caught the left corner of the rear bumper on a driveway ramp (probably) and folded it back at about a 45* angle.  I've got the bumper straightened and welded back up.

However, the rear bumper hits on my driveway apron, which is a pretty normal "residential" driveway.  I'm sure it's going to hit in other locations too.

I'm thinking about installing a small pair of castor wheels under the rear frame.

Anyone done this?  Or is there a better way?

And yes, I have a drop hitch specifically for towing the PU and it lets it tow level.

[wavery]

The previous owner caught the left corner of the rear bumper on a driveway ramp (probably) and folded it back at about a 45* angle.  I've got the bumper straightened and welded back up.

However, the rear bumper hits on my driveway apron, which is a pretty normal "residential" driveway.  I'm sure it's going to hit in other locations too.

I'm thinking about installing a small pair of castor wheels under the rear frame.

Anyone done this?  Or is there a better way?

And yes, I have a drop hitch specifically for towing the PU and it lets it tow level.

Have you ever thought of doing an "Axle flip"?

That will give you a lot more clearance. A lot of people here have done it...

[mountainrev]

Because of the steepness of my driveway, I must approach at a diagonal, going over my lawn.  Learned that after bending my own bumper.

Casters would actually decrease your clearance.  At best, all they would do would be to prevent scraping the paint if you were just barely touching the surface.  At worst, they would add to the damage you would do to the bumper.

[wavery]

Because of the steepness of my driveway, I must approach at a diagonal, going over my lawn.  Learned that after bending my own bumper.

Casters would actually decrease your clearance.  At best, all they would do would be to prevent scraping the paint if you were just barely touching the surface.  At worst, they would add to the damage you would do to the bumper.

Not just the bumper, there is the possibility of frame damage on PUs. However, I think that you may have a box frame on yours.

[Old Goat]

Not just the bumper, there is the possibility of frame damage on PUs. However, I think that you may have a box frame on yours.

I have heavy duty swivel castors installed on the back end of the frame on my 22' TT. The wheels are 4 inch diameter and are cast steel. They work very well and I am not worried about ever damaging the frame with their use. Popup frames especially a box frame will handle dolly wheels very well with no damage like bending,warping etc.....

[Recumbentman]

I have installed casters on my PU and they work great. check out my mods page below, "go to exterior mods"

[austinado16]

Thanks for all the input.

Even doing the in and out at an angle trick doesn't work and I have to put down a 2x6 for one side to run on.

There's no flipping this axle over.  It's a torsion axle with 2 big triangular flanges that bolt to the PU frame with 2 big bolts.  It can only go one way.

I don't see how casters would ruin my clearance or damaged the box frame or rear bumper.  They'll only come into play just prior to the rear bumper bottoming out and once in play, would allow the PU to roll smooth and normal for a few feet until the tires were touching again.

There appears to be plenty of good boxed frame area for mounting them and I've found a set that are urethane clad steel wheels with a total height of about 4-1/2".......$13ea.  I'm going to go look at an industrial equipment place tomorrow and see what their selection is like.

Great pics Recumbent man. That exactly what I'm wanting to do.  I like the big back up lights too!

I guess the other question is:  do I install the ones that swivel, or the fixed ones?  I was thinking fixed because that would allow me to still have steering control of the trailer backing into the driveway.  Seems like swivellers would just go with the flow the PU would kind of "slide" diagonal on them as I backed up the apron.

Thoughts?

[austinado16]

Update:

Found a huge assortment of casters at the local industrial equipment supply.  Chose fixed castors, rated at 275lbs each, with a solid nylon or maybe it's super hard urethane $4ea.  Drilled holes in the frame and bolted them on using grade 8 5-1/6 bolts/washers/nuts.

I mounted them just rearward of the last crossmember, the one that goes under the back wall of the camper box.  Figured that would give me the protection I needed, without being so far back that they were hitting all the time.

After installing one, I tested it's strength by putting my floor jack under it and lifting that side of the trailer off the ground.  It did it, no problem.

Just did a test in/out on the driveway apron and it works great!  The bumper stays an inch or more off the pavement, and because the caster wheels aren't steel they're quiet and don't leave marks.  Backing up the driveway, even coming in at an angle was no problem at all.

[Recumbentman]

Update:

Found a huge assortment of castors at the local industrial equipment supply.  Chose fixed castors, rated at 275lbs each, with a solid nylon or maybe it's super hard urethane $4ea.  Drilled holes in the frame and bolted them on using grade 8 5-1/6 bolts/washers/nuts.

I mounted them just rearward of the last crossmember, the one that goes under the back wall of the camper box.  Figured that would give me the protection I needed, without being so far back that they were hitting all the time.

After installing one, I tested it's strength by putting my floor jack under it and lifting that side of the trailer off the ground.  It did it, no problem.

Just did a test in/out on the driveway apron and it works great!  The bumper stays an inch or more off the pavement, and because the castor wheels aren't steel they're quiet and don't leave marks.  Backing up the driveway, even coming in at an angle was no problem at all.

Man that was fast  :U and you do good work too  :p
now all you have to do is buy some black spray paint and paint that back bumper of yours  :yikes:

now what mods are you going to do over the weekend  

[AustinBoston]

Man that was fast  :U and you do good work too  :p
now all you have to do is buy some black spray paint and paint that back bumper of yours  :yikes:

now what mods are you going to do over the weekend  

I've been impressed with austinado's seeming willingness to charge into a project, and before you can blink, he's done and done a good job.  This isn't the only time I've seen him do it.

Austin

[austinado16]

Thanks for the kind words gentlemen.

Actually, while I was buying the caster parts, I stumbled across a Krylon color that is a pretty good match to the 1987 multi-taupe that this camper is clad in.  

So now the tongue and left side of the frame are painted and tomorrow I'll do the rear bumper and right side of the frame.

Here's how it's looking now.....roof painted, sides done with rubbing compund, polishing compound, Zymol, and Mother's wax, and the ABS nose and propane cover chemically "cleaned."

This is probably the last I'll do to it before we take off on the maiden voyage to the Grand Canyon next week.  But when we come back I'd like to have new stars and stripes made, and I'll probably wire up it's reverse lights to work with the Suburban's.

Other than that, I think I'm done........ya, right.