Forum Discussion

JoeChiOhki's avatar
JoeChiOhki
Explorer II
Aug 05, 2019

Designing an Eletric lift basket for camper

I'm currently plotting how to setup a rear cargo setup to mount my generator with the Amerigo.

Part of my plan is to make a dual tube setup similar to the one on the front, but I can't use just a basket like I did on the front as we have the fold out bed in the rear and once the generator is loaded onto it, it will block the rear fold out from opening.

Loading and unloading the generator everytime we stop for an wallydock or other overnight doesn't sound at all appealing, so I've been dreaming up a different setup that uses a pair of cheap electric tongue jacks and shortening them to join the basket to the leg section so that we can use a little switch to lower the basket to the ground when we want to clear the rear.

My current concern is where the ball bearing assembly usually resides in most tongue jacks (I'm debating using some Harbor Freight jack(s) as they have a side mounted motor assembly instead of one on the top, making it shorter overall).

In an ideal setting, I'd harvest the landing gear assembly off an old fifth wheel, so that they'd have a unified drive assembly.

Does anyone know from experience if shortening a tongue jack can be feasibly done without compromising the bearing assembly?
Truck Campers
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Aug 06, 2019
    "Sadly, I missed the opportunity to get those Yamaha 2000s at a steal at Costco,"
    You didn't miss out on anything. One of my field engineers bought one last summer because he bought a camper and was living at our remote job site. It didn't work worth a _____. Wouldn't even power his microwave and fridge at the same time.
    They were fake Yamahas.

    I like your project, but it sounds complicated. IMO a swing out sounds simpler. Don't get alot of lift out of trailer jacks.
  • JoeChiOhki's avatar
    JoeChiOhki
    Explorer II
    Aug 05, 2019
    Buzzcut1 wrote:
    What about a dual horizontal pivot set up like what bike racks use to swing out to the side to clear tailgates and SUV hatches?


    I've been thinking about that one as well, the only reason I really wanted to be able to drop it to the ground, is I intend to run it while attached to the basket, and being to drop the basket down onto rubber feet on the ground would stop the vibration from transmitting into the camper and truck when running.

    jimh425 wrote:
    How about a swing a away bracket to move the generator to the side? Even better, buy a small light generator that isn’t any issue to move out of the way.


    I've yet to see a "light" 3500-4000 watt generator :). Sadly, I missed the opportunity to get those Yamaha 2000s at a steal at Costco, so an inverter genny is still four or so years down the road, especially since the awning and a paint job are still on the todo list and take a bit more priority :p.

    I have my current remote start generator now, and I'm going to need to setup a rear basket to carry the generator, waste tote, possibly the fuel cans as they currently ride on the front basket and I can't see them, where as on the rear they'd be in view of the backup camera.

    In an ideal world, I'd take the gear and track concept from a slide-out and attach the motors to the stationary part so that it would fully clear, but I'm not sure those could take being run in a vertical position.
  • jimh406's avatar
    jimh406
    Explorer III
    Aug 05, 2019
    How about a swing a away bracket to move the generator to the side? Even better, buy a small light generator that isn’t any issue to move out of the way.
  • Buzzcut1's avatar
    Buzzcut1
    Nomad II
    Aug 05, 2019
    What about a dual horizontal pivot set up like what bike racks use to swing out to the side to clear tailgates and SUV hatches?
  • JoeChiOhki's avatar
    JoeChiOhki
    Explorer II
    Aug 05, 2019
    Artum Snowbird wrote:
    Hey Joe,

    Is there any way to use another electric camper jack or two, maybe mounted beside or behind the one already there. Use this set of jacks in reverse, to lift your generator up. You get a lot of lift for sure. You could probably design a plate on the bottom instead of a foot, mount your generator on there, then raise and lower it that way.


    The camper jacks were actually what I was originally thinking on, but would be really tall for the application, the goal is to make them short enough that they can lower the basket out of the way, but not interfere with the snap n nap opening.




    The bed is hinged at the top so that back wall swings up and out when you pull the bed out.

    I've also been pondering modifying a couple of electrically drive scissor type landing gear jacks for this idea as they would have the least amount of clearance interference.

    The rear basket will also have a receiver attached center mast to allow for our bike rack to be mounted.
  • Artum_Snowbird's avatar
    Artum_Snowbird
    Explorer
    Aug 05, 2019
    Hey Joe,

    Is there any way to use another electric camper jack or two, maybe mounted beside or behind the one already there. Use this set of jacks in reverse, to lift your generator up. You get a lot of lift for sure. You could probably design a plate on the bottom instead of a foot, mount your generator on there, then raise and lower it that way.

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