Dually swing out a question

Butch50 wrote:
Here is what I'm dealing with:

Originally you mentioned washers-I assume between jack & extender and extender & mount (where 4 shown nylock nuts point to right). But I dont see gaining a 1/2" each side, maybe 3/16"? I wouldnt use washers, you would loose any surface clamping force between the metal. IF you have room for washers & that would give you the needed extension use flat bar, but I don't see any threads beyond nylock.

The additional 2" extenders I think might be too much leverage. Max I'd be comfortable with is adding 1/2" maybe 3/4", thats a lot of rotational on structure. Unless you tied front jacks together. Simplest is NRALIFRs suggestion is splitting bracket. It looks like the plate in between hinge and jack is formed, not flat? If so you may need to weld on verses bolting splice plates.

Were it mine, I'd remove the stock bracket bolted to the camper. Then bolt a 1/4" thick plate (long enough it extends past the camper) to it using those stock bolt holes. Then attach the swing outs to that.

How about getting some 2"or 3" x 1/4" thick 90 degree angle, bolt it to the jacks , then bolt the other side of the angle to the flat of the swing out , other side of the flat the stickers on. The jack nuts and bolt heads would be sandwiched inbeteen the existing angle return and the new angle return, that would move you out about 1" each side
You could put 4 or more bolts to hold the angle to the swing outs


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Butch50 wrote:
Well I called NL and they don't recommend adding any additional width to the brackets. Keith with NL told me the Happijac does offer and additional brackets but he still does not recommend it. So I'll have to think more of what I want to do.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

I think that's typical CYA. The increase in the moment isn't going to be significant enough to do any damage IMHO.

Well I called NL and they don't recommend adding any additional width to the brackets. Keith with NL told me the Happijac does offer and additional brackets but he still does not recommend it. So I'll have to think more of what I want to do.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

If Northern Lite/Happijac can't help you out, I would look at something like this.

You can get the closure plates and end caps also.

And I would go with the solid strut, not the slotted.

Clicky

Good Luck in whatever you decide...
Rick

Butch, if Happijac doesn't make brackets that provide more clearance, I'd seriously consider finding a competent welder that can cut the part of the bracket that has the "Caution" sticker on it in half vertically, and extend its length by doing what I did to my jacks: sandwich a new piece of metal on each side. One benefit to doing it this way would is that you could correct your camper's "pidgin-toed" stance at the same time.

Just noticed that okan-star had that same idea, so now you have two votes for that brilliant suggestion! :B

:):)

If the bolts on the filpouts are not removable how about drilling them out and adding spacers there and longer bolts , or welding studs on ?

Yea they were made by happijac , when I picked up my Outfitter they had them there on the camper for me because I knew there was an issue with my flares on my SRW Dodge, that was in 04

I looked at the happijac store online and didnt see them either

On the northstar I had before that I made some out of 2" box I drilled acsess holes on two sides to get to the nuts with a socket

I dont remember ,are the bolts on the flipouts embeded - non removable also ?Seems like they where countersunk allen heads. If not space it out there .I know they are not removable on the jacks, but on the 3 campers I had happijac`s on the bolts stuck out farther than the head of the nuts .I see yours dont in the pictures, Outfitter used to put two links of chain under one of the bottom jack bolts and use it as front hold downs

If all else fails call happijac and may be they still have some

Like I said though adding 2 full inches to the swing outs is probably going to give you a mild heart attack when you see it on the ground like that

Could you split the flipouts and weld a plate over it and extend them out just as much as you can get away with, might sound extreem but better than putting that much leveraged force on your camper bracket attachment?

okan-star wrote:


I had an Outfitter thats only 7` wide. I needed to put on a dodge dually for a while , same jacks, same flip outs . Happijak makes 2" C channel spacers that are white and drilled , I had a set laying around , there more for fender flare issues. I put them between the flip outs and the camper brackets , that moves the jacks when folded to travel out 2" , I couldnt put them between the jacks and the flip outs because that moves the jacks forward when folded to travel and made a clearance issue with the back doors on the truck way worse
It was kind off dangerous looking with the jacks out that far on the ground
What about adding 1/4 " plate in all four spots, inbetween jacks and flip outs and in between flip outs and camper brackets, or 3/16 if 1/4 is to much , that would give you 1" or 3/4" more space overall

I don't think that I could use a 1/4 or even 3/16" as the bolts are only long enough to fit the existing brackets. I would only have about half of the nut holding onto the bolt. I don't think this would be very safe.

You said "Happijak makes 2" C channel spacers that are white and drilled". Were these made by Happijac? I looked at their website and I can't find anything like this there. If they had them that is what I would need. I took the flares off my truck because there is no way I could load the camper with them on my truck.

I can see where the only place I'm going to be able to load/unload my camper is at home on my concrete pad because as stated by another poster there is just no way I could load this someplace that is not fairly level.