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Crumm's avatar
Crumm
Explorer
Apr 01, 2015

Rock Flap and FastGun Deflector

Built a full width trailer rock flap with horizontal FastGun protectors. It's a quick remove unit by pulling two pins. Thought I would share for anyone that might be looking for flap ideas. I have the molded husky-liner mud flaps that protect the truck but they do nothing for the trailer or Torklift tie downs. Other configurations will probably work better on other models of trucks but for the exhaust configuration and spare tire location this setup was the best for me.

Parts list:
Chunk of conveyor belt
Two sheets of 3/8" UHMW 14"x16"
20' 1-1/2"X1/4 aluminum flat bar
3' 1-1/2"x3/16" angle
14 1/4"X1-1/4" stainless carriage bolts
6 1/4"X1-1/2" stainless carriage bolts
20 1/4" stainless washers
20 1/4" stainless nylock nuts
4 stainless eyebolts
2 1/2" hitch pins with clips

Eye bolts are bolted into the bottom flange of the superhitch. The rest is just a matter of bolting it all together. The finished product with camper and trailer fully loaded should be at least 3" from the ground. A flap dragging the ground throws more gravel than the tires do. It amazes me how many people drive around with flaps of whatever configuration dragging the ground, talk about defeating the purpose.





Truck Campers
  • Boatycall's avatar
    Boatycall
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2015
    That's cool! I already have my fair share of rock dings on the front of the trailer in my sig - and that's with mud flaps. At first I was thinking I wouldn't want that on my truck permanently, then saw you had already figured out a quick disconnect.

    You shouldn't have posted it here, you should have sold the idea to Torklift! ;-)
  • pjay9's avatar
    pjay9
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2015
    Nice job! Give us a use report after you have run some miles.
  • Crumm's avatar
    Crumm
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2015
    Boatycall wrote:

    You shouldn't have posted it here, you should have sold the idea to Torklift! ;-)


    If you look at this thread from back in 2007 you will see my overload extensions long before Torklift started selling what they call the upper StableLoad. Many guys used the Energy Suspention bump stops for overload spacers until Torklift caught on and started selling them for 6x the price of the energy ones.
  • Arktikos's avatar
    Arktikos
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2015
    That looks bullet proof! Or should I say rock proof.. I totally wrecked the paint on the front end of my Ford Ranger when I towed it down the Alcan one winter by trying to attach a rock catcher on the bumper/tow bar. We have a new Jeep Patriot that is a good candidate to pull but won't do it until I find a surefire way to protect it. Hope you will give this an update and let us know how well it works out!
    Where did you find the conveyor belt and how hard is it to cut down to size?
  • Crumm's avatar
    Crumm
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2015
    Arktikos wrote:

    Where did you find the conveyor belt and how hard is it to cut down to size?

    Got it at Alaska Rubber but any industrial rubber/hose supplier should have it. Cut it with a standard Stanley knife, just takes a couple of passes. The UHMW can be cut with a table saw using a blade that isn't too aggressive.
  • K_Mac's avatar
    K_Mac
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2015
    Nice work. Especially like the way you used the eye bolts.
  • Crumm's avatar
    Crumm
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2015
    K Mac wrote:
    Nice work. Especially like the way you used the eye bolts.

    They work very well as they allow you to attach one side at a time as they act as a hinge letting the other end of the flap rest on the ground. I originally purchased some 1-1/4" receiver tubes but the flap would have to have been slid in all at once thus requiring a helper.
  • kohldad's avatar
    kohldad
    Explorer III
    Apr 01, 2015
    Love the slick pin method.

    But I'm curios as to which will occur first from all the bouncing and how soon. Metal fatigue of the Aluminum or the UHMV cracking.
  • bobndot's avatar
    bobndot
    Explorer II
    Apr 01, 2015
    From a fisherman's view ' Reel nice job ' .

    You know someone is going to ask you to build a heavy duty model for them so it can be used to carry an extra grp 29 battery or a Honda 2000. :)

    Great job as well as great idea .
  • Crumm's avatar
    Crumm
    Explorer
    Apr 02, 2015
    kohldad wrote:
    Love the slick pin method.

    But I'm curios as to which will occur first from all the bouncing and how soon. Metal fatigue of the Aluminum or the UHMV cracking.


    Neither. The aluminum is bolted to a conveyor belt that ain't going to fatigue and the UHMW doesn't crack. I have seen it stand up to some major abuse.

    Read all about it on Wikipedia. It's tough stuff.

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