Front Tray Mounts on D130

[austastar]

Hi,
Hearing a metallic squeaking just behind the cab last weekend, I had a squizz underneath.
I had the camper off, and I could lift the tray a fraction: I could see part of the mount moving.

The mount pillar is only held on with three 10mm bolts, and all six bolts had sheared off, leaving the pillar held in place by the tray and the two straps to the back of the cab.

It seems grossly under engineered.

I'm not sure what I will do yet, I'm considering slipping the mounts out from under the tray and welding a piece of strap to make a shoulder to take the shear pressures off the bolts.

Any comments, ideas, previous experience would be appreciated.

cheers

[schuy1]

Hmm, yes common prob I think with the front mounts for trays. Could you post a picy of how yours is/was? That way we can suggest a solution maybe
My 110 did it and I fabricated the footing to bolt to the trailing arm forward housing, Has not put a foot wrong on the front since Its all about getting the flex point correct I think.

Cheers Scott

[austastar]

Hi,
thanks, I am about to take the tray off, so I'll do the photos when it is easier to get a camera in position.
cheers

[austastar]

Hi,
Ok, the tray is off and I've done a few mods.

I'm thinking part of my problem is chassis flex, and I'm considering some of the ideas from Rob Gray's website to put into a new tray to replace the old one that is on as a temporary measure meanwhile.

I replaced the 6mm bolts that had sheared off, the remains of the old ones are laying on the chassis. You can see the rust showing the range of flex that had been occurring. Totally unsupported from below.



This just did not pass the TLAR test (that looks about right)


A quick trip down to JC confirmed that the 6mm bolts just won't cut the mustard, and he suggested 8mm, and confirmed my idea of welding a piece of strap to rest on the shoulder of the mount, rather than just relying on the shear resistance of the bolts.



This is what I have ended up with after drilling and tapping to 8mm, it certainly looks a bit more capable.
I also have nyloc nuts to go on the ends as lock nuts. ( belt and braces job )
I will do the other one the same, and see how that behaves for a while. I would like to go with a single mount in the front forming a triangle as Rob Gray suggests, but this would mean butchering the old tray probably to a point where I wouldn't be able to eventually sell it.

cheers

edit: just realised I referred to the original bolts as 10mm, sorry, that was the spanner size, they are actually called 6mm - and were marked as hardened steel too.

[austastar]

Hi,
I'm happy with the result.



Just a little worried about what cut through all six mounting bolts.
Was it the weight?
I hope so, because if it was flexing, the bolts are no longer the weak points, and it might tear the material in the mounts.

Again, comments welcome.

cheers

[justinc]

great job Dave
sorry i was in a rush when you dropped in

jc

[Brad110]

I am familiar with the problem. I have a 130 tub mounted on a RRover chassis as a trailer and have been looking at options to strengthen mounts. My bolts sheared as well and I now know why.

I couldnt believe this was engineered.

[vnx205]

I hope so, because if it was flexing, the bolts are no longer the weak points, and it might tear the material in the mounts.

Again, comments welcome.

cheers

A couple of years ago, I found that the top of that mount had failed. It had cracked around the bolt that held the cross rail in place.

That may become your weak point when you improve the bottom of the mount, unless you have made it thicker than the original.

[DeanoH]

When Ibought my 130 single cab the front tray mount(s) were busted and swaying in the breeze, the centre mounts had been ripped off the tray and were gone. The only thing that held the tray on were the rear mounts. When you went over a bump the whole tray rose at the front and crashed down again. The tray was essentially just hinged at the rear.

What I ended up with was this at the front, which is a mixture of what was there with a bit of added reinforcing.





This in the centre



And the rear remained the same




The centre mount is just a weight bearing pad and isn't bolted through as I thought this would give better flex whilst maintaing load bearing capacity.

Deano