Slide Tray Idea

Dallas · July 06, 2006, 05:27:14 PM

This is something I've been working on lately.
I decided to figure out a way to use easily available parts and pieces to build a heavy duty sliding battery tray.
There are actually only 2 different ingredients.
1 pair of good used roller scates
and
Old Bed Rails
I think I have a total of about $7 into materials. Misc. welding wire cost about $9.
The uprights pieces that are in the picture are for an upper tray that hadn't been done when the pictures were taken.

Dallas · July 06, 2006, 05:30:20 PM

More of the tray

Dallas · July 06, 2006, 05:32:21 PM

And Some More

gumpy · July 06, 2006, 07:38:39 PM

Looks good.

I been planning a similar concept for my stair cover. I bought a bunch of tiny skate wheels from a surplus place. I'm going to motorize it with a cheapo 12v cordless drill.

I'm planning on using channel iron on the bottom, and then attach the rear wheels to the tray, and the front wheels to the rack, and have the tray roll on the front wheels. The rear wheels will support the back and I'll get no binding of the tray metal on the channel iron metal as the weight comes out. I'm hoping to do it with 4 wheels.

Nick Badame Refrig/ACC · July 06, 2006, 08:21:44 PM

Wow Dallas,

$7.00 in mat.. and 9.00 weld wire...

Build me two of them and I'll send you $32.00 LOL...

Nice job Dallas
Nick-

Dallas · July 07, 2006, 01:35:44 AM

Nick,
This thing was simple to build, and if I were better at welding and fabrication probably wouldn't take more than a day yo build.
This particular one is set up for an 8-D but I put 2 t-145's and a T-105 on it to test it.
It's tight enough that I was able to extend the tray to within 4" of the end and still not have a problem with putting it back in.
It slid like it was still empty. Actually, it slid better because empty, it's a little sticky.
I used the roller skate wheels because it dawned on me that those things are built to take a lot of punishment, (figure a 260 lb. guy rolling on one skate).
The bed rails are made from some really tough steel and at these lengths don't bend easily.

I bought the skates at a flea market for $2 and the bed rails for $5.

Dallas

brojcol · July 07, 2006, 06:50:03 AM

BRILLIANT!!!

Jimmy

pete81eaglefanasty · July 07, 2006, 09:45:51 AM

Do you think the wheels will fit in a garage door rail. I would like to make one like you did. looks good.

pete

Dallas · July 07, 2006, 01:20:39 PM

Quote from: pete81eaglefanasty on July 07, 2006, 09:45:51 AM
Do you think the wheels will fit in a garage door rail. I would like to make one like you did. looks good.

pete

I made one a long time ago for my skoolie using garage door track and I found that the galvanizing reacted with the battery acid or gasses and corroded within a couple of years.

The wheels I used on this are 1 3/8" wide and probably wouldn't fit into the track but you might try using the kind on inline skates. I have a bunch of those that I was going to use but they were different sizes.

Dallas

ChuckMC8 · July 07, 2006, 02:01:01 PM

I'd ride that down a big hill before I installed it in the bus- dual purpose!
Hey what a deal! Looks great & a neat idea.

David Anderson · July 08, 2006, 09:06:10 AM

Dallas,

It would make a good article for the Bus Conversion Magazine.

David

Hartley · July 13, 2006, 06:53:26 PM

How many harbor freight items can you spot in those pictures?

I see at least one item so far....

Dallas · July 14, 2006, 02:36:21 AM

Quote from: DrDave-Reloaded on July 13, 2006, 06:53:26 PM
How many harbor freight items can you spot in those pictures?

I see at least one item so far....

This sounds like Fun!
Who else has a guess!

Dallas

FloridaCliff · July 14, 2006, 03:16:37 PM

Okay,

I'll bite

The plastic welder and maybe the welding channel lock

Cliff

NewbeeMC9 · July 14, 2006, 05:32:51 PM

He has the distribution center right up the street.

Is it on the Octoberfest schedule?