Mounting my new postie bike on the drawbar.
Submitted: Sunday, Oct 24, 2010 at 20:49
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Willie
Last week I took delivery of my shiny new red postie bike, which I plan to use for pottering around the goldfields detecting.
I have ordered a stand for the drawbar which has not yet arrived (from a factory in northern NSW). When I position this on the drawbar, I am then going to have to figure out how to re-position the stone guard. Does anybody have any ideas on how to do this please.
Thanks a lot,
Willie.
Reply By: Tellem Bugrem - Sunday, Oct 24, 2010 at 22:49
Sunday, Oct 24, 2010 at 22:49
Hey Willie,
Don't know if you have an extended drawbar or what gear you already have on it. eg. Jerry can holders. I moved our guard forward by 300mm to make room for a bike box and a Lemaire washing machine box (You can see this in the picture gallery under Tellem Bugrem). Have had no problems, even though the centre portion of the stone guard is now vertical.
The only problem that you may have with your postie bike on the drawbar is dust getting into mechanisms of the bike. Our bike box is dustproof.
good luck.....Rob
AnswerID:
581391
Follow Up By: Willie - Monday, Oct 25, 2010 at 01:52
Monday, Oct 25, 2010 at 01:52
Thanks Rob, I had a look at the photos - nice job. I like your hatch at the rear of the van too.
Willie.
FollowupID:
852998
Reply By: JohnS - Monday, Oct 25, 2010 at 01:49
Monday, Oct 25, 2010 at 01:49
Here is what someone has done. I haven't as yet but intend to. I questioned Steve @ BT about it and he stated that you should have the heavey duty version A frame and if not you need to look at strenghtening it, all of which makes good sense.
JohnImage Could Not Be Found
Image Could Not Be Found
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Follow Up By: Willie - Monday, Oct 25, 2010 at 01:57
Monday, Oct 25, 2010 at 01:57
Good photos John, thanks a lot.
He has made a big bend in the arms holding the stone guard, so that he is able to lean the ramp up against the bike holder. I had not considered that, but I guess it would have become obvious when I went to install the bike rack.
I do not think I will strengthen the drawer bar. The all up weight will be under 100 kg - less than the bike in the photo I am guessing. Fingers crossed !
Willie.
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Follow Up By: Noosa Fox - Monday, Oct 25, 2010 at 04:04
Monday, Oct 25, 2010 at 04:04
Willie,
If you had some channel attached to the A Frame that went all the way out to the stone guard frame then you wouldn't need to lower the bars.
The ramp could be hinged to the channel at that point.
I wonder what the difference is between the standard A Frame and the Heavy duty one?
Brian
FollowupID:
853000
Follow Up By: JohnS - Monday, Oct 25, 2010 at 16:30
Monday, Oct 25, 2010 at 16:30
Willie
Yes you have to modify the the stone guard frame as it runs @ a higher level than the top of the draw bar. Also if you have a close look @ the first pic you will notice a bar coming from where the spare wheel is mounted. I would say he has put that on to make the bike secure under heavy braking etc.
Brian
From what I understand a heavy duty A frame is larger in dimension and has a slightly larger wall thickness. If you have a longer A frame it is probably heavy duty. The newer vans also have flat bar for strengtheners versus round bar as on ours. It was mentioned that the flat section bar has more strength.
John
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Willie - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010 at 01:34
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010 at 01:34
I understand the design you mean Brian, but John speaks with a non forked tongue. The stone guard frame is too high to run the channel straight out
I could alster the stone gurad arms or I could perhaps slant the ramp upwards, so that it runs over the top of the standard straight stone guard arms.
Willie.
FollowupID:
853002
Follow Up By: Noosa Fox - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010 at 03:39
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010 at 03:39
Willie,
I guess I should give myself another Poor Dumb Bastard Award for not going outside and checking the level of the bars compared to the chassis before putting fingers to the key board.
Brian
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Uncle Dodgy - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010 at 00:08
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010 at 00:08
Willie
If you don't already have the Chine Bar modification, I recommend that you do so before you add any extra weight to the drawbar, i.e. postie bike. Even if you have the 6 X 2 box A frame.
We carry a 50cc scooter on our A frame and have had the flat bar chine bar upgrade. (BTI did the upgrade for us in 1 day,no probs.)
We took the stone guard right off and use full width mud flaps across the back of the tug. This requires that you travel slower along gravel roads that have wheel ruts with high mounds between them, but you see more that way.
A motorcycle dust cover also helps to protect the bike, but you still need to dust the bike down before you start it.
Cheers
John
AnswerID:
581393
Follow Up By: Willie - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010 at 01:27
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010 at 01:27
Thanks for the info John. I think I will get an outboard motor cover made for it.
Willie
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Reply By: NIK `N` OFF - Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010 at 06:56
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010 at 06:56
Willie regards the stone guard bars ....... you could do what some have and remove the bars that fit into the top bar of the stone shield and take the bars out that slide into the under van square tube, turn it all around so its a large rectangle, and make up some brackets for the now rectangular stone shield to attach to ........
What you end up with is a stone guard, that you do not have to step over.
Does that make sense? i dont want to take Brians 'DB award' away from him ...... lol
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Willie - Friday, Oct 29, 2010 at 18:08
Friday, Oct 29, 2010 at 18:08
Thanks Nik n Offs, that is a good idea. I understand what you are getting at, so I think Brian can feel comfortable regarding the award !
Willie.
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Reply By: gottabjoaken - Friday, Oct 29, 2010 at 07:19
Friday, Oct 29, 2010 at 07:19
Or perhaps consider chucking the stone guard completely and putting a StoneStomper trapeze style under the Aframe to stop the stones from coming up at all.
Ken
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Willie - Friday, Oct 29, 2010 at 18:11
Friday, Oct 29, 2010 at 18:11
Hi Ken,
I just had a look at the Stone Stomper site. I like that sort of stoneguard, as my Trakshak had a similar design and worked perfectly except when large amounts of mud got on it and it started to sag. I don't do such adventurous mud driving now, so the Stomper might be just what I need.
Thanks,
Willie.
FollowupID:
853006
Follow Up By: gottabjoaken - Friday, Oct 29, 2010 at 22:01
Friday, Oct 29, 2010 at 22:01
Worth considering Willie,
the cost is not insignificant, but the device is very efficient, and has the potential to save more than is protected by the (traditional) BT stoneguard.
No frame for that one in a million stone (and that number comes up pretty frequently) to hit and bounce back off. All the stones are kept under the van, and no heavy flaps to add to fuel consumption.
On my last trip up the Oodnadatta Track, I chatted to three camper trailer drivers who had that frame style of guard AND a broken back window.
My van hardly even had dust across the front.
I do have a StoneStomper, and am exceptionally happy with it.
Ken
FollowupID:
853007
Follow Up By: Gone Bush - Saturday, Oct 30, 2010 at 08:34
Saturday, Oct 30, 2010 at 08:34
Ken, can you confirm that you have removed the BT stoneguard and any chance of some photos?
How did you deal with the WDH bars and the Stone Stomper?
I peppered the front of the van either side of the front window. The BT stone guard had little effect against gravel. Very disapponting on a brand new van.
FollowupID:
853008
Follow Up By: gottabjoaken - Saturday, Oct 30, 2010 at 23:27
Saturday, Oct 30, 2010 at 23:27
Well, Stephen,
as some here will know (if they have long memories) I was originally a BT wannabe, but finally picked a Supreme.
Visit the
StoneStomper web site or see it here
on DiscoverDownUnder where you can see a picture of my vehicle with the WDH bars fitted over the trampoline.
I am just convenient in Adelaide for Christian, the maker, to have taken a shot when he came round to deliver the stone guard.
And here is a customer's video of fitting one.
Fitting, hooking up and on arrival
It seems that we are both happy customers.
You can call Christian for any further details. He has made a number of different fittings for the attachment of the bar to the tow hitch and will be able to suggest the best for you.
Ken
FollowupID:
853009
Follow Up By: Willie - Monday, Nov 01, 2010 at 03:43
Monday, Nov 01, 2010 at 03:43
Ken,
Do you have a 200 Series or do you know of this unit being fitted to a 200 Series ? The towbar on the 200 is buried up in the bumper bar and I cannot see how I can fit this bar.
Thanks
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: gottabjoaken - Monday, Nov 01, 2010 at 04:06
Monday, Nov 01, 2010 at 04:06
Can't say I've looked at a 200 series towbar, Willie,
But the bar with the canvas flaps either sits on an "L" bracket held on by the tow ball, or on an inverted "U" that sits across the top of the Hayman Reese hitch.
Both those would have to be to the rear of the bumper bar.
Here is mine:
Image Could Not Be Found
Effectively it is just a few cm between the tow attachment (eg: ball) on the hitch receiver and the tow bar receiver location.
You would have to email or call Christian to ask if he has done one for a 200 series, but I would expect so.
Ken
FollowupID:
853011
Follow Up By: Willie - Monday, Nov 01, 2010 at 04:32
Monday, Nov 01, 2010 at 04:32
Thanks Ken, that looks nice and neat. I will post the question to see if any 200 owner has mounted one.
FollowupID:
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