RAISING MY SPOOL

[GeneMiller]

do you think this will be strong enough to hold it without problems. box trucks have a lot more bounce than vans. Im going to use tubing for the main frame thats 1 1/2"x 1/2" and angle thats 1/2". the wall thickness is 1/16" on everything. its not in the picture but the top will probably be a solid plate so i can attach a spool inside if i so desire like Mike Wallace did.

Gene

 

[Desk Jockey]

Square tube with a solid plate on top? That sounds plenty solid.

I'd like to see it when you're done.

 

[GeneMiller]

Ill take a picture and post it.

gene

 

[Desk Jockey]

We use a lot of square tube as framing for racks and carts. It makes a good solid foundation. Primed and painted its looks pretty good finished.

 

[dgardner]

16 gauge steel (0.065") is pretty thin - your big problem will be racking since the 1/2" dimension won't have much strength against bending (unless the upper part will be bolted to something):

You could add gussets or diagonal bracing, or up your material dimensions, maybe to 1-1/2 X 1 tubing and 1 X 1 angle.

I personally would use 11 gauge (0.120") material, and 1-1/2 square tubing and 1-1/2 angle, no gussets needed.

Pics please once you get it done! Nice project. Are you doing the welding yourself?

 

[Jim Martin]

your materials are more then fine to use...its the build that is going to make it or break it....

every single joint is going to have to be welded...the top plate is a good idea for bolting the reel on but also for stability and strength...tac weld it on..do not bolt it...

I would not add diagonal bracing...I would tack weld something like 6 to 8 inch solid diamond plate triangles in every corner....much better stability and will make the frame a lot more ridged....

 

[hydracat]

I did it for awhile. Only problem was when pulling hose out it doesn't want to stop because of gravity. Then it gets caught on stuff and you have to jump back in the truck.

 

[dgardner]

triangles in every corner

Gussets..... As I suggested.

 

[Jim Martin]

Gussets..... As I suggested.

yes...we know....

 

[mirf]

Why do you want to raise it?

 

[dgardner]

So Gene - bottom line is you should either reinforce your design with some sort of bracing or go larger/thicker on your material so that bracing is not needed. Either approach will work.

I would suggest that your design as-is will not hold up to the rigors of the road...

 

[clean image]

1.5-.5-1/16 is not common size. May have to pay premium.
Assume you talking steel, although aluminum would ok

I would go 1-1/4" box on all of it 16 or 11 gauge depending how accomplished welder you are.

i also would design it, unless other motives, where reel stand mounted direct to frame, welded, no plate- , bolt or lag to wood floor

If you do go plate( i would not) , go 1/4 aluminum plate-

KISS

 

[GeneMiller]

In reality when I go through Tom's racks I'll make the descision to the exact size and thickness. I had to draw it a size so it's where I started. He can and will order any size I need but has a huge rack full of steel. I don't know what kind of tubing he has. Ill take a picture when I'm there so you can see my selection. Flat steel he has lots of thicknesses available. I grabbed a piece of scrap a while back that was 3/4 thick. Used it to make a belt tensioner. My current spool holds 225 of 2 1/2 and 150 of 2. The side spools which will mostly be eliminated holds 300' of solution and 150' of water. Any guesses what the hole thing weighs.

Gene

 

[mwall2230]

My welder made my box out of 1 inch square tube. He welded all the way around every corner and put the corner pieces on the bottom for me to bold it to the floor. He also welded my hose reel to the box and it's rock solid. It doesn't bend or flex at all. I have 3 smaller reels attached to it also. All you need is a box just like you have pictured above welded well and you'll be fine.

 

[GeneMiller]

Thanks mike I was just looking for your video to take a look

Gene

 

[Papa John]

do you think this will be strong enough to hold it without problems. box trucks have a lot more bounce than vans. Im going to use tubing for the main frame thats 1 1/2"x 1/2" and angle thats 1/2". the wall thickness is 1/16" on everything. its not in the picture but the top will probably be a solid plate so i can attach a spool inside if i so desire like Mike Wallace did.

GeneView attachment 3834

Gene-- Why Do you want to raise your Spool? You mentioned the "Bounce factor" in the box vans. Are your Bearings on your Vortex hose reel binding and getting stuck?-- I've had this happening to Us because of the Steep hills and all the bouncing the van goes through. Raising the reel will only increase the sway of the reel. I might solve the sway problem by reinforcing the current Reel supports.

On my sprinters I have same space saving design as Mike Wallace- works great.

 

[mwall2230]

 

[GeneMiller]

Gene-- Why Do you want to raise your Spool? You mentioned the "Bounce factor" in the box vans. Are your Bearings on your Vortex hose reel binding and getting stuck?-- I've had this happening to Us because of the Steep hills and all the bouncing the van goes through. Raising the reel will only increase the sway of the reel. I might solve the sway problem by reinforcing the current Reel supports.

On my sprinters I have same space saving design as Mike Wallace- works great.

I just have a regular spool that I cut and made wider years ago it isn't a vortex. I won a small stainless aero tech spool a while back that I never used. I'm going to mount 2 in front if there's room and one underneath.
I like things organized and efficient use of space. No other real reason.



Gene

 

[GeneMiller]

Called aero tech and got a price on their spool. Pretty reasonable considering it's all stainless. Thought I'd go that route until I measured its width. 54" is way to wide and it holds less than my current spool. So I came up with a better idea. I can just make new sides to raise up the spool. I'm going to copy what aero tech did. If I decide to make my spool larger I can easily just replace the center spacer and instantly have a wider stand.
I looked at spools they've made over the years. They have changed the design quite a few times. The latest will be the easiest to build so I'm definitely going that way. Design to come. Still need to order one more small spool to go with the one from auction and maybe the rail they mount the spool on.

Gene

 

[GeneMiller]

Here is a design based on the aero tech spool. i reuse my spool and make two new side members. it uses 2x4 1/8" thick tubing for the upright and cross member. for the foot i used 2x2. it will allow me to make the footprint actually smaller than what i have and place two of the stainless spools for the solution and garden hose in front of the spool. no other reason but because i can. it is drawn to exact dimensions give or take a 32. getting ready for the 870 has put a new spring in my step. I've had that spool i won from aero tech at auction for awhile. this was the plan when i bought it.

gene