Hinge advice needed

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Hey guys.  I want to start building some "Tail Gate BBQ's" to get ready to sell for the summer, and for upcoming football season (charcoal and gas).  I've built some in the past that mount to the receiver, but I would like to make one that swings out on an articulated arm so that it is away from the car/truck, and so the tailgate can be used as a work surface.The design I am working on would have an arm made from 3"x1/2" square tube with two barrel hinges.  I already have the design for spring loaded locking pins that will keep it locked in the folded or working position.I just can't get my head wrapped around the hinge.  At first I was thinking of a simple barrel hinge like one that would be used for a heavy gate, but those come apart.Any ideas?  I'll try to post a drawing of what I'm talking about.
Reply:Here's a crude drawing.  As you can see, I need to work out 2 hinges, or pivots. Attached ImagesLast edited by JC'sWelding; 05-03-2009 at 05:45 AM.
Reply:Jeep tire carrier hinges will fit the bill. It's just a stub axle with some bearings.http://www.atozfabrication.com/store...0&bestseller=YIf you cannot convince them, confuse them.         Harry S Truman
Reply:I built some arms similar to what you are trying to do for an outdoor TV show.  They used them to mount cameras on.  Let me get some pics and you can see what I did.  They were made from aluminum, but the principle is the same.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:instead of having it hindged which might be a bit unstable, sleeve the tubing so the grill can slide 2 to 3 ft away from the truck tailgate, or if I understand you are using 3" square steel tube, weld 2" pipe to the ends and sleeve that with 1 1/2 pipe and a bolt down the middle to tighten it up as a hindge, its cheap and strong.
Reply:Those Jeep hinges look interesting, but with 2 needed, at $45 each, that's a lot of money.  The slide out method sonds like a good idea.
Reply:Something like the pdf I attached where you have a bushing  secured by friction fit and a pin welded at one end? Attached Imageshinge block with bushing.pdf (73.3 KB, 531 views)
Reply:How in the world did you make that 3D pdf?  Anyway, yeah, kind of like that.  Tell me more.  I have to make sure that the parts don't come apart if they drive over a speed bump.
Reply:Check this kind of mechanism out - very similar to other ideas. Its Yakima bike rack. It mounts in the receiver, and swings/pivots well out to the side of the vehicle, in order to open rear tails gates/what not. I have an older version of this rack.I've thought about doing the same things and was going to use this design as a basis. The pics don't show much hinge detail. I could possibly take some pics and post if you don't get any other pics here soon...http://www.yakima.com/racks/bike-rac...ers-only).aspxGood luck, MikeLast edited by mtncrawler; 05-03-2009 at 01:25 PM.Miller Dynasty 200DXHypertherm PowerMax 45Victor OAIR CompressorLots of blacksmithing tools and other fun toys meant to creatively disfigure, reshape, manipulate and join metal.
Reply:That's an idea.  Instead of having the arms stacked, have them side by side like that.  That way I could just bolt it up and have some nylon bushings in there to help it swivel.  Thanks.
Reply:Nylon won't take the heat.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:There won't be heat from the BBQ down on the arms.
Reply:that 3 d thing is awesome what do you need to do that?  that would be awful handy for a guy like me that needs to see things work sometimes without actually building them.  sorry for the whoringwww.burdettenetworks.com
Reply:Go here and download it.  It's free!http://sketchup.google.com/
Reply:Honestly do you "need" anything more than a couple pieces of telescoping tube to use as hinges?  I'm a guy who's into the details and ideally if money and parts were both readily available I'd get all fancy with even the littlest things.But honestly, aren't you over thinking this a tad?  You'll put it on the truck, drive to the game, swing it out once, cook on it, and swing it back in.  You could put a grease zerk in on them to keep them loose, and then put a bolt with a T head on it to lock it in place.  The whole unit would swing easy enough unless you have the strength of a 5 year old girl or something, and for the amount of use it would see, you wouldn't wear out the hinge in your lifetime.
Reply:Originally Posted by Antibling...But honestly, aren't you over thinking this a tad?...
Reply:could you incorporate a go-kart wheel spindle and bearing.
Reply:You might want to look at the torque or twist that is going to happen.  The BBQ is probably +/- 50 - 100 pounds give or take.  All the weight is going to try and twist (and droop) at the reciever especially but also at every one of the hinge points.  The idea of creating something that just telescopes is a good one.  If it just slid out say 24-30 inches from the tailgate it wouldn't matter much if it droops some.  You could add some simple sliding legs that stretch down to the pavement and support it when it is in place.  You could add a simple pivot in the middel of the grill so you could turn it toward the side to let you use the tailgate as a work table.Happy Grilling Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by JC'sWeldingHow in the world did you make that 3D pdf?  Anyway, yeah, kind of like that.  Tell me more.  I have to make sure that the parts don't come apart if they drive over a speed bump.
Reply:Originally Posted by roberthaightYou might want to look at the torque or twist that is going to happen.  The BBQ is probably +/- 50 - 100 pounds give or take.  All the weight is going to try and twist (and droop) at the reciever especially but also at every one of the hinge points.  The idea of creating something that just telescopes is a good one.  If it just slid out say 24-30 inches from the tailgate it wouldn't matter much if it droops some.  You could add some simple sliding legs that stretch down to the pavement and support it when it is in place.  You could add a simple pivot in the middel of the grill so you could turn it toward the side to let you use the tailgate as a work table.Happy Grilling
Reply:Go ahead and try it.  Just be sure to post a photo or two of a finished one.
Reply:Better put a good latch on the door, dont wont it popping open going down the road and have hot coals flinging out ya know !I like the idea but that bad boy would be hard to mount and dismount, also wait until its cool would take some time...For me I'd just have 2 hinges, one at the grill and one at the hitch, big "L" shaped arm ?
Reply:Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Woohoo!!  That's it!  That's what I want to build.  Can you give any details about those swivels?