Deer / Cargo Hauler for Hitch

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On my Jeep Grand Cherokee I would like to have something to bring a deer home on, and we need the cargo space for...well, cargo. So I was thinking of building a cargo rack. Basically like a 4' x 3' steel frame of angle iron, put some sort of steel mesh floor on it, and then have it go right into the reciever hitch. I have a class III 2" hitch.My welder is a 110V rated at a max of 3/16" steel.Any tips for going about this? I want it cheap and strong, but for sure do not want it breaking on the highway.  This has to hold a deer on it while driving, and hitting bumps.Thanks in advance!-PatI'm 21 and learningAvid 4wd enthusiastASE Master tech (Automotive), mechanic/fabricator by trade
Reply:See post on other carrier related thread.And if the deer can't hold on while he's drivin', that's his problem 3/4" expanded metal will work well for the floor, and is well within the capabilities of the welder you have.  Sometimes the steel supplier has drops to sell that will be large enough to fit your needs.3x3  3/16 angle would probably work as long as you are careful about spreading the weight evenly.  It ain't meant to carry a boat."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Try Harbor Freight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=34313  you probably couldn't build one for much less.JimCut an MGB and widened 11" C4 Corvette suspension and LT1 Chevrolet power & 6 spd. Pictures here:Part 1http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,7581Part 2http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,22422
Reply:Oh, the bicycle just ain't good 'nuff, eh?I just had to ask that, you know? I think you can do it. All it takes is a bit of scrounging to keep your overhead costs down and a sound idea for a design. The possiblity is there, just make it happen! Last edited by tanglediver; 11-02-2008 at 12:37 AM.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:few years back some guys from chi town came down for deer season. shot the deer and went to the check station. game warden asked where they got it. fellow said it was standing out in the middle of a field. big one and a small one. thought the small one would be more tender. warden took out his ticket book and told them that there was'nt a season on cows.
Reply:Here are some pictures of the one I built. Its 3"x3"x 3/16 angle with expanded metal. The receiver tube is 1/4". I am 6'-4" 340 ish lbs, I jumped on it and bottomed the suspension. You might consider getting smaller angle, its at least 65 lbs. Mine is about 22"x44" as the expanded metal was a drop and I got a deal on it. When you drill the hole for the pin make sure you have enough room to get your hand in from the top. A minor error on my part that might cause a second hole in mine.http://www.ledger.cc/viper/welding/
Reply:3x3x3/16 angle is way overkill for this application.  All you need is 2x2x1/4 angle and it will be plenty strong.  2x2x3/16 angle would do it too, depending on size of the frame and weight of the deer. Use a 2x2x1/4 square tube for the hitch tube, drill the 5/8" hole on a drill press, through both sides at the same time so the holes line up and center it about 3" from the end of the tube.  I run 2 pieces of angle at 45 degrees to the hitch tube as braces for cargo frame.   They really help stiffen it up.Here are some motorcycle carriers I've built using the expanded metal as the floor.  You can take this same design and just make the cargo area wider to fit the deer and eliminate the tie-down bars.  This frame is 6' x 8" and the hitch tube is 24" long.  If you were to make the hitch bar say 30" long and expand the cargo frame forward toward the truck to take up the open space above the 45* braces seen in the pics below, you'd have a 2' x 6' cargo area.  I don't know anything about deers, so have no idea if that's enough space to hold one but it's a place to start from at least.  You need at least 6 inches of tube protuding from the cargo frame so it can go into the hitch and the frame not irun into the bumper.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Blind Viper, that was a nice job on your carrier notching and fitting up the frame angles where they come together at a 90.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by Jim StabeTry Harbor Freight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=34313  you probably couldn't build one for much less.
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33Blind Viper, that was a nice job on your carrier notching and fitting up the frame angles where they come together at a 90.
Reply:Here is the Cargo hauler that i made up.   The sides side into the rack and are secured with a thru bolt for easy removal, yet secure.The main frame is 1"x1" square tubing 14guage, the tongue and main angle support are 1-1/4sq x .125thick, for strength.I can get you plans if you want.It hauled all of this gear camping there and back 4hr drive.
Reply:Heck PatrickA few years back in Maine, a farmer had a black and white cow.  Come hunting season he painted "Cow" in large red letters on either side,  They shot her anyway . . . .darn city slickers .... Originally Posted by patrickpfew years back some guys from chi town came down for deer season. shot the deer and went to the check station. game warden asked where they got it. fellow said it was standing out in the middle of a field. big one and a small one. thought the small one would be more tender. warden took out his ticket book and told them that there was'nt a season on cows.
Reply:Originally Posted by KENLUDE97Here is the Cargo hauler that i made up.   The sides side into the rack and are secured with a thru bolt for easy removal, yet secure.The main frame is 1"x1" square tubing 14guage, the tongue and main angle support are 1-1/4sq x .125thick, for strength.I can get you plans if you want.
Reply:Josh PM me your email address.Later
Reply:how much does this things weight KENLUDE97
Reply:Its fairly heavy.34lbs without the sides60with the sides
Reply:Originally Posted by mack5555how much does this things weight KENLUDE97
Reply:Yea it has NOTHING to do with the car PACKED full....  of pillows
Reply:Ken:What software did you design it with?
Reply:Pro-Engineer
Reply:Did you make a sleeve for the tongue so it can go into a 2" hitch receiver? According to plans you are using the 1.25". All of my vehicles have 2" receivers so I will either make a sleeve or make the tongue 2" from the start.
Reply:No.  The reciever for my Subaru is a 1-1/4 not 2".If you could find a piece of tubing that is 2" OD and .375" wall that would fit nicely.Good luck.
Reply:I came up with this unit.I do have the full prints for this too if anyone wants them. Took some of Kenlude97 ideas and some others and combined themLast edited by mack5555; 10-18-2010 at 03:23 PM.
Reply:NICE!   I bet it is a good bit lighter than mine!
Reply:Originally Posted by KENLUDE97NICE!   I bet it is a good bit lighter than mine!Yea that my plans also.   Im not hauling dead animals...  But i don't want to see it all bent out of shape like the mass-market ones.
Reply:the best part about building your own, is that it is WAY stronger than the store-bought one.  Mine hauled a 300 pound piece of furniture from Chicago to Mid-missouri without a problem.  I can also stand on the corner of this and jump up and down (I weigh 250#).  The best part about it, is hauling deer....... easy clean-up, and I don't have to lift the deer up to the height of the truck bed.TIP:  I welded a bunch of free chain links around this recently for more tie-downs.  I got the free links at the local hardward store where they cut the chain and leave a piece behind.  they had a bucket full.  (i actually posted this tip recently)http://www.youtube.com/user/c599209/videos
Reply:I used chain links for tie downs as well...they are not seen in my images though