Outdoor kitchen/storage box

[Timwiltshire]

I built a bumper mounted, fibreglass coated storage box/outdoor kitchen for the back of my Bigfoot. The box is 1/2" plywood covered in 3 layers of polyester resin and chopped strand, gelcoat and then marine enamel. The whole thing fits in a hitch cargo carrier that's mounted to the bumper. Now I don't have to haul my BBQ in the box of my truck or inside my trailer. Also fits my generator, firewood and propane firepit nicely, or firewood during burning season.

[FRED SMAILES]

That's a great looking container!
I really need something like that on the back of my little 5th wheel.
Fred

[BMack]

I would be interested in how well the trailer tows with the box mounted?

I tried something similar a few years ago... which almost caused me to loose control on the highway. Reduced tongue weight made the rig unsafe. If I hadn't had an 'equalizer' hitch we would have been spread all over the road.

Be cautious it this is a new addition.

[Glenn Baglo]

It looks great. But, have you weighed that kitchen box and have you weighed your tongue, with and without the box mounted?

[Timwiltshire]

Originally Posted by BMack

I would be interested in how well the trailer tows with the box mounted?

I tried something similar a few years ago... which almost caused me to loose control on the highway. Reduced tongue weight made the rig unsafe. If I hadn't had an 'equalizer' hitch we would have been spread all over the road.

Be cautious it this is a new addition.

The first time I towed the trailer after I added this (last year) I was towing with no equalizer hitch and no counter weight for the front. I was on the highway for a few minutes before it started going squirrelly on me. Scary scary times.

The second time I towed it I added an equalizer hitch, it towed beautifully with no issues.

The third time was this year after I cut off the battery and propane trays, while I was on my way to get my new tray welded on. It was quite bouncy without the extra tongue weight.

Since then I've added two 6v batteries and a heavier tray on the tongue , plus my propane (all lower weight too as the battery tray has been dropped 5") and I'll be towing with my equalizer hitch. I predict no problems but I'll keep everyone posted as to any issues I may have.

Thanks for the comments, it was a bit of work building this set up.

[Timwiltshire]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

It looks great. But, have you weighed that kitchen box and have you weighed your tongue, with and without the box mounted?

The box fully loaded is about 150lbs. I've added about 120 pounds to the tongue with my latest modification. And I tow with an equalizer hitch.

Where do you weigh your trailer tongue? Truck weigh stations?

[Borrego Dave]

A bathroom scale will work also Tim.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Timwiltshire

Where do you weigh your trailer tongue? Truck weigh stations?

I have a Sherline tongue weight scale with the 1,000 lb. gauge. You don't want the 2,000 lb. gauge because they are most accurate in the middle of the range and the 1,000 is easier to read.
https://www.sherline.com/product/she...-weight-scale/

[Timwiltshire]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

I have a Sherline tongue weight scale with the 1,000 lb. gauge. You don't want the 2,000 lb. gauge because they are most accurate in the middle of the range and the 1,000 is easier to read.
https://www.sherline.com/product/she...-weight-scale/

Glenn,

Honest question: How often are you weighing the tongue of your trailer to justify the purchase of a (not cheap) dedicated scale? And why would you need to weigh the tongue of your trailer this often?

[Timwiltshire]

Originally Posted by Borrego Dave

A bathroom scale will work also Tim.

Thanks! I tried it but our scale maxes out at 330lbs, so it wouldn't work.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Timwiltshire

Glenn,

Honest question: How often are you weighing the tongue of your trailer to justify the purchase of a (not cheap) dedicated scale? And why would you need to weigh the tongue of your trailer this often?

I weigh it often enough to know that I'm maintaining a proper ratio of tongue weight to trailer weight and to know that the box I have on the back isn't a problem.

I don't weigh it every time I hook up, it's true. I find I can adjust the tongue weight by shifting cases of Okanagan Spring Pale Ale forward and aft. I keep at least six cases aboard for fine tuning.
There is a method for using a bath scale to weigh the tongue. It involves the bath scale, a brick and a 2X4. Maybe somebody can post a link to it.

[Timwiltshire]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

I weigh it often enough to know that I'm maintaining a proper ratio of tongue weight to trailer weight and to know that the box I have on the back isn't a problem.

I don't weigh it every time I hook up, it's true. I find I can adjust the tongue weight by shifting cases of Okanagan Spring Pale Ale forward and aft. I keep at least six cases aboard for fine tuning.
There is a method for using a bath scale to weigh the tongue. It involves the bath scale, a brick and a 2X4. Maybe somebody can post a link to it.

Glenn,
Thanks for the info! I'm curious to see the tongue weight, I found the method you referred to and will try it very soon.

I'll have to let the wife know I need a few cases of beer available at all times for safe towing

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the tongue weight should be 10-15% of the trailer weight? So in order to know if the trailer tongue weight is sufficient one would have to know the total weight of their rig, right?

Also what sort of box do you have on the back of your trailer? Similar to mine?

Cheers

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Timwiltshire

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the tongue weight should be 10-15% of the trailer weight? So in order to know if the trailer tongue weight is sufficient one would have to know the total weight of their rig, right?

Also what sort of box do you have on the back of your trailer? Similar to mine?

Cheers

10-15% is what I understand as the target.
My box is aluminum. I'm storing it for the company that I retired from seven years ago. They bought 20 boxes for securing camera equipment in the company cars. Not sure how many of those company cars ( 2000 Neon) they still have, but I think there are only three photographers left.

The shipping weight of the rack I'm using was 75 lbs. Box sits on top of it. I store water hoses, garbage bags, a camp axe and extension cord in it. I've considered removing it and storing that stuff elsewhere. I will remove it next time I take the ferry to reduce my over all length by two feet and the ferry fare by $18 each way.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Timwiltshire

I built a bumper mounted, fibreglass coated storage box/outdoor kitchen for the back of my Bigfoot. The box is 1/2" plywood covered in 3 layers of polyester resin and chopped strand, gelcoat and then marine enamel....

phew, that sounds heavy. have you weighed it? those rear bumper hitches usually have a 100 lb limit.

[John in Santa Cruz]

there's the princess scale, but its not easy to find,
https://www.princessauto.com/en/deta...le/A-p8686024e

they won't ship to the USA

there's this similar one made in .AU, but I haven't foudn anyone who willl ship it, either.
Products | Hayman Reese
(note $75 AU is about $55 US).

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by Timwiltshire

Thanks! I tried it but our scale maxes out at 330lbs, so it wouldn't work.

Had the same problem as my TW is around 365# so I bought a new scale on Ebay rated for 400# for a whole $20 .

[WDavidG]

Originally Posted by Timwiltshire

Thanks! I tried it but our scale maxes out at 330lbs, so it wouldn't work.

You can multiply the effective capacity of your scale by using using a cross bar (2x4 or similar) with scale at one end, support block at the other and tongue at measured distance somewhere midway depending on what ratio you need. Resting the bar on short bits of pipe assures that you are approximating point loads for accuracy. Here is a diagram of a typical scheme.

[TZBrown]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

there's the princess scale, but its not easy to find,
https://www.princessauto.com/en/deta...le/A-p8686024e

they won't ship to the USA

there's this similar one made in .AU, but I haven't foudn anyone who willl ship it, either.
Products | Hayman Reese
(note $75 AU is about $55 US).

In August 2018 they shipped 2 to me in Michigan, no issues.
They are a pretty good alternative to the Sherline

[Timwiltshire]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

phew, that sounds heavy. have you weighed it? those rear bumper hitches usually have a 100 lb limit.

It's not too bad, I was able to lift it into place by myself, it was more awkward than anything. No I haven't actually weighed it, but with the BBQ, stove, suitcase generator, 5lb propane tank, axe and fire pit my guess is about 150lbs. My bumper hitch is rated for 200, but I've purchased 2 more to add to the setup so more load is placed near the bumper welds and not the center of the bumper.

[Timwiltshire]

Originally Posted by Borrego Dave

Had the same problem as my TW is around 365# so I bought a new scale on Ebay rated for 400# for a whole $20 .

Hmm! I'll have a look! Up here in Canada things tend to be more expensive!