Posted 2009-11-17 11:40 PM (#113320) Subject: swing out saddle rack
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Hey all,
i was thinking (oh no! Not again!) of replacing my rear tack saddle post with a swing out.. much like what Sundowner uses. That way I could better utilize ALL of the space in my rear tack and put the water tank there.. The space is too small to fit the tank behind the post. Where might I find something like this? I've never seen one on e-bay other than the saddle boss stuff.. I'm not looking for anything motorized or fancy, just a nice quality swing out that would still be removeable if I needed the interior open for furniture or hay or whatever..
Any ideas?... I've pored thru all of the trailer accessory websites that I can google up..
Posted 2009-11-18 7:32 AM (#113334 - in reply to #113320) Subject: RE: swing out saddle rack
Location: Central Arkansas
Many trailer companies offer manual swingout saddle racks.I currently have one in my 4 Star 4H DR trailer. I have pics of it that you could take to a fabricator and possibly have your existing one modified.
Posted 2009-11-18 9:20 AM (#113342 - in reply to #113320) Subject: RE: swing out saddle rack
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
I too have been looking for an after market swing out saddle rack, that could be retro fitted into various trailers. One condition would have to be, that it could be easily removed when the rear tack walls are collapsed for open hauling.
One major consideration would be the wall mounting points. The rack would have to be firmly attached to the wall's structure, to afford enough strength to support the weight of several heavy saddles, being placed directly on the hinges. This may be difficult to provide in an after market situation, and only available from a trailer manufacturer that engineered the rack and trailer as a combination unit.
One further problem is that one size won't fit all applications. My two trailers have different wall profiles and depths in the tack areas. Each rack would have to be custom built for the optimum space utilization.
If a fabricator were to engineer a workable, universal system, I'm sure he would find a ready market.
Posted 2009-11-18 9:27 AM (#113343 - in reply to #113320) Subject: RE: swing out saddle rack
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399
Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350
We have retrofitted Sundowner racks into other brands of trailers; but it is necessary to have enough room to do this. A swing out rack on stationary arms, has to have X-amount of clearance to make it past the tack wall and rear post, if one is used. Gard is thinking right ,when he says that someone needs to come up with a universal one. Telescoping arms on the racks structure would be one way to do this.
Posted 2009-11-18 2:47 PM (#113364 - in reply to #113320) Subject: RE: swing out saddle rack
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
The sundowner swing out is exactly what I was thinking of.... OK you welders out there... what to retire a wealthy man (or woman)? Start a fabrication business!
In retrospect, there is a guy here who does aluminum welding, and I haven't checked or asked about it, but I think it would be cost prohibitive... I can sure inquire, tho..
Posted 2009-11-18 3:08 PM (#113368 - in reply to #113320) Subject: RE: swing out saddle rack
Expert
Posts: 1283
Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
Here is a picture of one I made for a trailer I built, I started with the removeable saddle rack for the trailer and framed it up on one side(left looking at it) installed semi trailer hinges(aluminum) on the rear corner post of the trailer. I did motorize this one with a linear actuator from e-bay($30), you can see the actuator behind the buddy saddle. But I could still remove the whole thing in under 10 minutes.
Posted 2009-11-18 3:40 PM (#113371 - in reply to #113320) Subject: RE: swing out saddle rack
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
I like your design..I'd be interested in how you did it. I just measured my rear tack.. It's 35" from support beam to support beam... That oughta be enough to hold a couple of saddles and blanket bars.