Hi Team
Nice job with the rooftop loader
I made a side loader myself. Reason for a side loader? 1) I can take tinnie down with van still coupled, 2) much easier to manufacture and 3) much lighter. Very few parts and quite simple. I used 30mm2 tubing to make three cross bars. I secured those to the roof by drilling holes in the rain channel where the double seam is
and inserted 6 rivet nuts on each side. Then bent two lengths of the same tubing for the ramps. On the drivers side I made a winch bracket that slides into the front and middle bars, so I can slide the winch on when loading the tinnie, and slide it off once done. Store the winch in the caravan boot. Screwed blue plastic runners on so tinnie slides easily.
The winch is wirelessly controlled, which makes it very easy to load the tinnie.
To secure the tinnie once loaded, I drilled four holes through the gunnel and front and rear bars, and use long eye bolts that slides through and used nyloc nuts to tighten. Does not move at all.
I also made a 50mm tow bracket that slides into the hitch receiver and bolts on to the tinnie with a D shackle, plus I use jockey wheel style side wheels on the tinnie to tow to the water....obviously it is not rego'd
Just did a trip from Perth to Denham, My Magnet and back to Perth. No problems.
Engine is going to be mounted on the drawbar once I remove the front tool box from the van.
Tinnie is 3.1m and weighs 68kg. I have a 9.9hp Mercury 4 stroke.
Fuel consumption is up by approx 1-2 l/100km..........BUT WHO CARES!!!
I attached some pics. Please comment if you like
Cheers
Ed
