Carpet tubes

[bulbrich]

I have noticed that many of you have installed 4 - 6" PVC tubes for the purpose of carrying your outdoor carpets. May I have some suggestions on "how to install them" so they don't come loose and fall off. Also, thanks all who provided the info on the JT Strong Arm stabilizers. I have ordered my set from your input. Thanks.

[Ozz]

Don't use 'plumbers strap', the perforated light duty metal. Also, don't use self tapping metal screws, they (both) just will not hold up to the vibration, expansion and contraction and stress of the road.
Use allthread, 1/4" should do, (what I used with mine) washers and double nut with thread lock.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.........
Good luck with it, you can see my install at Ozz's mods at the bottom of my sig.
And...welcome to the Forum.
Ozz

[ols1932]

I used 1/4" self-tapping screws with fender washers (one on each end) to hold my pvc pipes up and they've been there for four years with no problems. The original pipe, the one that came with the rig when it was new, broke off but the screws were still there.

Orv

[Okie Guy]

How big of pipe do you use for the outdoor carpet? My carpet is 25 feet long and 8 feet wide. This would be a better storage idea than folding it up and shoving it in the drivers side storage area under my bed.

[The Oldguard]

bulbrich, I mounted mine some what like Ozz only I used 3/8th allthread, and have 6 & 8 inch tubes see pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/oldguard1/PicturesOfTubes

[carlson]

For that size rug you will need to go to a 8" PVC, schule 40 pipe.
The pipe is fairly in-expensive, the thing that will cost you are the end caps.
I put a screen door handle on the end cap and used a pin that has a small ball in the end to hold the caps on.
Also you may have to sand the last 6" of the pipe so the caps fit so you can take them on and off

[Ozz]

I know the original poster asked about carpet storage, but many of us also store sewer hose and the 7' collapsible ladders in our tubes. I like Oldguard's install, can't beat the unistrut for sturdy.
Carlson is right about the cap, man, I sanded and sanded before I got mine to go on and off without bursting a blood vessel.
I welded a round washer on to my pin and slipped a combo lock on my ladder holder, don't want it to grow 'legs' and walk off....

[VanMan]

Ozz - I bet if there was a small hole in the tube somewhere, you could give it a blast from your air compressor and shoot that cap off - probably a pretty good distance !!

[Ozz]

VanMan, a deadly version of the Potato gun!

[carlson]

Ozz and VanMan,
Never though about putting a Sharder valve onto the pipe and blow the cap off.
The 8" pipe would be a great "Punkin" launcher.
But I drilled drain holes in both pipes.
We run a 8" in the front and a 6" behind it, We get a 80" wide by 20' carpet in the 8" and 40' (2) section of sewer hose in the 6" even with the 45 degree and 90 degree elbow on the pipe.

[dieselguy]

Now I know not everyone has access to a metal shop as I do, but it enables one to fabricate something that has more eye appeal. 2" wide aluminum about 22" long. Rolled with the last 1" on each end bent upward to straddle a 2" by 1.5" square of aluminum radiused to fit the tube. (measurments for 6" PVC) 5/16" grade 8 bolts with nyloc nuts holding it directly to the frame.

[Ozz]

dieselguy, nice work, as always.

[Trailer Trash 2]

I used industral pipe hangers that electricans use in the hanging of large conduet. then secured it to the frame of the trailer.

[Fire5er]

Don,
Nice set-up! What about those end caps, what are they and where would a guy get them?

Karl

[Trailer Trash 2]

quote:Originally posted by Fire5er

Don,
Nice set-up! What about those end caps, what are they and where would a guy get them?

Karl

Karl those are 6" caps purchased from a company named Custume Van Interiors, santa fe springs , CA. they are made from cast aluminum and lockable. I dont have there phone number at hand right now but if you want I can get it for you at a later date if Information cant get it for you.

[Ozz]

Real nice, Don. I wish I would have had them. Is that a pop rivet holding the metal onto the plastic?

[Trailer Trash 2]

quote:Originally posted by Ozz

Real nice, Don. I wish I would have had them. Is that a pop rivet holding the metal onto the plastic?

It looks like a rivet dosent it, but it's not they are actually a sheetmetal screw with a security head, they look round but in fact they are oval, but not to the eye. it takes a specal screwdriver attachment to put on or off. I cant loose it that way or the tube's content when secured with a padlock.
Strange thing though, if you go to the other side I still have the original PVC end cap on with easy access there, I never put the other side on the tube, reason was for ventilation so the sewer hose could dry.
Sorry folks, I use mine for the sewer hse not a rug, but it could be I guess if I had the indoor/outdoor carpet, but I have the plastic straw mats they do not fit in there.
Anyways see you all at Flying flags I have to get the Monty ready leaving home Thursday AM.

By.
TT2

[ols1932]

On my pipes, I added a collar on each end that had screw threads inside. Then used screw-in caps (sorry, don't know what they're called) on both ends of each pipe. Makes it easy to have access to either end of the pipes. The collars are held in place with a few dabs of pvc cement.

Orv