Spare wheel carrier dislodged by "sleeping policeman" A solution.

[Emmit]

As per the title, on a recent trip, (well, not that recent, thanks to Covid19) we had a couple of occasions where the spare wheel carrier came into contact with the rear of a 'sleeping policeman'. Some of them were not only well over the height, they had a gradient like the north face of the Eiger.

I had a look today and whilst some of the problem could be attributed to a warped carrier tray, the main problem stemmed from the twin hooks holding up the tray at the rear of the 'van.
The slope on the hook meant that, on coming into contact with the ground the carrier was dragged backwards, raising it up the 'slope' of the hook and dislodging the carrier from its position.
The racket ensuing sounded like the backside of the van was falling out and was not something I wanted to happen.
The solution.
I opened up a jubilee clip and inserted it around both the carrier and the hook. I'm hoping that, should the carrier come into contact when going down an obstruction such as a SP. the jubilee clip will keep the carrier in place (see photo's)

The fixing before.

The fixing after.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I would put plenty of grease over it so you can undo it easily when required

 

[ivorantony]

Or better still get a stainless steel type

 

[Phill D]

or perhaps one of the very wide reusable cable ties. i have used them on roof bars, very secure can be undone and reused. can be cut in a hurry or if things get awkward.

 

[bigwood]

From past experience with jubilee clips and screwdrivers I would buy a clip driver. They are normaly fitted with a 7mm socket. Underneath a vehicle trying to undo a jubilee clip with a screw driver is asking for a bashed knuckle.

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[Jimbohorlicks]

From past experience with jubilee clips and screwdrivers I would buy a clip driver. They are normaly fitted with a 7mm socket. Underneath a vehicle trying to undo a jubilee clip with a screw driver is asking for a bashed knuckle.

Or use the ones with wing nuts on

 

[Vipar]

Just wake up the coppers and tell them how dangerous it is to sleep in the road. And why ain’t they out chasing criminals ??

 

[Emmit]

From past experience with jubilee clips and screwdrivers I would buy a clip driver. They are normaly fitted with a 7mm socket. Underneath a vehicle trying to undo a jubilee clip with a screw driver is asking for a bashed knuckle.

Pardon my ignorance. What is a 'Clip Driver'?

 

[Emmit]

Just wake up the coppers and tell them how dangerous it is to sleep in the road. And why ain’t they out chasing criminals ??

What they do in France, Spain and Portugal is none of my business.
I didn't do it but when I was here. (Sleep or lie down in the road.)

 

[Emmit]

Or use the ones with wing nuts on

I would have done but I didn't have one. This came out of the 'Bitsa' drawer

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[bigwood]

A clip driver is like a screwdriver with a socket on the end to fit the hex on the clip. The one I have was about a fiver meany years ago. I keep one in the tool kit in the van with a couple of common size clips.

 

[Lenny HB]

I think the clip will just pull apart they are not very strong. What about using an exhaust pipe clamp.

 

[old-mo]

Me being a tight git...

I would strip the earth wire out of some 13amp or better still 30amp cooker wire....

And wrap it round a few times and twist the ends together...

Pair of snips just cut it and chuck it away,,,,and a spare foot or so for anther time..

If you are going to strip it out from home................. Turn the electric orft first..

Sort of like this =

But I would use the single strand and wrap it round a few times...

 

[jockaneezer]

Pardon my ignorance. What is a 'Clip Driver'?

One of these, flexible shaft for tight access too !

 

[Emmit]

The reason for coming up with a solution became a matter of concern because, on the second occasion we were in Portugal.
Before we went on an extended drive on a Motorway we drove through a town and came across an 'Eiger' SP.
We then joined the Motorway and eventually got to a Camp Site for the night.
The following day, after paying our dues, I drove off the pitch and the Ar$e fell out of the bottom of the 'van, (at least that's how it seemed.)
When I stopped, I was shocked to discover that the spare had actually 'escaped' from it's cradle and was lying in the middle of the road.

Should that have occurred the previous day while we were bowling down the Motorway, even allowing for the fact that the Motorways in Portugal are very quiet there could have been carnage.

It is for that reason I have thought up the amendment.

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[Emmit]

I think the clip will just pull apart they are not very strong. What about using an exhaust pipe clamp.

Thanks Lenny,
I used what was 'available'. I'll hopefully be able to keep my eye on it.

 

[bigwood]

I think youre solution is a good idea. I have only seen a jubilee clip fail once. It was a cheep one that rusted through. Yours is now mechanicaly locked.
My clip driver in the van is the flexible type as per the photo.

 

[joka250]

If buying a clip driver make sure you get the right size I've got 6,7 and 8mm versions there could be others.

 

[Brains]

Trying to unscrew a rusty jubilee clip in the pissing rain at night on the side of a motorway sounds like a recipe for a lot of £$%^&* swearing and scraped knuckles.

I'd suggest cable ties.

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

My only concern would be that if the carrier is now unable to move will it transmit the impact to something else?

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[Emmit]

Trying to unscrew a rusty jubilee clip in the pissing rain at night on the side of a motorway sounds like a recipe for a lot of £$%^&* swearing and scraped knuckles.

I'd suggest cable ties.

As a VERY reluctant acceptor of the fact that I'm over the personal score of three score years and ten, I have come to the decision that, should I need to replace a wheel and tyre when on a public road, it won't be me that does it.
I will call on a breakdown service.
Let him/ her scrape their knuckles.