Enthusiast II
I have a steel cargo carrier that I carry my cooler and totes on. I would to utilize it as a table when my camp is setup. Has anyone got a good solution to attach legs?
Thanks for the help,
Bill
Thanks for the help,
Bill
Has anyone attached legs to a hitch cargo carrier?
- Thread starter p8ntbill2
- Start date
Enthusiast II
Slotted angle iron.
Google "slotted angle iron table bench legs" - it'll give you gobs of ideas. It isn't expensive and all you need is some of this and some bolts with wingnuts.
Google "slotted angle iron table bench legs" - it'll give you gobs of ideas. It isn't expensive and all you need is some of this and some bolts with wingnuts.
Pathfinder I
As I look at this you could fashion some angle iron legs that rest in the carrier, angle iron cross braces nuts and bolts as state above and you are all set. Then flip it over when you use it as a table. No worries that way of the legs deploying as you roll down the road. Though it might need a good cleaning before use depending on road conditions. :)
Whatever design you use, I'd probably want a way to level the legs for uneven ground. Perhaps...
Pathfinder I
Influencer II
I toyed with this exact idea when I used to use a hitch cargo rack for camping. I was thinking of using some adjustable length Ikea desk legs, (like this) mounted to a hinged piece, attached to the bottom of the rack. When traveling, the legs can be folded in (under) and bungeed in place. I have some ideas for making the hinged piece, without welding or complex fabrication, but it's too difficult to try and explain in text.
Ultimately I never pursued the idea because we moved away from using the rack. Also, using it as a table seemed to be more of a pain that it would be worth. It would be heavy and awkward, and for the surface area it would provide, I was better off with a folding aluminum table, which is much easier to deal with, lighter, better usable surface, and less expensive than the materials I would use for the rack. I ended up with something like this:
Ultimately I never pursued the idea because we moved away from using the rack. Also, using it as a table seemed to be more of a pain that it would be worth. It would be heavy and awkward, and for the surface area it would provide, I was better off with a folding aluminum table, which is much easier to deal with, lighter, better usable surface, and less expensive than the materials I would use for the rack. I ended up with something like this:
Enthusiast II
Here's what I came up with. Used 1/2 bolts they fit in the tire down hole the best. Legs are 24" good hieght so I can sit in my camp chair and access it. Thank you for all the input, it all helped me out a lot.
I was wondering.. Why not, instead of legs, make up a adapter that goes in your hitch receiver that sets your carrier at table height? Haul stuff without the adapter. When you stop, empty the carrier, pull it out of the receiver, install the adapter into the receiver, reinstall the carrier to the end of the adapter.
No?
-jim lee
No?
-jim lee
Enthusiast II
New to overlanding, but when I travel I like to setup a base camp and explore from there. But the hitch adapter could be my next project. Geat idea, thank you.
Not trying to hijack - but I definitely need a set of those levelers.
Back on subject - if you can weld, a piece of tubing on each corner and corresponding tubes that fit in would be the ticket -- then use those levelers on them :)
Batchild101
Rank I
Contributor III
RatAssassin
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
Keep it in the hitch and just get a 25" lift kit for the vehicle.
Pathfinder III
- 721
- First Name
- Dustin
- Last Name
- Tarditi
- Member #
1017
- Service Branch
- US Army Infantry
I tried it - I had all sorts of ideas like telescoping legs (like a ez-up canopy), folding legs, hinged legs, etc. didn't like any of the designs or prototypes I came up with.
I ended up taking mine and using fender washers bolts and locknuts, attached a set of folding table leg assemblies (Waddell Folding Banquet Table Legs ~ $35) and used quickfists to keep them from opening accidentally when on the road or trail.
It worked OK. I liked having the dual-purpose, but ended up not using it as much as I thought I would.
The table was heavy and the elevated rack gives a high center of gravity.
I now prefer roll-top camp tables (the kind that fold up the size of a camp chair).
I ended up taking mine and using fender washers bolts and locknuts, attached a set of folding table leg assemblies (Waddell Folding Banquet Table Legs ~ $35) and used quickfists to keep them from opening accidentally when on the road or trail.
It worked OK. I liked having the dual-purpose, but ended up not using it as much as I thought I would.
The table was heavy and the elevated rack gives a high center of gravity.
I now prefer roll-top camp tables (the kind that fold up the size of a camp chair).
Last edited:
old post, but for anyone who likes the hitch mount cargo rack, get one that swings out and it can be used as a table, etc without having to remove it from the receiver. i use mine with a deck system i built for the tundra and i swing the rack away, drop the tailgate and i have a work area next to me as well as the ice chest right next to me as i cook on the tailgate. quick and easy with nothing to move or set up. i bought the swing-away carrier new for $300....
they are pretty heavy to use as a portable table. i guess if i had to mount legs, i would use 1/2" pipe flanges screwed at the corners and then use threaded pipe as the legs so i could remove them easily and store the legs behind the seat or somewhere out of the way...
they are pretty heavy to use as a portable table. i guess if i had to mount legs, i would use 1/2" pipe flanges screwed at the corners and then use threaded pipe as the legs so i could remove them easily and store the legs behind the seat or somewhere out of the way...
Last edited:
