cooler rack mounting

[catfish hunter]

 did a search and came up empty so I am askin you guys ,I just got a used 8 rod cooler rack for my 93 chevy silverado ,It did not come w/ a 2" mount and i know I have to buy one ,what is the best way to mount it and where should I mount it ,do I bolt it to the frame or weld it somewhere?? is one mount gonna be strong enough ?? thanks for any ideas

[Luna Sea 5]

did a search and came up empty so I am askin you guys ,I just got a used 8 rod cooler rack for my 93 chevy silverado ,It did not come w/ a 2" mount and i know I have to buy one ,what is the best way to mount it and where should I mount it ,do I bolt it to the frame or weld it somewhere?? is one mount gonna be strong enough ?? thanks for any ideas

The best way is on the hitch receiver.  Very easy and you can take it on and off whenever you like.  This is what I did.  I don't like the weld mount because its permanent.

[IrishAyes]

Front or rear mount?

If front mount, is your vehicle in this catagory?
If so...


http://www.draw-tite.net/pdf/N65005.pdf

If not, this may help you...

http://www.hitchesonline.com/chevy_front_end.htm

[catfish hunter]

so you guys are saying to go buy the full hitch mount and put it on ,there is no cheaper way of doin this I didnt want to dump a 150 dollar reciver into a truck that is worth about the same,but if I have to I will

[ped579]

I had mine installed by Hecht Trailers.  2" receiver up front made for the vehicle.  Receiver plus installation ran about $250.

[Luna Sea 5]

you should have a hitch receiver on your truck.  If you do, all you have to do is mount/weld the rack on a 2" receiver with a cotter pin.

[IrishAyes]

Do you really want to run around with a big cooler rack on the front of your vehicle all year around?

If you don't mind doing that, just drill out some holes in the front bumper, mount the rack there and add a brace or two onto the frame.

Keep in mind, you don't want to block the entire air flow to the radiator (typically happens with the cooler in place) as this could cause overheating, expecially when you ride the sand.

[ped579]

I have the option now of having the rack mount on either the front or the rear I like the front for short trips for the simple reason like Joe mentioned you could over heat the engine with restricted airflow to the radiator.  For the long trips I simply shift the whole thing to the rear receiver.

On my rack I have a pin just like mounting a trailer, in fact I can put a ball mount up front and drive straight onto a trailer hitch instead of backing it up.  It is so much easier pushing a trailer while facing it than backing into it and backing the trailer where ever you want it to go.

I thought it was well worth the money.

Happy Catching

Paul

[catfish hunter]

you should have a hitch receiver on your truck.  If you do, all you have to do is mount/weld the rack on a 2" receiver with a cotter pin.

got ya ,I think you are saying weld a 2" reciver then use a cotter pin to hold the rack in place or a lock.thanks guys anyone have any pics handy of the mount itself

[IrishAyes]

If you are looking for just the receiver tube...

http://www.hitchesonline.com/receiver_tubes.htm

[catfish hunter]

http://www.rodrack.com/product.php?productid=16158&cat=254&page=1
this is the one they sell for it ,what do ya think

[IrishAyes]

That mounts to the rack itself. You will still need the receiver on the truck to put that part into.

I like the idea of the stabilizer bar. My rod holder rocks back and forth when I am moving. I'll have to add one of those. Was trying to figure out a way to do something like that.

[catfish hunter]

at least one of us figured something out here ,lol .my head is spinning trying to find a cheaper way .my truck might not make it a year and I dont want to put a ton of cash into it but I might have to

[IrishAyes]

You have a pick up.

Do you really need a cooler rack? Just put your cooler in the bed and make a rod carrier out of PVC and a 2X8. Install the rod carrier in the bed of the truck. A whole lot cheaper than the receiver route. 

[rugman]

so you guys are saying to go buy the full hitch mount and put it on ,there is no cheaper way of doin this I didnt want to dump a 150 dollar reciver into a truck that is worth about the same,but if I have to I will

Don't worry your wife will get another job ,so go out and buy a new truck and stop being cheap

[Luna Sea 5]

http://www.rodrack.com/product.php?productid=16158&cat=254&page=1
this is the one they sell for it ,what do ya think

thats it.. or you can fabricate your own.  as long as there is something coming from the rack that slides into your receiver, then your fine.  I also have a adjustment on the bottom of mine that I tighten so the rack stays stable.  I will take a pic later for you.

[Luna Sea 5]

actually, never mind with the stabilizer.  that small piece on the left in the picture of the link catfish posted, IS IT.. just screw it down to tighten.

[IrishAyes]

That's the piece I am talking about Nick. I hadn't thought of doing something like that to keep the rig from rocking. 

[Luna Sea 5]

That's the piece I am talking about Nick. I hadn't thought of doing something like that to keep the rig from rocking. 

Irish, it makes a HUGE difference, not only from the side to side, but also with the weight of a full cooler.

[Reel Time]

 another possibility is to try a local welding/fab shop and see what they can do for you. may wind up being alot cheaper. just roll up with the rack and tell them what you want to do with it.

 i purchased a rod holder with a reciever adapter that was to be honest, pretty cheap and flimsy, so i took it to a local weld shop and had it beefed up for 20 bucks. seemed good to me since i didnt have the resources to weld aluminum.