Xterra "bed" X-tender

[P&P]

Have you ever wished your Xterra was a pickup?

Yeah, me either.

But sometimes, it just has to be. There's nothing you can do about it. Maybe you need to move a couch or some drywall, lumber etc etc.

This is something we cooked up because we had too and there's aa new use for it just about every week. Have had a ton of people locally ask about it so we decided maybe it's something everyone would be interested in.

As setup I can carry 4' wide x 8' long pieces with the rear seats up and 10-12' long with the seats layed down. Also have a second head setup for narrow loads that is 10" wide.

 

[Trexterra]

Great idea, with that much leverage out there on the hitch do you have any idea what kind of weight it would support? I imagine couple hundred at least.


Sent from CoSprings

 

[P&P]

Great idea, with that much leverage out there on the hitch do you have any idea what kind of weight it would support? I imagine couple hundred at least.


Sent from CoSprings

There are 2 really important factors to consider here.

1) payload capacity of the truck
2) rated tongue weight of the hitch

Both should be respected when loading with this device. You will approach these weights long before the working limits of the materials or the welds are exceeded. Payload will typically be the first limit reached as this is designed to place the bulk of the weight inside the hatch of the vehicle by being slightly higher than the hatch floor. However, I would consider tongue weight more relevant to this particular piece. I can say I have had a load very near the tongue weight limit on this setup with no issues. However that is probably few and far between when you would even be able to make that happen. Most of the time this is just a support for a longer load. But the way we are gusseting these there should be no structural issues. But because of the added leverage action on the hitch mount bolts and the frame I would advise staying under the rated tongue weight by about 25%.

I've had the thought to make an extended head to support longer loads on the roof rack. In that case the weight carrying capacity would be greatly decreased. It would be a long way from the load to the gusset and the rated capacity of the roof rack is much lower than the tongue weight of the hitch.

There is also the possibility of making different drop in heads for different applications. Canoes/kayacks, etc. Dream big here. We could make them to order. We could also change the length of the stick out.

 

[Creepy Cruiser]

I've built several of these over the years (in all kinds of configurations), for myself and for customers, and they are very handy. The first one I built a long time ago, was to support a hang glider (one for the front and one for the back).

 

[Fromfrontier2Xterra]

That's an awesome idea. May need to look into this more when I redo my deck. Nice work.

Sent via my walkie talkie

 

[civicjoe]

Cool idea too bad it won't work with a tire carrier, awe well that's part of why I have a gobi


Sent from the nighthog mobile command unit.

 

[Fromfrontier2Xterra]

Cool idea too bad it won't work with a tire carrier, awe well that's part of why I have a gobi Sent from the nighthog mobile command unit.

Very true. That thought didn't even cross my mind.

Sent via my walkie talkie

 

[Timrich]

I like the idea! Looks good.

 

[granitex]

it will work with a tire carrier, but just make it taller so that it it the same as the roof rack. Harbor freight had one a while back that could do both.

 

[P&P]

Cool idea too bad it won't work with a tire carrier, awe well that's part of why I have a gobi


Sent from the nighthog mobile command unit.

Very true. That thought didn't even cross my mind.

Sent via my walkie talkie

That's also something that hadn't occurred to me either. I think it would be possible to put the most common latch system(s) on the side so you could lock your tire carrier to the side of this in a partially open position of needed. I would need to work with someone with a tire carrier bumper to get the correct positioning of this though.

it will work with a tire carrier, but just make it taller so that it it the same as the roof rack. Harbor freight had one a while back that could do both.

I was pretty sure the HF one didn't go high enough for the roof and didn't have quote the right height for the hatch floor either? It is also really light duty. 14 ga. steel or something like that?

 

[TN4x4Xterra]

Make it hitch compatible at the end so I can pull a trailer. That'd be perfect for moving. Large items to that rack, and a trailer behind that rack. Would def. be long as a semi trailer but who cares :

 

[P&P]

Now you're talking about MASSIVE leverage on the hitch. And the springs.

 

[TN4x4Xterra]

Now you're talking about MASSIVE leverage on the hitch. And the springs.

Better beef 'em up

 

[P&P]

Class V hitch? No problem. [emoji41]

 

[TN4x4Xterra]

Yup, I got class V hitch so I can tow that no problem.

Now, the rear springs.....Timbren bumpstops will be handy.

 

[P&P]

class V is up to 17,000lbs. I don't think they make a class V for an xterra.:angel:

 

[TN4x4Xterra]

Oops, I meant III/IV lol.

 

[P&P]

If we make a run of these next week who would be interested?

 

[P&P]

These would be in the $75-$100 range, depending on exactly what materials our supplier has in stock.