Hi folks,
This is my first post. I am now the the proud owner of a June 2013 dune TI.
Before I bought it, I needed to work out a way to get this "super tanker" on top of my 4WD. I can't use a trailer because I will generally be towing a camper trailer.
So I built a hoisting solution with a small 12v winch and a folding A Frame.
There were a number of key requirements:
1. It could not increase the height of my vehicle. Otherwise I could not park in my garage at home nor in the underground car park at work.
2. I did not want to have to do any lifting - even one end is difficult to getting up onto a 2m high roof.
3. Ideally I wanted to load it with the Akas and Amas still attached.
4. I needed a prop at the front so that the rear did not overhang too far and interfere with the camper.
5. I decided to make the front prop able to swivel so if I was only using the hull and feeling very energetic I could prop the bow, strap it down and then pick up the rear and walk it over to the roof bars. (Yet to field test this.)
6. I did not want to use a T-loader that attached to my 50mm hitch receiver, because this would have to be removed to tow the camper and hence I would need to find a place to stow it. They are quite large and an odd shape to inside the car is awkward and outside would be yet another item to strap down and ensure was secure.
Below is a video of my first day when I bought the TI home and unloaded it by myself.
http://youtu.be/ndziZ_WPpw4There is still refinement work required - such as the straps and also the bars that slide out etc. In the video you'll see I had to pull the bars out because the system was designed and tested on a 120 series Toyota Prado Landcruiser. I now have a 150 model and have to my surprise discovered that the 150 roof rails are not parallel! So the cross tubes had to be "coaxed" to bolt on causing a slight bow and hence the bars that previously slid easily into them are now quite tight.
My other project that I have just started is a platform onto which I lower the TI. This platform will have small wheels to allow me to roll it with the kayak into the garage. The platform will then be winched up to the garage ceiling for storage. The platform will be 3.6m x 1.5m providing substantial support for most of the length of the TI. I'll post some photos in due course.
Regards, Ian
Looking forward to the first "voyage" - just as soon as the weather warms up.