hbquikcomjamesl
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2021
- Messages
- 208
If I actually had a set of plans for the thing, I'd post them, releasing them as open source. Unfortunately, the closest I got to having a set of plans was the cutting diagram I drew up when I bought the plywood.
Just use 3/4" plywood for the rack. It will all come out of a quarter-sheet (2ft x 4ft) panel, with plywood left over for at least part of the dummy hub. Use oak for the face of the dummy hub; remember, you're going to be putting wheel lugs in it, and it needs to be hard enough for the knurled part of each lug to "stick," and tough enough that it won't split. The upright and the back should be the same height: just low enough to clear the back of the back seat. The upright should be in from the left (port) edge with just enough room for the portable charging unit in its bag, a lug wrench, and a jack.
Use a rabbet to join the back to the base, and dadoes to join the upright to both the back and the base.
The top edge of the back should be chamfered so that it doesn't damage the back of the back seat. The upright should have the exposed corner rounded to a nice, broad radius. And the base should be cut to match the contour of the floor, so it lies flat.
My trick for locating the bolt holes in the base (and the floor) is to buy a couple of cheap bolts, the same size as the bolts for "that silly little hook," and cut off the heads. Remove the floor and the hook, and screw the decapitated bolts in so they're almost flush with the floor, and swab them with yellow paint. Put the floor in, and press down. That will locate your holes in the floor. Once they're drilled, you can use the floor, or the bolts, or both, as a guide to locating and drilling the bolt holes in the base. Once drilled, countersink them for flat-head Allen bolts.
Apply black lacquer-based automotive primer, then several coats of black enamel. Let the paint cure completely, in the vehicle, before you start adding fixtures (or even putting the charging unit in its space). When you can get in the car on a hot afternoon, and not smell paint fumes, it's about ready.
When bolting the rack into place, use a long narrow screwdriver to line up the bolt holes.
Just use 3/4" plywood for the rack. It will all come out of a quarter-sheet (2ft x 4ft) panel, with plywood left over for at least part of the dummy hub. Use oak for the face of the dummy hub; remember, you're going to be putting wheel lugs in it, and it needs to be hard enough for the knurled part of each lug to "stick," and tough enough that it won't split. The upright and the back should be the same height: just low enough to clear the back of the back seat. The upright should be in from the left (port) edge with just enough room for the portable charging unit in its bag, a lug wrench, and a jack.
Use a rabbet to join the back to the base, and dadoes to join the upright to both the back and the base.
The top edge of the back should be chamfered so that it doesn't damage the back of the back seat. The upright should have the exposed corner rounded to a nice, broad radius. And the base should be cut to match the contour of the floor, so it lies flat.
My trick for locating the bolt holes in the base (and the floor) is to buy a couple of cheap bolts, the same size as the bolts for "that silly little hook," and cut off the heads. Remove the floor and the hook, and screw the decapitated bolts in so they're almost flush with the floor, and swab them with yellow paint. Put the floor in, and press down. That will locate your holes in the floor. Once they're drilled, you can use the floor, or the bolts, or both, as a guide to locating and drilling the bolt holes in the base. Once drilled, countersink them for flat-head Allen bolts.
Apply black lacquer-based automotive primer, then several coats of black enamel. Let the paint cure completely, in the vehicle, before you start adding fixtures (or even putting the charging unit in its space). When you can get in the car on a hot afternoon, and not smell paint fumes, it's about ready.
When bolting the rack into place, use a long narrow screwdriver to line up the bolt holes.