Utility Platform?

I am currently designing a platform for my A level Design Coursework which can be attached to the rear of a land rover defender in order to carry items, act as a portable work bench and which can be used for shooting from. The platform will sit just below the level of the rear door and be attached onto the adjustable tow hitch, so that its freely suspended. As part of my research I am required to collect peoples thoughts and ideas about it. What better place then this forum!

I would appreciate any ideas or potential problems that people might foresee. Aspects i require help on are the law concerning having a platform out the back of a vehicle whilst on the road. The weight which a tow hitch could support. Items which it could be designed to carry. Methods of attaching the cargo, and any other thoughts which people might have.

Thanks, Oli

So basically, you want your project doing for you?

My input would be that you'd need to think about lighting and markings (reflectors), you can have somethinng extending from the rear of the vehicle by 1 metre before you need to fit lighting and reflectors to it, and that's only if what ever's fitted doesn't obscure the vehicle lights. As for the weight issue, I'd say 75-100kgs, but this may be higher depending on the rating of the tow hitch.

Think also about some legs on it, so that when you are working on it the job isn't bouncing around 'cos of the LR suspension.

The tow hitch weight isn't really a problem, if you had a heavy enough trailer on the back the TW (weight exerted on the hitch) would be about 15% of the trailer weight - my hitch is rated at 3.5tons - so thats just over 500kg.

I think the safety legalities of it would be a bigger problem:

If it’s sticking out then its going to fly about like a fecking weapon - have you ever seen a tractor drive about with a raised implement on the back? Because it’s an extension of the vehicle and not on its own wheels it will swing round when cornering and anyone standing in the wrong place at the wrong time could end up getting their knee's smashed!

Could you not design us a gearbox that doesn’t leak or something?

you could fit it with the tow hitch like the bike racks - for those you remove the ball and use the nuts that hold the ball on to hold the rack sockets in place, these stick up like horns either side of the hitch and the rack slots onto them.. that would work but then the weight restriction would come from that assembly rather than the hitch itself.. and I am guessing couln't weight more than a couple hundred pounds..

If it's used on a pickup you may be able to have it hinge on the tailgate to allow it to open. If it is on a hardtop it has a swing door that may not be able to open with your contraption in place.

Thanks a lot for your input, i particularly like the idea of having some sort of fold down legs for added stability!
In reply to discomania, if i was to design a gearbox that didnt leak then it would have no place on a land rover. Whats a land rover with out leaks!!
thanks a lot, Oli

You could design a slide out thingy that when not in use sits on the floor of the rear tub.
There would be plenty of support for mounting and you can get some heavy duty sliders that would easily cope with any weight that the suspension could carry.
If you want the door to be closeable when the platform is extended then you'd have to cut the bottom of the door and make it look pretty but its not rocket science.
I'd go this way if I was doing something similar because it would still leave the tow hitch for towing with the platform stowed and the motor would look pretty much stock when not in use.

i have a big vice and pipe threading vice mounted on me tail gate on a 90pickup, works well for me, had a small vice mounted on a ser2a front ministry style bumper once, handy too

What types of items would this be most useful for carrying do people think? And what do you reckon is the best way of attaching things down quickly and securely?

The items i had in mind for it to carry were fuel cans, logs, hay bales, push lawn mowers, animal feed etc. all those kind of things. I also plan to have it so it can be used for shooting from when 'lamping', acting as a work bench to chain saw up logs, and also for a platform to provide additional height when carrying out jobs such as hedge cutting. Any other uses?

thanks.

opedley said:

What types of items would this be most useful for carrying do people think? And what do you reckon is the best way of attaching things down quickly and securely?

The items i had in mind for it to carry were fuel cans, logs, hay bales, push lawn mowers, animal feed etc. all those kind of things. I also plan to have it so it can be used for shooting from when 'lamping', acting as a work bench to chain saw up logs, and also for a platform to provide additional height when carrying out jobs such as hedge cutting. Any other uses?

thanks.

Click to expand...

I have a camping stove in the back of my landy. Because I have a full size door that swings sideways I have to put it on the floor in the rear tub to use it. With a fold down tailgate or table type device you can use it right at the back. Also if you have it aswell as a tailgate you can keep the tailgate closed and put a bbq on it without fear of your landy filling up with smoke.