Stock trailer modification?

[Greenbeast]

This is our stock trailer. Pretty handy with a removeable top so we can use as a flat bed.

The only trouble is there is no way of fixing the top down to the bed.
I was loading pigs the other day and had a 5 YO sow and three of her fully grown daughters in it (with me!). Only needed one of the gilts and so was trying to sift everyone else out. The sow got her snout stuck in the dividing gate and lifted. She almost took the whole top off!

The top sits in these sockets. I could run a ratchet strap underneath at front and back but not only is that somewhat untidy it uses up two perfectly good straps permanently

Any bright ideas?
Did think about drilling and tapping for an M6 or M8 socket head screw.
But that would requrie it sits exactly right down every time we put it back on....

 

[multi power]

Where the handles are on the side weld a small plate with a hole and a hook bolt down to the bed

 

[Greenbeast]

So i have a plate out horizontal with hook bolt through it and tighten this down on to the handle when it's on? Am i understanding you right?

 

[Happy hillbily]

why not just use 2 ratchet staps from the chassis, over the top to the chassis on the other side ? you should be able to get a pair of straps for a tenner !

 

[Greenbeast]

That's certainly what i'll do for the next couple of abbatoir visits but wanted something a bit smarter (and less losable)

 

[Nearly]

why not just use 2 ratchet staps from the chassis, over the top to the chassis on the other side ? you should be able to get a pair of straps for a tenner !

or from one handle, under the chassis onto the other handle.
google over centre clamp and stick a heavy duty one on each corner.
http://www.rgstech.co.uk/categories/bolt-fasteners/toggle-clamps/toggle-clamp-hook-and-latch-163kg

 

[Greenbeast]

or from one handle, under the chassis onto the other handle.
google over centre clamp and stick a heavy duty one on each corner.
http://www.rgstech.co.uk/categories/bolt-fasteners/toggle-clamps/toggle-clamp-hook-and-latch-163kg

Nice, like that.

 

[llamedos]

A few bonnet clamps will do it

 

[Greenbeast]

This is exactly what forums are for, making you feel stupid for forgetting the simplest of things....

 

[IH 684]

Fasten a length of box section onto the front of the livestock body directly above the top of your headboard, drill through the box section on the livestock body and straight through the box section on the headboard, then use tractor towing pins with lynch clips to fasten the two together, easy on and off not messing about spanners

 

[Mursal]

Drill and tap the outer box section, drill the inner box slightly bigger ...............
Tighten bolt, sorted?

If you want to use wing nuts, get them first and tap to suit, save having to take a spanner .............

 

[Mrs Brown]

I see the front marker light is directly beneath the front socket, does the socket go all the way through and open at bottom is so weld a bit of box iron inside the box on your canopy long enough to come out through the bottom by a few inches drill a hole in said piece of box t and then get a few of these large ringed lynch pins.

 

[Hesstondriver]

over centre clamp thingys might be more secure than bonnet clamps ?

 

[Greenbeast]

yeah i think that's what i'm going to go for

 

[Greenbeast]

I did notice today that it does have some holes that match up, i just can't tell what fixing the manufacturer intended to be used there. so i will go with the over centre clamps

 

[Greenbeast]

About £22 all in, will see how long it lasts as on the bed it's only tapped into a 2mm cover plate.
If/when it fails i'll remove the lid and drill through and buy longer screws