[rushman]

I want to weld (mig) a bike rack (read bicycle) that will clamp onto the draw bar for my hitch. My hang up is lack of experience in choosing the correct gauge of metal. I'm thinking square tube, as thin as possible. It needs to hold 2 bikes.

General design is going to be a 'Y' to support each bike in 2 places. The clamp will unbolt from the bike rack itself to allow for different clamps for different draw bars. I have a design in mind for the clamps, really just need some advice on what size square tube (or alternates to square tube if needed).

Any input?

Thanks.

-Jon

[rushman]

No advice????? Alan? Anyone? :-)

I don't want to build a tank, and I don't want to be looking for bikes in the highway :-)

Anyone have a good resource at least for metal/steel size vs application?

[robz71lm7]

No advice????? Alan? Anyone? :-)

I don't want to build a tank, and I don't want to be looking for bikes in the highway :-)

Anyone have a good resource at least for metal/steel size vs application?

You can cheat on something like this. What are you going to be holding? Two bikes? If so I could see a bike weighing anywhere from 16 to 30 lbs. Just play around with the design and try to deflect if with your body weight which should be much more than the bikes and give you a nice safety factor. You should have no problem making it out of 14 or 16 ga material for the most part. Or if you're bored like me "engineer it". Or you could go the Russian now Chinese way and simply copy an existing product.

Just don't asking on a welding board...those guys WAY overbuild things like welding carts and tables. And at other times way underbuild things.