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Topic: Safety blocks square tubing (Read 567 times) previous topic - next topic

Safety blocks square tubing

Hi All,

I have some 2 inch square 1/8 thick wall cold roll steel and would like to know if this material will work.  Can't seem to figure out the weight/PSI rating for that material and use case.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
2003 U320 40 AGDS Build 6157 161K miles

Hampstead NC

Re: Safety blocks square tubing

Reply #1 –
How many do you have?  The general consensus is 1/4" thick 2" square tubing.  I use 4 of them at a time.  If Im in the rear working I use 4 and same for the front.  Others here have way more experience then me so I would listen to them.
06 Nimbus 34'
Build #6362

Re: Safety blocks square tubing

Reply #2 –
I have Eight - 1/4" square x 10 1/2" long. I place one at each air bag (front and rear of the axle) ... Not sure but I would think 1/8 " tubing should work OK....
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Gerry & Brenda
CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FL
1994 Grand Villa - # 4466
U300 Unihome - 6V92 Detroit
4 speed Allison - Jake Brake

Re: Safety blocks square tubing

Reply #3 –
I have no idea how to calculate the weight support rating for your steel tubing - that techie stuff is above my pay grade.

I will say that I, and many other Forum members, have successfully used the item linked below for safety stands.  I have been using 8 of them for 10 years.  I have never heard of a failure.  If you can find these tubes in stock at your local Harbor Freight store, I guess you could eyeball one of them versus a short piece of your steel tube stock, and see what you think.

https://www.harborfreight.com/class-iii-12-in-x-2-in-standard-receiver-tube-69879.html

Personally, I'd feel safer with the Harbor Freight tube.  It's the right length and has a nice powder coat finish to keep it from rusting.  They are stout and HEAVY!  As long as your air system is good shape, you should have no trouble raising your coach high enough to insert 12" long tubes.  See thread linked below for a photo showing proper placement of stands.

Safety Stand Placement



1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Safety blocks square tubing

Reply #4 –
Use 2" tow hitch inserts, most are hollow, for safety bars. We attached a long ribbon to each and hang ribbon end over tire, as an alert that bar is in place.

Started using the alert ribbon after driving off with two rear bars in place. Drove to next campground and found one still in place. Then found all right-side compartment door latches broken away (Rance put us back together). Cindy was driving and made the comment that the highway was bumpy, not realizing it was our coach suspension that was out of whack. Bad preventable error.

Also painting bars with bright color will help.

Re: Safety blocks square tubing

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
Use 2" tow hitch inserts, most are hollow, for safety bars. We attached a long ribbon to each and hang ribbon end over tire, as an alert that bar is in place.

Also painting bars with bright color will help.
I painted mine white and red candy stripe.  Very noticeable when in place and easy to locate in the storage bay. 

Richard
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited w/Air Force One
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
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Re: Safety blocks square tubing

Reply #6 –
Painted mine red too, they do stand out.  I like Barry's ribbon idea, I am going to copy that.
One thing I did was weld some channel to the bottom of the square tube. It straddles the frame and keeps the tube straight and square.
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad
 

Re: Safety blocks square tubing

Reply #7 –
I use 1/4 square stock tubing for my supports. Difference in cost minimal, Double the safety factor. No brainer
The Starship- 1990 Grandvilla Unihome U300 40ft
6V92 Detroit Diesel w/ 4 spd Allison w/ retarder. Build# 3575 , Foretravel# 17895
The Shuttlecraft- 2015 Ford Explorer
Steve ( N6EKV ) & Lori ( N6JTD ) Faries  w/ Marlee our precious pup.
Patterson CA.