2 years and no one asked a comment on this? I am engaged with this thing. Assume a bronze washer used on top and bottom of tube. Does it also utilize bronze bushings? Does the tube contain grease? I am impressed with the freedom of movement. Would it be possible to film a short “exploded” view of the assembly. Thank you in advance for comments and suggestions. I would like to construct similar to transport my tandem bicycle, which is wider than my Mini Cooper and I am too old and weak to lift it above the car roof. Your device would be perfect for me.
I bought a 1 inch thick bolt that was a foot long. I had the bolt welded into the hitch. It runs up through the tube that's welded onto the cradle. I didn't use bronze washers. I used steel washers. I did have to use a sleeve over the bolt to take up any slack inside that tube and I greased the crap out of it. It's not like you're going to tow thousands of miles per year and it worked very well on a 600 mile trip. Trikes as a general rule aren't very heavy on the front wheel so it had plenty of capacity.
I just started looking at building supply stores for the closest fit I could get. It was made out of pipe. It was a tube the ran the length of the bolt.
