Yet another home made Lock n' Ride plug

mike65072 · Apr 23, 2007

Here's my version of the Lock n' Ride plug. I wanted someting that also had a hook on top so I would have additional tie-down points higher up in the bed.

Here are the individual pieces. The key components are 2 1-1/2" test plugs (I bought mine at McMaster Carr for $1.50 each). The rubber from the test plug needs to be ground down a little for proper fit (chuck in drill and run over sand paper). The eye hooks are 3/8" and I bought the longest I could find that were threaded all the way to the top (they measure 5" total length). I used a 2-1/2" piece of all thread and a 3/8" nut to connect the eye hook and the all thread to get the right length. The spacer is 3/4" sch 40 PVC. The other hardware items were parts of the test plug, plus 2 extra 3/8" nuts.

Here's the test plug

To expand the plug you hold the eye hook and tighten the wing nut...works great...a little over $4 to make.

JDJHNTR · Apr 23, 2007

I LIKT EM!!!! I just picked up 4 of the test plugs today at Home Depot for $2.47 each. I was gonna use them like they are but I like your idea ALOT better!!! Thanks for the info and pictures............

Chiefmorton · Apr 23, 2007

What a deal! You did a very nice job on those things. Great write-up and pictures to boot. Boy ya can't beat that. I may have to look into making a few of those things. It sure beats the heck out of the $17.00 ones that Polaris sells. Thanks for sharing the info!

Brian

jw5wags · Apr 23, 2007

17.00 The last ones I bought cost 20.00

em42 · Apr 23, 2007

Great idea...

carnivore · Apr 23, 2007

That is a good idea.

paulthewall · Apr 23, 2007

engineering at its finest...

demarko69 · Apr 23, 2007

ditto

Jacster · Apr 25, 2007

Ordered 8 plugs from McMaster-Carr P/N 2613 K21 online and recieved them in 1 day. 5.25 ups and no tax. Put them in the drill press and sanded with a sandpaper block. Now I am ready to make my own guncase holder mount. Thanks for the Info.

JETDRVR · Sep 5, 2007

I think this is brilliant. Gonna try to bump it to the top. Great idea!

Arkansas Rock Rider · Sep 5, 2007

They work great, I have been useing mine just like that for 2 years now and only lost one. [:0] 100 lb. dog was snaped to it and dog jumped out of bed to chase a deer, got dog back no plug! [

] If you make them long as you can they hold better. [

] You also may need to sand rubber a litte to let it go in easy.[8D]

bam bam · Sep 5, 2007

very nice and great write up

Thanks

Mike

jaybey · Sep 9, 2007

Take a good look at the lock-n-ride holes the top half is about 1/4 inch larger dimeter than the bottom half if you want to go way deep with them. I end up using a rubber mallet to put two mine in most of the way.[

]
Joe in Tucson

RKMC_Oscar · Oct 15, 2007

ok... I got all the goods to make a few of these but the eye bolts I got were longer and did not thread all the way to the top...ya think they will still work if I put some sort of spacer on top of eye bolt?

guy48065 · Oct 15, 2007

Run a nut all the way up and jam it where the threads end. Tighten by turning the eyebolt. The nut on the bottom might have to be epoxied to keep from spinning or use a T-nut like I do:
http://www.prcforum.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3877

rowdy · Nov 12, 2007

Thanks for the suggestion Mark. Took me a while to find the same parts but once I did, at my local hardware, it took me all of about 2 mins to put two together and install them. Worked great keeping the cooler in place riding on Saturday helping put the snowmobile trail in over here in SW Michigan.

Lt_Dusty · Nov 13, 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by rowdy

Thanks for the suggestion Mark. Took me a while to find the same parts but once I did, at my local hardware, it took me all of about 2 mins to put two together and install them. Worked great keeping the cooler in place riding on Saturday helping put the snowmobile trail in over here in SW Michigan.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hey Rowdy,
I saw some folks setting up signs this weekend out by Chicora. Was that you?

Brian

rowdy · Nov 13, 2007

No we were down by Sister Lakes (Dowagiac) area. I'm sore as hell today from pounding about frickin' 150 1 1/2" square oak stakes 6' long. Didn't feel it yesterday but definitely today.
My south club maintains the trail from Lawton to almost Niles. I'm also a member of the Gobles club and ride most of the time at my house on Bear Lake near Kalkaska.

Roadrunner · Nov 13, 2007

Sure beats the 20 plus bucks you have to paid the stealer for one.

DoubleTake · Nov 20, 2007

How exactly were you grinding down the rubber off the test plug?

mike65072 · Nov 21, 2007

I put mine in a drill and held it on sandpaper.

fordguy · Nov 25, 2007

what are the test plugs and where do I find them at Home Depot

Pops · Nov 25, 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fordguy

what are the test plugs and where do I find them at Home Depot
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Plumbers use them to pressure test piping. I found mine at Lowes in the plumbing section, probably the same at Home Depot

big c · Nov 29, 2007

great piece of ingenuity i plan on making a rear window for mine will post all about it when i do
drive like lighting ---crash like thunder

big c · Nov 29, 2007

GREAT IDEA --SEEMS THAT POLARIS IS REALLY PROUD OF THEIRS. HARD TO BUY ANYTHING FROM POPO BY THE WAY HOW LONG ARE THE SCHEDULE 40 SPACERS?

mike65072 · Dec 4, 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by big c

...BY THE WAY HOW LONG ARE THE SCHEDULE 40 SPACERS?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My ranger is about 160 miles from here, so I don't know the exact measurement. I wanted it long enough to get the plug near the bottom of the hole..but not too long[

]. It's around 1 1/2" to 2", but I'll check the next time I'm there and let you know.

Yet another home made Lock n' Ride plug

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