F4 Custom Grab Bar

[deadbird8]

I had Gator Trax build me this bar and mounts to straddle the tray and floor in my F4. They did an awesome job.

I wanted a tall bar for driving standing up as well as mounting my GPS and spot light. Its also a good shield for the driver when going through buck brush. I had to do some customization on the braces and its rock solid. It drives well and I like it.

(I love a project where I get to use the Grinder and the Dremel! )









Brace is bolted into the gunnel.

[Rick]

Good work Kent and Gary

[YaFlyYadie]

Very well thought.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mudbuddy 7000]

LOOKS GOOD!! Im ready for the next 1.

[Quailhunter]

It turned out great deadbird.

[Labs4Life]

did u not like the new bar that bolted into the side?

[deadbird8]

did u not like the new bar that bolted into the side?

==>

I wanted a tall bar for driving standing up as well as mounting my GPS and spot light. Its also a good shield for the driver when going through buck brush.

[Southshore Marine Service]

very clean job

[strobie22]

looks good db8 good job

[Migrator]

Gary, I really like the round black hole just behind the grab bar.
Even though that may lead to a lot of mishaps as you have witnessed.LOL
Nice work on the bar. I know who to call when I need customization!!!

[TMONEY]

Deadbird, that grab bar looks very nice. I live in Tennessee and just bought a 2012 17' 54 SWV. I've been looking for a grab bar and that looks like the best one I've seen. Does the bar slide out of the outer tubing if you ever wanted it out of the way for fishing? How does a Tennessee boy go about getting something like that?

[deadbird8]

Deadbird, that grab bar looks very nice. I live in Tennessee and just bought a 2012 17' 54 SWV. I've been looking for a grab bar and that looks like the best one I've seen. Does the bar slide out of the outer tubing if you ever wanted it out of the way for fishing? How does a Tennessee boy go about getting something like that?

I have the bar in all the time, the lateral braces are screwed through the supports and into the bar for stability (and to quiet any rattling).

Gatortrax fabricated it for me. Its their standard grab bar and floor mount, the mount in the tray was built per my drawing, the lateral brace on the floor brace is bent 0.125 stock.

I cut down the bar and fabricated the latteral brace for the tray out of angle stock. but that brace could be done differently to screw into the side of the gunnel (much easier to install).

[Gun Doc]

A general tip is that you can make any grab bar rattle less if you spread it a bit so that you must squeeze it together to install it. This keeps it "tensioned" when in place and cuts down a lot on any rattling.