ATV Rack Extension
Test Method One:
The first method that was used to test the new rack extension was making sure that 400lbs of weight can be tolerated by the rack and the tailgate could with stand at least 400lbs worth of weight. To test this the rack extension it was placed on the truck with the original rack and ATVs, and secured the rack extension. The rack was secured to the rack with four hitch pins. Then sand bags and a person was continuously placed on the rack extension until the weight limit of 400lbs is reached. This was a way to slowly test the weight compatibility without putting the ATV right on the truck and hoping that it doesn’t buckle or break.
The calculated parameters of the deflection was calculated at the extreme and also at about 420lbs. At the extreme the rack would deflect at about 2.6” and at about 420lbs it would deflect at about 0.21”. The measurement for the 420lbs was about 0.756” of deflection. This could be because the tailgate movement wasn’t reduced and there may have been some movement for the original rack in the front of the truck bed. This may have been why the results were higher than the calculated results.
Test Method Two:
The second approach to testing the new rack extension was to place a strain gage on the side where the square tubing is parallel with the truck. The strain gage was placed on the bottom of the square tubing where the most bending would occur. The same process of the weight being applied to the rack extension was used but this time taking the measurement of strain instead.
The strain that was calculated for the rack extension was for 420lbs as well at 407με. The amount of strain that was measured when the testing was done was about 320με.
