Rear Wheel Carrier Latches - Kaymar Style

[little rusty]

I have just learnt how annoying Kaymar can be regarding selling their latches as a separate item... cost is $130 once you produce evidence of a damaged latch requiring replacement. How Australian...

Anyway, I know there is a lot of interest here regarding similar style latches and found Concept Latches on this forum. After speaking with them I have been informed that they have to buy in 10 from the US and would sell to us at $67 plus postage for the smaller item or $120 for the larger (who really needs 8000lb of rated latch???).

I want one not ten. So if there is enough interest I am hoping they can buy in ten or so and people building their own rear bars/carriers can shun Kaymar and buy directly through the guy I spoke to down there...

Let me know yuor thoughts please.

[grimbo]

yeah how annoying, not wanting to sell a component they have designed and is made for their rear bars, so other people can use these branded components to make their own rear bars.

[little rusty]

fair point but they are making plenty of money off their bars and latches even as individual items... i like their products but cant afford...

[grimbo]

fair point but they are making plenty of money off their bars and latches even as individual items... i like their products but cant afford...

If they wanted to be making heaps of money they would sell them as individual components but instead are more concerned in keeping their brand credible by ensuring they are the ones controlling the quality where their products are concerned

[v6hilux]

Anyone got a picture. I'm sure an equivalent and/or better and cheaper option could be "brain stormed" on a forum like this.

Perhaps the one on my custom carrier could be the same as the one you want - who knows?

[macca81]

fair point but they are making plenty of money off their bars and latches even as individual items... i like their products but cant afford...

If they wanted to be making heaps of money they would sell them as individual components but instead are more concerned in keeping their brand credible by ensuring they are the ones controlling the quality where their products are concerned

all it needs is for kaymar to sell there latches, at a lower cost, without there name stamped on it. keep the stamped latches for the bars they build/warranties etc etc, and they could make a killing (well maybe not a killing, but a few extra bucks) selling the exact same latch but without the stamp on it, for say 70 bucks...

[bogged]

.,... selling the exact same latch but without the stamp on it, for say 70 bucks...

nothign Kaymar is $70!

[rvh96]

fair point but they are making plenty of money off their bars and latches even as individual items... i like their products but cant afford...

If they wanted to be making heaps of money they would sell them as individual components but instead are more concerned in keeping their brand credible by ensuring they are the ones controlling the quality where their products are concerned

i agree but also if they started selling latches they would have no control over what the latches were used for engineering wise, which could lead to their failure if used in a sitution that they were not designed for ,and most backyardys would then blame the product not their own stupidity

[Gwagensteve]

Exactly. Kaymar have made their whole reputation on that latch. Nobody has really matched it for function or simplicity, and on the face of it it's very simple, but hasn't really ever been replicated or bettered.

I totally understand Kaymar's position. they are protecting their reputation. Outers woudl be full of "kaymar latches are crap blah blah blah" threads like every other product if they sold the latch to anyone.

Steve.

[little rusty]

Well not quite the topic i was trying to start up... I must be missing something with the Kaymar latches, i must check one out.

For those looking for a latch that could be incorporated into your own project then check out the link... (hope it works)

http://www.conceptlatch.com.au/pdf/eber ... aw/930.pdf

anyways, let me know what you think...

[v6hilux]

So is anyone able to post a picture of this Kaymar latch setup?

[BOGAN V8]

some pics of the latch pinched from another forum


http://forum.ih8mud.com/sale-parts/2118 ... umper.html

[neil_se]

I don't really get what's so special about the latch? I've seen a variety of similar ones at a tray/trailer manufacturer and metal yard for next to nothing?

[Gwagensteve]

There's nothing all that special about them, but they are very very durable and simple. They don't appreciably wear, there's no adjustment to come un-adjusted, they work when they're full of mud and they have an enormous load capacity. All the stuff that more complex, smaller, lighter and nicer looking latches fail to do.

I don't particularly like Kaymar's designs - they are a bit too agricultural, especially on late model stuff, for my liking, but there's no doubt that latch works.

Steve.

[v6hilux]

Those Kaymar things are nothing like the one on the custom job I bought. The latch on it is bigger and is a generic design used in the truck, bus and rail industry for equipment that does many millions of KMs.

I'm guessing the one on mine would be cheaper and stronger.

They work best when there is pressure clamped under them in the closed position, as there is a spring pre-load built into the design.

Wouldn't be too hard to fit. Here are some images, though to make it look better, you could get a tab welded on the end of the Kaymar and have the latch on the bumper bar;

[Gwagensteve]

That's a beefy looking latch, however, the tab design it's catching is pretty dubious IMHO- it's pretty weak with those bends and no gusseting.

Also, the kaymar design, by having the latch on the carrier and not on the bar, allows for a (fairly) clean bar design when the carriers are removed.

That latch is much more complex too - many more moving parts and three springs to do the same job.

I'm not defending Kaymar's product for the sake of it and as I have said, I don't even like them that much, but that latch is an amazinly elegant piece of engineering.

Steve.

[pongo]

Geez, Maybe i should sell the over centre latch i paid $30 for.

Ill take a few pics if i get bored.

[v6hilux]

That's a beefy looking latch, however, the tab design it's catching is pretty dubious IMHO- it's pretty weak with those bends and no gusseting.

The TAB is 10mm thick flat bar. I can't get it to flex.

That latch is much more complex too - many more moving parts and three springs to do the same job.

Yep, that's why they are so reliable and never break. The springs ensure the latch don't open.

One like that could be 10 to 40 years old. Thats why it's so worn.

I see them on locomotive side doors, that were made in the 1960's.

Each to their own I guess!

[Phil M]

Does anyone know if the kaymar latches have a rubber bush inside ?

Mine has just started to rattle at the pivot point.

I'm close to taking a grinder to it to see what I can do as it is driving me mad. (I think I might be doing some damage to my hearing as the stereo is getting louder and louder as a tempory fix)

Cheers Phil.

[rvh96]

Does anyone know if the kaymar latches have a rubber bush inside ?

Mine has just started to rattle at the pivot point.

I'm close to taking a grinder to it to see what I can do as it is driving me mad. (I think I might be doing some damage to my hearing as the stereo is getting louder and louder as a tempory fix)

Cheers Phil.

they have a rubber block that holds tension on the latch maybe the block is worn or damaged

[Gwagensteve]

X2. Replace the rubber - this is what preloads the catch.

Also, at some point in the 90's Kaymar changed from a bush in the pivot to bearings. These can flog out and make the carrier loose.

Steve

[stu]

Im chasing a latch for my home made rear tyre carier.

[bru21]

Well not quite the topic i was trying to start up... I must be missing something with the Kaymar latches, i must check one out.

For those looking for a latch that could be incorporated into your own project then check out the link... (hope it works)

http://www.conceptlatch.com.au/pdf/eber ... aw/930.pdf

anyways, let me know what you think...

mate that latch is nothing special!!!

You can buy far better ones through DANA RIDGE

Eagle farm Brisbane

1800 806 316

www.dana-ridge.com.au

part number GN 851

available in steel or s/steel

I bought some similar cam lock latches (a little smaller for $15 each in zinc plated m/steel

cheers Justin

[bru21]

http://www.dana-ridge.com.au/content/elesa.asp

then look at toggle clamps

[v6hilux]

http://www.dana-ridge.com.au/content/elesa.asp

then look at toggle clamps

Every now and then, someone comes-up with something special!

Well done.

[little rusty]

even better - its in my backyard!

thanks mate

[v6hilux]

I'm not defending Kaymar's product for the sake of it , but that latch is an amazinly elegant piece of engineering.

My opinion is they found something industrial and copied it. Nothing special about that!

I'm sure many people here can contribute alternatives from the industrial world to many proprietary items for sale, marketed in the "Yuppy 4WD market"!

It's all about networking and brain-storming to help others!

[stinger]

There is an easier solution if you have barn style door or doors that had the tyre on the door.

Connect your wheel carrier to your door with a short tie rod.

[V8 Rangie]

http://www.dana-ridge.com.au/content/elesa.asp

then look at toggle clamps

You legend! been hunting for a decent latch for ages!

Thanks heaps mate.. plus only 45mins from my place

Camo

[bru21]

no worries, hope they suit.