325 SRX Question

[old racer]

We are wanting to add some tie down rails in the garage of our 325 SRX. (www.macscustomtiedowns.com). Wondering if anyone can tell me what the crossmember spacings are for this unit. Thanks in advance.

[Maxzd]

Originally Posted by old racer

We are wanting to add some tie down rails in the garage of our 325 SRX. (www.macscustomtiedowns.com). Wondering if anyone can tell me what the crossmember spacings are for this unit. Thanks in advance.

I have followed a website on the garage of the "cousin" of the 325srx for about a year. This is the mountineer 347THT, and the garage dimensions and construction are virtually the same. This article follows several people who post pictures of their setup. One guy who damaged the floor posts pictures of the floor cut open. The joists do not run side to side like one would think they run lengthways! I would post a summary and pics of the article, but it's honest so detailed it wouldn't do justice.

Good luck. I have yet to decide what to do. I have road bikes, atvs and dirt bikes that I plan to swap depending on the type of trip.. So one size fits all For tie downs won't likely work for me. Once you figure out your setup please post pics!

http://bit.ly/tC4Kts

[old racer]

Will do. Thanks for the response!

[jwv]

Can i put 2 king quads, (1300#'s) in the 325 srx ? 44 inches wide , 7ft long. Dimension wise i can do it but not sure about the weight.

[jje1960]

Easy, do they weigh more or less than 1000lbs.

[jwv]

they weight 650 lbs each. 1300 total

[old racer]

Keystone says 1000# is the limit. Prior to purchasing our 325 SRX, we were contemplating going with a trailer to tow behind our previous fifth wheel. The manufacturer was very careful to point out the maximum weight limit on the rear portion of the trailer frame. Said they are very easily damaged if exceeded. Keep us updated if you are able to find any further info!

[jje1960]

I think you would be asking for big trouble exceeding the 1k limit, while we are super happy with the SRX, it's on the lower-end of the TH's, thinking those two bikes would need to be in one of the bigger boy's, possibly triple axle unit.

[smiller]

Yes, the 325SRX is ideal for those who want a live-in toy hauler without having to tow a triple-axle behemoth, but the tradeoff is carrying capacity. I would observe Keystone's limit.

[LittleJoe]

IIRC the rails are on 12.5" centers and run front to back.
Take out a Dring to get started on right track.

The aluminum joists are very thin.

I ran 4 two foot lengths of Etrac to tie down my motorcycle(s) depending on which one I am carrying.

The rear door is rated for 1600lbs. with not more than 800 lbs in one footprint.

In my opinion the two 4 wheelers would be pushing the limit but doable AS LONG as ALL other weight is moved out of the garage.

I have weighed my trailer with a 800lb bike and probably another 2-300lbs in garage and all axles are within a couple hundred pounds of each other and all are within 200lbs of their max weight(incl side to side).

Hope this helps

[jwv]

this garage will support 2,000 lbs of toys, 9500 lb trailer

[smiller]

Originally Posted by jwv

this garage will support 2,000 lbs of toys, 9500 lb trailer

That's a nice unit but its gross weight is 2500 lbs more than the 325SRX and the empty pin weight is over 1,000 lbs more, essentially requiring a duallie to tow it safely. If you don't mind going there then there are a lot of heavier units that can carry more cargo than the 325SRX, but they're not really the same thing.

[jwv]

the gross weight is more due to the payload capacity being twice as much.
about the same dry weight. ive been studying the tradeoffs on the 13k
trailer vs a 9500lb . I cant see spending twice as much and lugging an
extra 3000 lbs around. Puma has enuff bling for me.

My cargo will be the same (1300 toys) + 1500 personal stuff.
9500 + 2800 12,300 topped out.
12,500 + 2800 15,300

If my f250 cant yank 12k over any mountain pass i will run it off
a bridge to its burial.

[smiller]

I guess it's the unladen 2500 lb. pin weight that would bother me. Add to that whatever additional weight results from loading the unit and you will be over anything I would want to tow with a SRW truck.

[jwv]

your right, my cargo weight on the f250 is 2k. Ive spoke with plenty of folks
who pull the 13k plus (dry weight) 5th wheel and they say the 250 handles
it very well. IMO starting with a trailer under 10 itll be a breeze.

[old racer]

Originally Posted by LittleJoe

IIRC the rails are on 12.5" centers and run front to back.
Take out a Dring to get started on right track.

The aluminum joists are very thin.

I ran 4 two foot lengths of Etrac to tie down my motorcycle(s) depending on which one I am carrying.

The rear door is rated for 1600lbs. with not more than 800 lbs in one footprint.

In my opinion the two 4 wheelers would be pushing the limit but doable AS LONG as ALL other weight is moved out of the garage.

I have weighed my trailer with a 800lb bike and probably another 2-300lbs in garage and all axles are within a couple hundred pounds of each other and all are within 200lbs of their max weight(incl side to side).

Hope this helps

Can self tapping scres be used to attach to the joists?

[LittleJoe]

I used 1/4" x1,1/2" self tappers. Pre drill the holes that go into the aluminum joists so that the wood above does not strip out as tapper turns to drill into joist.

Each 2' section of etrac has IIRC approx 12 screws per side at 2" intervals.

I have made a few local trips of a couple hundred miles with my Concours and all is well.

Hope this helps


This is not the way I would have liked to do this but the best I could come up with given the materials Keystone used. I expected aluminum joist to be much heavier/thicker than they are. I feel the approach I took is however much stronger than the Drings keystone used which attach with 3 screws. I spread the equivalent load over 24 screws.


Keystone.......if your listening, your tiedown system sucks from the standpoint of durability/strength. These tiedowns should be directly anchored to the frame for support from factory.

[old racer]

Thanks for the infoLittle Joe. Definitely helps