Tie Down Points for the ACE
It irks me that ORV manufacturers don't include tie down points in their build.
All it would take is a small tab of steel with a hole in it welded to the frame at each corner. Maybe one front and back center too, for good measure.
So instead I have to figure out how I'm going to tie down each machine, and every one of them is different.
Here is how I have decided to do it with the ACE. And you can feel free to do it this way too, if you like. Or not.
Here's the recipe:
Go to the store and buy some eye bolts. Specifically, 3/8 x 16. Make sure they have nuts on them. If not, buy some. Also buy a set of nylon locknuts to go with them.
The ones in my photo are 4" because I didn't know how long I needed them to be and my local hardware store has a limited selection.
As it turns out, 3" works great for the front, and 3.5" for the rear. I cut mine down to size once I did a test fit.
Screw the regular nuts all of the way down toward the eye bolt, to the end of the threads and tighten them up. Those act as spacers so your eye clears obstructions.
Under the front fender, remove one of the bolt/nut sets attaching the roll cage to the frame. I went with the lower one.
Those bolts are 3/8", so the hole is perfect.
Replace the bolt/nut you removed with your 3" eye bolt. I put the eye toward the back to avoid interference with the frame.
Repeat this process on the other side.
Under the rear fender, there is a bolt which attaches the elbow guard (I think that's what that bar is called that the net covers) to the frame. Remove that bolt.
Here's the part some of you will not like. That bolt was threaded into a welded nut. I think the threads are metric, and I know the nut is a smaller diameter than 3/8".
You might be able to find an eye bolt somewhere that would thread into that, but it would be smaller and therefore not as strong. I chose to drill out that nut with a 3/8" bit.
Once the hole and nut are drilled out to 3/8", just slide your eye bolt in there and tighten it down with your locknut on the back.
Repeat this process on the other side.
Note: Eye bolts are basically straight bolts with no head, curved around into a circle at the end. With enough force, they WILL uncurl. It has happened to me with a trailer tie down point.
To reduce the possibility that this will happen, I did two things:
1. I went with a 3/8" bolt. The one that uncurled on me was a 1/4, I think.
2. When installing the eye bolt, put the open end UP, away from where your tie down strap will exert force on it.
If I had a welder, I would have closed up those eye bolts.
I might actually take a set to a local welding shop and ask them to do it for me.
Pictures!
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