As per your forum rules, I'm introducing myself. UtahJarhead. I'm not a train buff, but my father-in-law is. I won't lie to you all, I'm not here for myself and I'm just here to look into finding a piece of information for the aforementioned father-in-law for a train-related gift. I hope that's ok with you all. I'll be out of your hair lickety split so I don't bother you! Just after this one piece of info (In the 'Ready Track') (I posted an intro once, but I think I hit the wrong button because I don't see it anymore)
As good a reason to visit as any I've heard, and I'd wager that the extra effort will make the gift that much more special. And who knows, perhaps the effort will get you interested as well...
Welcome and good luck locating the gift for your father-in-law. While you are hanging out here, maybe you will get infected with the railroad affliction and become caught up with trains. Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2
Welcome to TrainBoard! Even though you are only making a brief inquiry, please keep us in mind and come visit us again!
Hi, and Welcome to the Train Board. You're not in our hair in any way, we enjoy helping everybody with train related issues, and yours is one of the best....Good Luck !
Welcome aboard UtahJarhead. Hope you find some good info for your father-in-law. Would the "Jarhead" indicate US Marine?
I'm just looking to buy a coupler. Going to use it to make a MUCH LIGHTER, but full size, and movable coupler for my father-in-law's trailer hitch on his truck. And fitz, absolutely that's what it's for. 7 years 0261 (Topographic Intel. I made fancy maps.) Honorable discharge.
I see, now I have a better understanding. A what? I've seen those. Time to do an oogle google search. Here we go: http://www.amazon.com/RailDriver-American-Knuckle-Coupler-Decorative/dp/B000E794VK
That's quite an idea for a gift UJH. It would be interesting to see how it comes together and how it works.
Anybody here know what the dimensions of the coupler as a whole are? I'm talking about the entire head. I can't find any dimensions no matter where I look. Even the patent is so ridiculously verbose that I can't make heads or tails of it.
Argh. Good question. I worked on many couplers, knuckles, cushioning devices. But never had a thought about dimensions.
Found this: Assuming it's a standard 40"x48" pallet, then jeez... 3 feet long and a good 1-1.5 feet wide and 1 foot tall. heh.... That's a lot of steel. I'm beginning to think that I underestimated the raw size of the sucker.
If you decide to go with this, I hope your FIL has vehicle rated for a Class-3 receiver hitch 'cause that monster probably weighs in around 400 pounds. Even if you copied it in Oak or Maple, it would probably be better than 100#. I doubt if Pine would last very long out in the weather, even properly finished. The hitch cover link from Amazon previously posted might be a better choice.
So the suggestion I threw out there for you....won't work. You could try looking at some narrow gauge or smaller knuckle couplers.
I think what I'll do is go out to Golden Spike and duplicate the coupler from the 119 or the Jupiter. Since I can't exactly get a full on coupler and just plop it in my back yard, I'm left to scaling one down. If I'm scaling one down, might as well go with one of those.
Sure, a gift from Amazon would definitely work. It's just that there's nothing behind it. It's just another store bought gift.
This is an interesting possibility. Are there any Rio Grande NG engines or rolling stock in his vicinity?
That is "standard" gauge. The narrow stuff we are talking about is three foot gauge. Then there is a the two foot found in Northeastern USA, with much smaller couplers.
