From an idea to reality in 4 weeks.Did you ever have an epiphany or a great idea in the shower? This is exactly how the #EZComboCarrier came about. Ira called the design team with an idea he had during a Sunday morning shower. Couple of hours and napkin sketches later we came up with a basic 3D model and dimensions. It was now onto converting and refining the 3D renders into drawings for the metal shop so they can start on the prototype. About 4 weeks later we were presented with a very metallic vision of what's to come - and it only got better from there. The carrier is made from a thick aluminum with a steel hitch base. The prototype was already a tough machine, so we decided to strengthen the main moving parts and put it to the test. Once it came back from the powder-coater, sporting a great looking satin, slightly textured skin, we installed in on the EZ Utility Bumper and set off in our Airstream Basecamp 16 for a cross-country trek to put it through its paces. This 1600 mile trip gave us some great info on the performance of our design. We could observe how the carrier handles the stresses of highway speeds and the bumps of the mountain trails. We were also very satisfied with the height and clearance of the carrier (especially in the off-road scenarios). We took some switch-back bumpy mountain roads to ensure the carrier would keep it's cargo secured and not flex under stress. The hinge and strap points held wonderfully and we were ready to start an initial small order for presale, which you can find here. Why is the EZ Combo Carrier the most versatile carrier on the market?We wanted to make sure the EZCombo Carrier could handle the heavy the E-Bikes (seen in the photos) - hence why we made the rails 4.5 inches wide. But the carrier will handle regular bikes as well. While the carrier is in the closed position, it simply becomes a platform for any kind of cargo you can come up with (cargo totes, generators, fire wood, coolers etc). But one of main improvements that sets this carrier apart is what we call the "outdoor kitchen station". With the addition of 2 solid maple countertops (sold here), this carrier becomes every tailgater's dream. Park on a side of a mountain, pull up some chairs and a camping stove - and you're good to go! The #EZComboCarrier is now on preorder and you can get it here. If you're looking for more info, here's a great quick video we made: #EZCargoCarrier #Overlanding #Glamping #Ebikecarrier #ezrecrack #adventure #outdoors #airstream
Airstream Basecamp's bigger brother gets the EZ upgrade.The long awaited #EZUtilityBumper has now been released for the bigger version of the Airstream Basecamp : the 20. Sporting the same stylish look and sturdy design, the bumper has now been modified to fit the bigger radius of the larger camper. Providing you with a hitch receiver and tie-down points the bumper allows you to attach most of hitch accessories (bike carriers and cargo carriers) available on the market today, freeing up desirable living space inside the camper. What to expect during installation.We always try to make our gear as simple to install and operate as possible. The idea is to make it EZier for all parties involved. The bumper consists of only 3 parts that are easy to assemble. Although when it comes to installing it on your Basecamp 20 there are some extra steps needed to be taken into account making this installation slightly more involved than that of the Basecamp 16. Here's the main difference: The main difference of the Basecamp 20 design is the addition of the belly pan covering access to the frame in the back. This belly pan will have to be removed by drilling out several rivets holding it in place. The jacks will also have to be removed (three bolts on each side). The rest of the installation follows the same steps as that for the Basecamp 16. It's important to note that the belly pan cover will have to be reinstalled (riveted) after bumper installation is completed. The jacks bolt back on as well. These extra steps make this installation more involved than that of the Basecamp 16, but offer the same benefits. If you're still on the fence about upgrading your Basecamp 20 we will provide you with all the information we can. We will soon be releasing the install video for this camper (you can watch the Basecamp 16 installation video here). This one will require a couple of extra tools and time - but it's nothing you can't handle. We can also help you install your bumper if you happen to be driving through Indianapolis, Indiana. Send us a message of give us a call anytime. The reviews, photos and satisfied customers speak for themselves. Join the #EZRackFamily today. #EZRackFamily #AirstreamBasecamp #BasecampBikeCarrier #AirstreamBikeCarrier #travel #explore #glamping Business+Casual : EZ Utility Bumper mod improves your BasecampDuring our latest trip to Colorado we had the pleasure of meeting one of the most famous faces of #solotravel and Airstream Basecamp adventures, Cass from "Tails of Wanderlust" : "Cass has always had a strong sense of wanderlust and spent years dreaming of all the amazing destinations there are to visit. With her love for animals, she adopted two amazing rescues, ten years apart. When a remote work position presented the opportunity to travel, she never thought twice about bringing Jasper & Napoleon with her. With these amazing furry friends by her side, she finally took the leap and set out on the adventure of a lifetime. She loves the outdoors, bacon, enjoying a good laugh, and touring this beautiful country – windows down and Jim Croce blaring on the radio! " You can follow her adventures at tailsofwanderlust.com We knew that our bumper mod could easily improve the Basecamp experience for any traveler as it grants you a hitch location which allows for additional accessories, mods and storage solutions (bike and cargo carriers) to be installed, maximizing the interior storage room which is always a priority for anyone who plans on long-term solo travel in a camper / RV. We met with Cass close to Colorado Springs, CO. After problem-free excursion from Indianapolis with our own bumper and EBike carrier in tow, we knew that it's as tough as it looks - and Cass would agree. We also recorded the entire endeavor to show you just how straight forward the process is: *** watch till the end for a sneak peak of our next product ***
Meeting Cass was a blast and we hope that the #EZUtilityBumper mod will serve her well for many adventures to come. We also have an attachment mod coming soon that will expand the utility of the bumper even more. Stay tuned for updates. #EZRackFamily #AirstreamBikeCarrier #Airstream #solotravel #overlanding #Basecamp #adventure #travel Airstream Basecamp gets the 'EZ' bump.Here at EZ RecRacks we are always looking for new opportunities to expand and diversify. After recently acquiring an Airstream Basecamp trailer we quickly realized that it could use some "EZ" touch to further increase the practicality of independent outdoor exploration. The lack of hitch at the rear of the trailer made it impossible to carry any additional cargo in a convenient way. We decided to change that. Now, there is an easy way to add a bike carrier to your Airstream Basecamp. After designing the initial model in 3D space, we proceeded straight to a quick mockup using simple materials and PVC tubing to figure out the spacing and placement for the finished metal construction. We made sure we left enough room to allow access for the spare-tire lowering mechanism opening, and allow enough space for the rear hatch to open freely. The only piece of DIY is cutting out slots in the rear plastic cowl for the metal arms to slip through. The metal arms attach straight to the frame with several bolts. This idea turned out great and provided us with a strong, rigid base. Finishing the prototype with a nice black texture finish powder-coat, we could now move on to field testing. With its tough steel construction, EZ Utility Bumper is an attachment designed specifically for Airstream Basecamp trailer which provides a universal receiver for all kinds of aftermarket cargo/bike carriers. You can now gain extra storage space for your bikes, firewood, generators and more. We decided to test our prototype with a converted motorcycle carrier and an 80 lbs eBike. With the bumper itself weighing in at around 33 pounds, the total weight we carried on the back of this trailer was in the ball park of 140 lbs. Because the bumper contains a universal hitch receiver it will accommodate most of the attachments available on the market. There are also number of reducer sleeves you can purchase to adapt the receiver for differently sized options. With this multifaceted approach the EZ Utility Bumper should be able to handle most of your outdoor cargo needs. From our initial road trip we can tell that the trailer tows true and smooth, and the bumper doesn't affect it in any way. You still have to be conscious of your load distribution, but we are happy to report no major issues with our 140 lbs experiment, even at 70 mph. The height of our hitch is also at a comfortable level providing a lot of clearance for those off-road scenarios. We hope that this invention will help out Airstream Basecamp owners as we plan to develop many more attachments that will fit our design and provide even more convenience for the Outdoor enthusiasts. Hopefully we'll get to come up with many more interesting solutions for 'overlanding' purposes and get to expend our customer base and catalogue of EZ accessories, making your journeys that much more convenient. * To see the EZ Utility Bumper in action, check out our video * Happy travels.
#EZUtilityBumper #Airstream #AirstreamBasecamp #EZRackFamily Reaching new heights! |
AuthorHey! It's Ira Mercurio the creator of the EZ Rec-Rack. I'm making this blog to keep you all updated on everything going on with us, Enjoy! Archives
March 2024
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