Monday, March 27, 2017

Riptide Vacuum Commercial Cart Transport Rack Overview

The Riptide Large Service Cart Transport Rack is an excellent hitch and lock system. Although many aspects of the Riptide are similar to its competitors the Transport Rack sets it apart. The Transport Rack is easy to assemble and install.



The Riptide Vacuum System is a great way to service those pools that constantly get a lot of leaves and debris. It works off of a 12V AH battery and all of the debris is trapped in the large filter bags on top. I really like the Large Service Cart because it can carry so much stuff back to the pool and it comes with a very nice cord reel that will feed out the cord as you need it.

So in order to get the cart onto your service truck and to secure it in place Riptide has come up with an innovative locking system. The cart and vacuum head are locked into place by a very secure double safety clamp on top and an extra deep grooved bottom hitch. You can rest assured that the cart and vacuum will not fall off during transport.

To avoid user error there is no pin on top but a safety latch that is locked once the handle on the Riptide cart is pushed all the way into the forward position. The deep grooved bottom hitch will allow the cart to sit securely onto the Transport Rack. All of this is accomplished without having to lift the cart, you just simply tilt it back and slide it over the bottom hitch into the groove.

Also included is a license plate bracket so that you can move your license plate if you mount the Riptide directly in the center of your truck. This license plate bracket will allow you to move your plate to a visible area and it comes with a light that you can wire to your truck.

The Transport rack will mount to your standard Class III 2” Receiver. On my truck I use the T.Dula T-Bar Mount which allows me to connect to service carts to my truck at the same time. I highly recommend the T-Bar mount if you want to connect a standard Service Cart as well as the Riptide Cart.

T-Bar Mount: Connect Two Pool Service Carts to Your Truck at the Same Time: https://youtu.be/CgkcSCWESK4

Another nice feature of the Transport Rack is the ability to add a full size padlock to secure the cart and vacuum from theft. A slot on top is designed to allow one padlock to secure both the cart and vacuum at the same time. This will give you piece of mind when you park your truck and the Riptide is not in use.

Also included is one Anti-Wobble plate that you can add to the Receiver to keep the Transport
Rack steady. Note that this is not a design issue but anything that you insert into the Receiver will have a little play (movement) and the Anti-Wobble/ Anti-Rattle plates are universally used when transporting any item like a boat, bike rack etc. With the Anti-Wobble Plate installed the Riptide Transport Rack is steady and firm over dips, R/R tracks, speed bumps and other rough driving terrain.

One thing I had to add to my truck was a CURT 45794 2" Raised Receiver Adapter:


The Riptide Cart was riding too low to the ground for my service area. There are a lot of driveways with dips in front of them for rain runoff and I had to raise the cart up higher on my truck. You can also drill two more holes in the plate that holds the hitch and raise it up that way, but the Raised Receiver Adapter was easier for me. I set the Cart 4” higher and now there is no issues with it riding too low. The Curt Raised Receiver Adapter is rated to hold 350 lbs Tongue weight which is plenty for the Riptide Cart.

A note if you mount the Curt Raised Receiver to the T-bar Mount. The holes did not line up exactly so you can drill a little larger hole, or like me I used a Class 8 Hex Bolt instead of the pin – which didn't fit in the smaller area.

Also a note about the tongue weight that your service truck can handle. My Nissan Frontier can hold 850 lbs on the back bumper, or tongue weight. If you do decide to mount the Riptide Cart be sure your truck is rated for it.

The Riptide Vacuum System is an excellently designed product and Transport Rack is well made and will hold the cart in place without issues. To see more on the Riptide Vacuum System see these videos:

Riptide Pool Vacuum System Overview Video: https://youtu.be/ycoGJsyFXNg
Riptide Vacuum System: Cart and Vacuum Set Up & Operation Video: https://youtu.be/PHLdGmlgDfY

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