cracked trailer

wdlfbio · 07-21-2008, 08:33 AM

I had a friend in from down south this weekend and planned on going crabbing and clamming Sunday. Well, the trip got cancelled very early into the day. As I left the development, the trailer popped off the ball, the spare tire mount sheered off the trailer, the tongue dragged a bit, and then trailer cme to a nice stop after it, or the boat, rammed into the back of my tailgate. Good thing we were only doing about 15 mph and it was in a residential area.

Here are some pics. The brace the roller sits on is about sheered on the port side and the winch strap tore right in front of the clip. I'm wondering if I should just have the roller/brace mount replaced or rewelded. I've heard that sometime welding a fix makes the piece stronger than straight aluminum????

This is the one that really hurts. I hope I can find a new tailgate cheap.

dogginit · 07-21-2008, 02:01 PM

Not in this situation. You'll be better off to make two new sideplates. Find some aluminum stock of the same size (might be able to find it at Home Depot or a local good hardware store), clamp the pieces together, lay out the holes and drill. It'll be cheaper, and you'll be happier with the end result. The aluminum in those pictures has been stretched so much that you'll never get it back into shape, anyhow.

Chris

sasquash · 07-21-2008, 06:48 PM

I have to agree on that point, replace dont weld. If I was in a pinch yes it could be welded but you would have to use braces on both sides. When alum gets streched it gets real soft. Go to a scap yard and get a couple pieces of alum and drill the hloes out and bolt back up. Save yourself a headache.

Tinman · 07-23-2008, 06:26 AM

Looks like a weak spot in the trailer design. Have a welder fab up a stronger replacement so it does not happen again.

On my dory, I use a heavy-duty tiedown strap to keep the boat from shifting forward in a panic stop. The strap hooks to the trailer just forward of the midpoint, and goes up over the bow of the boat, around the bow cleat, and back to the trailer on the other side.

James in Idaho · 07-23-2008, 07:06 AM

Replace, that's too critical of an application to mess with a repair. At no point does aluminum gain strength in a welding process (unlike other metals). You could go with a heavier gauge. Hate it when I forget to lock down the coupler!

Bloom · 07-23-2008, 07:19 AM

Why not go with galvanized steel instead of aluminum? I would add a brace to take the stress off of the two bolts that hold it in place.

Chrome Bumper · 07-23-2008, 07:51 AM

Use new flat bar. Welding will weaken it. You can use heavier bar and bolts easy enough. But the real key is to properly attach the trailer to the tow vehicle in the future.

Looks like the bar yielded and brought the boat to a gentle stop.

Half fast Toyn · 07-23-2008, 08:30 AM

Id let the insurance deal with it. Both the trailer and the truck. Dont weld that aluminum no matter what you do.

wdlfbio · 07-23-2008, 09:25 PM

I have a fab shop making a new brace for me. Should be stronger. Of course, shouldn't have to be if I double-checked like I should have

I've looked at a couple other trailers and they have very similar mount designs, basically 4 bolts holding it in place???

But, I'm definitely moving where the safety chain mounts.

I've been wanting to add a dog step (similar to a duck bat step for the dog) to the tailgate anyhow. Now is a good time

Chesapeake · 07-24-2008, 02:46 PM

Do you put straps on the back of your boat?

I did the same thing with an 18 foot riveted boat. Didnt lock the coupler and it came loose as we left the driveway. As soon as I saw the boat fall down int he rearview the binders were set and the trailer tongue when t unde the bumper and the tower slammed into the bumper. The trailer didnt give a bit. The boat actualy buckled a bit from the force of the entire boat being brought to a stop against the bow roller.

It looks to me like the trailer sacraficed itself a little and probably helped the situation.

ET · 07-25-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chesapeake

It looks to me like the trailer sacraficed itself a little and probably helped the situation.

Good point. Having a stronger trailer probably wouldn't help the situation at all. Something else is going to give and that would probably mean more truck and/or boat damage.

Lead Bouncer · 07-27-2008, 01:32 PM

Padlock the hitch everytime you hook up and you will avoid the problem. Also it doesnt pay to remove your hitch between trips.

Half fast Toyn · 07-27-2008, 04:38 PM

5 or so years ago a boat(just the boat) swerved out from behind a motorhome and tried to take me out. Luckily the distance was enough I could judge where it eventualy was going to go and I swerved at the last minute to avoid a head on. The hitch had fallen out of the reciever. The motorhome eventually came back(1 hour) to retrieve the boat. I had the boat all sitting there pretty for him and also gave him a pin for the hitch just in case. Sure enough, he had forgotten to put the pin in, and it was sittin on his bumper.
moral is, its not just your property that might get damaged.