I have a 2 year old sailboat trailer sitting in the yard which is just
the right length and payload capacity for my boat. Unfortunately, the
beam is over a foot too narrow. Guess I'll have to sell it and get
another trailer the right size. I lose more money that way! :-)

I did have a curious thought, though. Increasing the useful length of
a trailer is commonly done, but has anyone heard of someone increasing
the width of a trailer? Getting the wheels further apart would
probably be easy enough, but what about the frame? Sounds like the
outside square tube would have to be cut off and new tube fabricated.
This wouldn't make much sense for a galvanized trailer unless square
tube is available already galvanized, or you paid to have it done.
$$$$ Either way it sounds like more work than it's worth.

Thanks,
Syl

Why not drop by the local metal shop and get an estimate? Then drop by the
local trailer dealer for a trade in price ... THEN go get the smaller boat
:-)

"Sylvester Sullivan" wrote in message
om...
I have a 2 year old sailboat trailer sitting in the yard which is just
the right length and payload capacity for my boat. Unfortunately, the
beam is over a foot too narrow. Guess I'll have to sell it and get
another trailer the right size. I lose more money that way! :-)

I did have a curious thought, though. Increasing the useful length of
a trailer is commonly done, but has anyone heard of someone increasing
the width of a trailer? Getting the wheels further apart would
probably be easy enough, but what about the frame? Sounds like the
outside square tube would have to be cut off and new tube fabricated.
This wouldn't make much sense for a galvanized trailer unless square
tube is available already galvanized, or you paid to have it done.
$$$$ Either way it sounds like more work than it's worth.

Thanks,
Syl

There's some wisdom in that advice. My wife would probably be
happier, too with the latter option.

Why not drop by the local metal shop and get an estimate? Then drop by the
local trailer dealer for a trade in price ... THEN go get the smaller boat
:-)

"Sylvester Sullivan" wrote in message
om...
I have a 2 year old sailboat trailer sitting in the yard which is just
the right length and payload capacity for my boat. Unfortunately, the
beam is over a foot too narrow. Guess I'll have to sell it and get
another trailer the right size. I lose more money that way! :-)

I did have a curious thought, though. Increasing the useful length of
a trailer is commonly done, but has anyone heard of someone increasing
the width of a trailer? Getting the wheels further apart would
probably be easy enough, but what about the frame? Sounds like the
outside square tube would have to be cut off and new tube fabricated.
This wouldn't make much sense for a galvanized trailer unless square
tube is available already galvanized, or you paid to have it done.
$$$$ Either way it sounds like more work than it's worth.

Thanks,
Syl

(Sylvester Sullivan) wrote in message . com...

I did have a curious thought, though. Increasing the useful length of
a trailer is commonly done, but has anyone heard of someone increasing
the width of a trailer? Getting the wheels further apart would
probably be easy enough, but what about the frame? Sounds like the
outside square tube would have to be cut off and new tube fabricated.
This wouldn't make much sense for a galvanized trailer unless square
tube is available already galvanized, or you paid to have it done.
$$$$ Either way it sounds like more work than it's worth.

Sounds backwards - most trailer axles are specifically certified
load-rated assemblies, while fabbing mods to the steel frame are
playtime if one also has the structural knowledge to fab it safely
with sufficient added strength. I wouldn't do it, though. Though I'm
not big on regulation of private little stuff, many states require an
MCO or other doccumentation today to register a trailer, and some
require inspections over certain GAWR limits. So stretching an axle
is structurally simple but a potential regulatory nightmare. Galv
steel is typically touched up with spray galv coating, not "paid to
have it done." Square tubing (galv or not) is also a good thing to
avoid in trailers constructed for salted roads or use in or around
sal****er - equivalent channel is a little heavier & more costly to
use but better. Then you don't need galvanizing, you can easily wash
it clean & keep it painted. If you can weld & fab well, it is often
easier & cheaper to build an excellent trailer than to buy one with
mfg compromises. If you can't it is rarely cheap enough to
structurally mod a trailer vs buying one that meets the need.