Boat trailer repair questions
 

Hi, I bought a boat trailer and just noticed the frame is a little bent
at the front. The original owner mentioned that he had two boats on it
at once but I didn't think to inspect the frame. Here is a picture of
where it's bent. BTW it's bend on both sides equally so it doesn't seem
to affect the steering or anything.

http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer9.jpg

One other question I had is, the trailer has some rust and I'm not sure
how bad it is. Also, should I change the u-bolts on the axle just to be
safe?

http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer8.jpg
http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer10.jpg
http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer7.jpg

Thanks,
Michael

Oh yea, my question is should I try to straighten the frame before
taking it to inspections?

Thanks

Michael Shaffer wrote:
Hi, I bought a boat trailer and just noticed the frame is a little bent
at the front. The original owner mentioned that he had two boats on it
at once but I didn't think to inspect the frame. Here is a picture of
where it's bent. BTW it's bend on both sides equally so it doesn't seem
to affect the steering or anything.

http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer9.jpg

One other question I had is, the trailer has some rust and I'm not sure
how bad it is. Also, should I change the u-bolts on the axle just to be
safe?

http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer8.jpg
http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer10.jpg
http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer7.jpg

Thanks,
Michael

Nevermind, I just jumped on the front of it and it bent right back into
place :)

Michael Shaffer wrote:
Hi, I bought a boat trailer and just noticed the frame is a little bent
at the front. The original owner mentioned that he had two boats on it
at once but I didn't think to inspect the frame. Here is a picture of
where it's bent. BTW it's bend on both sides equally so it doesn't seem
to affect the steering or anything.

http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer9.jpg

One other question I had is, the trailer has some rust and I'm not sure
how bad it is. Also, should I change the u-bolts on the axle just to be
safe?

http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer8.jpg
http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer10.jpg
http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer7.jpg

Thanks,
Michael

If it bent back into place when you jumped on it, what is it going to do
when you do accident avoidance with a full load on it?

Michael Shaffer wrote:
Nevermind, I just jumped on the front of it and it bent right back into
place :)

Michael Shaffer wrote:

Hi, I bought a boat trailer and just noticed the frame is a little
bent at the front. The original owner mentioned that he had two boats
on it at once but I didn't think to inspect the frame. Here is a
picture of where it's bent. BTW it's bend on both sides equally so it
doesn't seem to affect the steering or anything.

http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer9.jpg

One other question I had is, the trailer has some rust and I'm not
sure how bad it is. Also, should I change the u-bolts on the axle just
to be safe?

http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer8.jpg
http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer10.jpg
http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer7.jpg

Thanks,
Michael

I'm going to weld some more angle iron to it. I just wanted it straight
before I welded it.

RoyJ wrote:
If it bent back into place when you jumped on it, what is it going to do
when you do accident avoidance with a full load on it?

Michael Shaffer wrote:

Nevermind, I just jumped on the front of it and it bent right back
into place :)

Michael Shaffer wrote:

Hi, I bought a boat trailer and just noticed the frame is a little
bent at the front. The original owner mentioned that he had two boats
on it at once but I didn't think to inspect the frame. Here is a
picture of where it's bent. BTW it's bend on both sides equally so it
doesn't seem to affect the steering or anything.

http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer9.jpg

One other question I had is, the trailer has some rust and I'm not
sure how bad it is. Also, should I change the u-bolts on the axle
just to be safe?

http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer8.jpg
http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer10.jpg
http://members.cox.net/michaelshaffer/trailer7.jpg

Thanks,
Michael

On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 13:43:19 -0400, Michael Shaffer
wrote:

I'm going to weld some more angle iron to it. I just wanted it straight
before I welded it.

You have some serious rust problems there and before you did anything,
I'd have it sand blasted and take a close look at the clean steel for
stress fractures and the like around the spring attach points and any
previous welds. I'd also take a close look at the bent area - if you
could jump on it and rebend it, then that is very light metal,
probably iron not steel, and you'll have more problems than it's
worth.

"Michael Shaffer" wrote in message
news:XEzye.67512$oK.15790@okepread02...
I'm going to weld some more angle iron to it. I just wanted it straight
before I welded it.

RoyJ wrote:
If it bent back into place when you jumped on it, what is it going to do
when you do accident avoidance with a full load on it?

Michael Shaffer wrote:

Nevermind, I just jumped on the front of it and it bent right back
into place :)

Michael Shaffer wrote:


If I could jump on the front and bend it back (and I'm good size),
I think I would consider using only for hauling mattresses or pillows.

mikey

Mike Fields wrote:
"Michael Shaffer" wrote in message
news:XEzye.67512$oK.15790@okepread02...

I'm going to weld some more angle iron to it. I just wanted it straight
before I welded it.

RoyJ wrote:

If it bent back into place when you jumped on it, what is it going to do
when you do accident avoidance with a full load on it?

Michael Shaffer wrote:


Nevermind, I just jumped on the front of it and it bent right back
into place :)

Michael Shaffer wrote:



If I could jump on the front and bend it back (and I'm good size),
I think I would consider using only for hauling mattresses or pillows.

mikey


Personally, I would junk the thing and but a new galvanized trailer. It
will last you 20 years if you take care of it.

Don White wrote:
Mike Fields wrote:

"Michael Shaffer" wrote in message
news:XEzye.67512$oK.15790@okepread02...

I'm going to weld some more angle iron to it. I just wanted it straight
before I welded it.

RoyJ wrote:

If it bent back into place when you jumped on it, what is it going
to do
when you do accident avoidance with a full load on it?

Michael Shaffer wrote:


Nevermind, I just jumped on the front of it and it bent right back
into place :)

Michael Shaffer wrote:



If I could jump on the front and bend it back (and I'm good size),
I think I would consider using only for hauling mattresses or pillows.

mikey


Personally, I would junk the thing and but a new galvanized trailer. It
will last you 20 years if you take care of it.
That should be 'buy'....

I doubt if the U bolts need to be changed. They are pretty thick
metal. So if you lost .050 off them , they would not have lost a large
percentage of their strength. The Frame is a different story. It is
likely less than 1/8 inch thick when new. So losing .050 off the frame
may have cut the strength in half.

I would take a hammer and rap all over the frame to see if any parts
are nearly rusted thru. I helped repair a boat trailer that had
serious rust from being in salt water. I replaced the pieces that were
seriously rusted.


Dan