The Summer of the Trailer Repair

[Mark @ Everlast]

I've worked on or fixed about 4 trailers this summer...current one is in my yard. I wish I had taken pictures of all the ones. I start the 4th one tomorrow.
I've fixed two landscaping cargo trailers with bad doors, and one car hauler that had a rotted out backend. I replaced everything from the rear tires back including the fenders and patched several places on the way.

The trailer I will start tomorrow is one a friend bought at an auction. It's a heavy equipment trailer. It has some cracks in the tongue area and needs a dove tail made on it. I will take pictures of that one. It should be an easy job if it is cool enough.
My friend is having issues driving up and down with his low riding yard equipment, so we are going to put a gentle 18" dovetail on the trailer.
Stay tuned. I'll post in progress pictures. Should be a weekend job.

He wanted to make longer ramps, but the ramps are near 4 to 5 foot now.

If anyone wants to post their personal trailer repairs here, please do!

 

[dragoneggs]

Yep... you know how we like pictures!

 

[strantor]

Not a repair, but a modification. I welded a plate to the tongue and mounted a winch.


Coming soon: dovetail conversion from wood deck to diamond plate.



And while I'm at it, I'm going to cut off those weak pieces of angle that they stitch welded to the back for the ramps to lick into, and I'm going to replace them with a single piece of angle twice as thick, continuously welded from both sides, all the way across the back. And fabricate some sturdier ramps. That forklift mangled my ramps and half way ripped off the barely welded pieces of angle.

...before you say it, Yes, I know I had no business putting that forklift on that trailer. What's done is done, lessons were learned, thankfully no irreparable damage was done.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Not a repair, but a modification. I welded a plate to the tongue and mounted a winch.
View attachment 573682View attachment 573683View attachment 573684

Coming soon: dovetail conversion from wood deck to diamond plate.

View attachment 573685View attachment 573686

And while I'm at it, I'm going to cut off those weak pieces of angle that they stitch welded to the back for the ramps to lick into, and I'm going to replace them with a single piece of angle twice as thick, continuously welded from both sides, all the way across the back. And fabricate some sturdier ramps. That forklift mangled my ramps and half way ripped off the barely welded pieces of angle.

...before you say it, Yes, I know I had no business putting that forklift on that trailer. What's done is done, lessons were learned, thankfully no irreparable damage was done.

I would not get the diamond plate. It won't be as strong as wood, unless it is really thick. Speaking from experience with heavy equipment, that steel will get slick with a drop or two of rain or morning dew. I've seen more than one dozer and at least one tractor go sliding off when moist. Wood offers the best traction.

I am just wondering how you got that slick tired lift up there with those ramps. I've never gotten that much traction. The ramps can be straightened. Just flip them over and run back over them.

While the lift is probably overweight for the trailer, I've put a tractor wheel or two through boards like that myself and it wasn't overweight. What you need is an extra cross member AND Rough Sawn Oak at least 3 inches thick. That will fix your problem. The pine, which is likely pressure treated is not that strong. Replace it with rough sawn oak and it will last for years and will be much stronger and won't dry rot as fast or become brittle.

 

[oldballs]

Here's some old pics.........This pic shows how I immobilized the Surge function of the OE.....since I'm not a welder. I was sick and tired of how the Surge brakes never seemed to be adjusted quite right such that no tire/wheel would drag and ruin a tire.

So, installing electric brakes, a controller and a break away set up was necessary. More pics now.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[Stimw]

Not a repair, but a modification. I welded a plate to the tongue and mounted a winch.
View attachment 573682View attachment 573683View attachment 573684

Coming soon: dovetail conversion from wood deck to diamond plate.

View attachment 573685View attachment 573686

And while I'm at it, I'm going to cut off those weak pieces of angle that they stitch welded to the back for the ramps to lick into, and I'm going to replace them with a single piece of angle twice as thick, continuously welded from both sides, all the way across the back. And fabricate some sturdier ramps. That forklift mangled my ramps and half way ripped off the barely welded pieces of angle.

...before you say it, Yes, I know I had no business putting that forklift on that trailer. What's done is done, lessons were learned, thankfully no irreparable damage was done.

My 4000 lb Clark weights 8800 LBS !!
I hired a Rollback Wrecker to move it.
Lucky you didn't break more than boards.
That is a trailer frame for my HF Sawmill so I could move it around and extend track to cut 16' boards.

 

[strantor]

I would not get the diamond plate. It won't be as strong as wood, unless it is really thick. Speaking from experience with heavy equipment, that steel will get slick with a drop or two of rain or morning dew. I've seen more than one dozer and at least one tractor go sliding off when moist. Wood offers the best traction.

I am just wondering how you got that slick tired lift up there with those ramps. I've never gotten that much traction. The ramps can be straightened. Just flip them over and run back over them.

While the lift is probably overweight for the trailer, I've put a tractor wheel or two through boards like that myself and it wasn't overweight. What you need is an extra cross member AND Rough Sawn Oak at least 3 inches thick. That will fix your problem. The pine, which is likely pressure treated is not that strong. Replace it with rough sawn oak and it will last for years and will be much stronger and won't dry rot as fast or become brittle.

Thanks for the tips. Now that you mention it, I do remember busting my behind on a wet steel deck trailer. I will see if I can find oak.

My method for getting the forklift as far as it got... well, that's confidential. Couldn't bear the thought of someone getting hurt trying to copy my jackassery. I've already said too much.

 

[nyone]

Diamond plate can be very slick and always seams to bend/warp. I like the look and function of a wood deck. Wood also dosnt rust.

Making a better ledge with a keeper bar that would act as a large washer may help keep those boards from breaking...but fork lifts have a huge amount of weight on a tiny area.

 

[WranglerX]

I did several up grades on my trailer after purchase, as replacing really crummy cedar (?) lumber on deck after it began to rot with Douglas Fir, added brake away circuit to trailer brakes, seems trailer under 1500lbs unladen weigh does not even require brakes in Cali, but it did have 'lectric brakes but no "break away" option , and then I added a receiver (hitch style) vertically on front center of trailer to hold fabricated spare tire bracket (so it can be removed), also I can use a drop in plate with winch attached or just a "hook/ring" for anchor point for "come along" if need be... Another thing I can not fathom was its promoted as car carrier in sales brochure with not one single tie down point provided from factory... Fabed up some 5/8 rod into loops and welded them on all four corner of trailer...

Its the little things you have to do to really make it usable/convenient after purchase that count...

Dale

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Thanks for the tips. Now that you mention it, I do remember busting my behind on a wet steel deck trailer. I will see if I can find oak.

My method for getting the forklift as far as it got... well, that's confidential. Couldn't bear the thought of someone getting hurt trying to copy my jackassery. I've already said too much.

You probably will have to commission the cut at a sawmill. Get it 3" thick and bolt/screw them down GREEN. Get them tight as there will be gaps later, but I can tell you that is the best solution and will haul whatever you put on it. I've cut them with my sawmill for low boy trailer for large excavators. I grew up in the heavy equipment and tractor business. We used Oak then too. Pine was was just a short lived,weak option.