How would you straighten this?

[56FordGuy]

I picked up this trailer last week. As you can seen, the front rail is bent. I want to fix it, but I'm not sure what the best method would be. I'm concerned that if I heat and pull out on the jack in the wrong spot, I could end up pulling the jack forward, but not the entire bend and putting yet another bend in the rail. On the back side (facing the trailer) of the top part of the bent rail there are two D rings welded. I might be able to pull them back toward the trailer as well as pulling the bottom of the jack out toward the front. I'm thinking I can heat just inside the tongue, where you can see some light rust spots.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[2458n]

Use it the way it is.

 

[56FordGuy]

Use it the way it is.

That's the plan, for a while. I would like to fix it though, because I don't like my equipment looking all beat out of shape. Besides, it's a good opportunity to learn something about straightening metal.

 

[RoMad]

Is the rail bent or the pipe/tube that connects the crank to the Jack? I can't tell very well by your picture.

 

[Shield Arc]

You won't get all of that out with heat, but heat on the backside of the bottom of the C-channel, right at the heel.

 

[Shield Arc]

Pictures always seem to work best.
Heat on the opposite side of this red line. I would use a come-a-long back to the truck to pull the jack forward as you heat the heel of the C-channel.

 

[tmajor]

I would hook a chain on the top of the jack, run it clear to the back of the trailer and anchor it to a telephone pole or something. Then I would put a chain around the very bottom of the jack and pull that forward slowly .. in increments, check to see how things are going. .. or coming.

Leaving the trailer to float .. not anchored to anything.

 

[ridger]

if it were mine i would replace the channel iron

 

[56FordGuy]

Is the rail bent or the pipe/tube that connects the crank to the Jack? I can't tell very well by your picture.

Both are, a bit. The piece I'm interested in straightening is the actual rail that the jack mounts to.

Pictures always seem to work best.
Heat on the opposite side of this red line. I would use a come-a-long back to the truck to pull the jack forward as you heat the heel of the C-channel.

I was hoping you would chime in on this. I need to pick up a heating tip for my torch, all I have right now is a cutting tip. Once I do that, I'll heat where you've outlined and post the results. Even if it doesn't get all of it out, it should be better than it is now.

 

[Shield Arc]

You could also try heating vertical lines on the web of the C-channel, say 1 1/2 to 2-inches apart.
Remember, everything has to be heated on the backside / under the decking!
I'll bet anything you'll have to use force to help.

Also make sure that jack is off the ground while doing this!