one-hung-low

[BobReeves]

Some of you have seen the Rebuilding old Utility thread below.. Well discovered I had another slight problem..

When I straightened the frame out as best I could with weight, my FEL and a torch I had it sitting on jack stands level and square. I left it on the jack stands when I put the new top railing on thinking it would hold everything in alignment.

Well when I put the wheels on and lowered it down on the tires I found it is twisted front to back.. One front corner hangs lower than the other 3. In trying the only thing I thought might work I positioned my 6 foot tiller on one high corner and my box blade on the other. Then I picked up the low corner with my FEL hoping it would twist the whole frame back into being somewhat straight. I am guessing I had the low corner at least a couple feet past straight in hops it would bend whatever needed bending.

The result of this exercise was just that, an exercise in picking up really heavy stuff with my FEL, it didn't do a darn thing which really surprised me. When I let it back down on the wheels it's still twisted.. Any ideas on how to make it straight?

It really won't effect the function I have planned for it but bugs the heck out of me that the care I took in trying to make sure it wasn't twisted was all wasted and it ain't right..

 

[MrJimi]

If all your metal is straight and your positive it is, try and put a come-a-long with a center support and twist it back the other way and be very careful, this is tricky to do. The center has to be elevated so you are lifting on the low corners, again, be careful and you should be fine

 

[skipmarcy]

I think I would try this - Get it leveled-up again like you had it, but only slightly higher than level, maybe just a couple inches or so. I would then cut and weld some flat plate gussets at each corner on the bottom of the frame, wouldn't have to be very large plates just thick enough to have some rigidity. My guess is this would come close to levelling it and would help square it up too.

 

[kenmac]

You need to cut the metal with your torch , pull all back up straight & weld back where you cut the frame with torch. I had to do this on a bent axle under 1 of my trailers

 

[MrJimi]

Or just bring it to a body shop with a frame machine and a person that knows how to operate it and make sure you tell him what you did and it will be much better for you and him
Thats what I would do if I were you
Jim

 

[BobReeves]

Thanks Guys.... Finally managed to get back on the trailer yesterday.. Gave up on trying to get it perfectly straight, I am probably the only one that will ever notice it anyway..

Yesterday I sand blasted all the rust off and squirted on a coat of Rustoleum primer. First time I sand blasted anything this big and it was a job. 11 hours straight from start to last squirt of primer. Going to let it dry for a day then paint it with black Rustoleum.. Final coat of paint, wiring and deck wood is all that is left.. Will post a photo when I it's finished.

 

[Renze]

Gave up on trying to get it perfectly straight, I am probably the only one that will ever notice it anyway..

You sound like a professional trailer builder... At work, i hear the guys in the welding shop say that very often, if they cant heat-shrink those final millimeters out of a frame...

 

[Renze]

You need to cut the metal with your torch , pull all back up straight & weld back where you cut the frame with torch. I had to do this on a bent axle under 1 of my trailers

The heat from welding will crook the frame right back