Slick 60's

Well just a little venting if I can. I loaned out my Car Trailer ( 18ft Open Trailer 6" Channel Frame with a wood deck). The guys says he loaded a Tarus on it (not to me) The 6" Channel Iron broke on both sides if front of the axles and behind the Hitch. He had a fella weld on the break of the channel. He didn't fish plate or anything. Then he returned it to my Yard without saying a word It's my own fault for loaning it out. I have hauled everything on this Trailer from Slicks to Bobcats to Bricks I had it from Coast to Coast and I've never broke anything (and I can Break things) Now I can fish plate he Frame but I am a little afraid of the Trailer, I go everywhere with this thing but I guess nothing lasts forever. Does anyone know where I can get a good deal on a new Trailer. By the way I have one for Sale Both Halves. Does anyone have Keys to the WAAAAAAAAAAMBULANCE.

These guys build some very good trailers. I have the open ramp car trailer. Friend has their dump trailer.

http://www.hhtrailer.com/

Sorry about the whinning Guys and Thanks for the link Nice Trailers. But I have to go cheap this is taking from my Truck Budget. I've heard of a place in Tulsa that has 20ft Trailers for $1450 I was wondering if anyone new who that was. It seems all of the Trailers here run about $3400 and that's pretty basic. Not as nice as the Full tilt trailer. So if I find one it's Road Trip Time. If anyone has any ideas let me know I could certianly use the Help. Thanks again Craig

Do you have any pictures of the damage? How long have you had the trailer? I'm wondering if the frame failed due to a preexisting crack (i.e. fatigue failure) that just happened to occur when it was loaned out.

Even if that is the case I'm appalled that someone would borrow it, break it, repair and return it without even talking to you about it.

Was the Taurus filled with wet concrete? If the rails are still somewhat straight, I would not be afraid to
reinforce the problem areas. I would however pull the hubs & inspect the bearings & spindles.
Unbelievable- I've heard about 6" channel bending,but breaking in multiple places?
Someone owes you at least a truthfull explanation.

i hate borrowing stuff....
never know when its going to break down & im to blame..
but it sounds like the yayhoo who borrowed it from you is an abuser.
i dont have a car trailer...but my good friend has a nice tilt one...
whenever it goes back to him, is always powerwashed & clean..
one time i heard him tell his wife that it was dirty , he wished pat
would buy another truck...

http://api.photoshop.com/home_1c9044837 ... 36890cca05

I'm going to try this

Well Guys I finally think I figured this Photo thing out let me know if it works. If anyone has a car Trailer look for cracks in the Frame it could save your load. I talked with a Oilfield welder today and he said this is a common break he has repaired many of these breaks with a simple fish plate. He said he has never had one come back so the repair was made. I hope this will help at least one of you out. I'm having a hard time accepting this small fishplate will work but we will give it some abuse and see what happens. The amazing thing is the guys who broke this and made the band aid repair pic actually hauled a car on this over gravel and asphalt at least 60 miles. Ya it was clean whe he got it. I guess he figured all of that dirt would hide the break. Check out these pics

http://api.photoshop.com/home_1c9044837 ... f58984d60b

http://api.photoshop.com/home_1c9044837 ... f4ca9df917
http://api.photoshop.com/home_1c9044837 ... 4a87572d27

That fish plate has some very sweet welding on it.

That's the way a fish plate should be done. I get lucky once in a while and get get a weld that looks like that but not very often.
Kevin

I think the way the drawbar is mated to the frame may have been a contributing factor. It appears to me that the abrupt transition from the gusseted drawbar to the frame rail created a stress concentration at the splice, which eventually caused the c-channel to fail at that point. I suspect a fatigue failure.

One way to prevent this is to modify the drawbar section. Here's an example:

[albumimg]5395[/albumimg]

This configuration should reduce the stress concentration in that area, since there's more of a gradual transition from a 12" tall section to a 6" tall section. You should be able to extend the drawbar to a point just in front of the leaf spring hangers. Although the fishplate may prove to be sufficient.

Good luck with it!

try Down to Earth Trailers out of Baxley Ga, great guys, SUPERB trailers of all kinds, and they deliver.I haven't tried the website but I'm sure they have one. I grew up with them and know their work, it's stunning.

I was actually suggesting adding material, Greg, not removing it. The two short sections of c-channel shown in my picture would be added to the existing drawbar.

Or maybe I just misunderstood your comment.

The Big M wrote: Or maybe I just misunderstood your comment.

Nope, I apparently misunderstood yours, lol. Thought you meant cut it at an angle.
My Bad!
So I will now rephrase my suggestion to;
Yea - what he said.

I think Biggie is right!, but I would replace the whole draw bar and mitre the angles where it meets the main frame its self and plenty of gussets!thats my two bobs worth anyway!

Thanks Guys, Big M I was reinforcing it like you suggested as you typed. I went with a bigger tire and I added removable fenders now I'll give her some paint and wacth it like a Hawk. If starts to give me trouble again it will have to be a new owner problem. Maybe it will last until I can afford an enclosed Trailer