Borrowed trailer :( This happened last night. Am I fawked? Is it fixable? Where do I take it?

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid5/p4059b80cbb9431afa8fd4dc79b1a5bb6/fde3f089.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid5/p85db155d806958b5a345b57c6f7e91fb/fde3f086.jpg

Both sides of the frame, right between the wheels

What's that trailer made out of - tinfoil? Since the metal looks really weak and undersized, If I were the one fixing it, I'd cut a slot through the midding of the tweak and sleeve the frame with some beefyer metal and weld it up.

Hard to tell from the picture, but what is that rail made of - box tube or angle iron? And how did it happen anyway?

It appears as though the trailer was overloaded and you hit a bump. At least it looks that way as if the shcakle hit the frame which is what caused it to bend. But then again I'm not a forensic engineer.

I'd say it's fixable. I'd also second reinforcing the frame particularly in that area. I would think just siding the frame with straps outta be suffecient. Mostly make sure that *if* the frame and shackle collided, whatever you do make sure it doesn't happen again, at least easily.

it can be straightened pretty easy, but you need some one with a frame machine. and you need to lower the hitch on your tow rig by the looks of it. the frame looks to be 2x4 square tubing. the guy at the frame shop shouldn't charge you more tha 200 and that would be high. you just need to tie down the trailer at the center spring hanger, and block the front of the trailer. then jack up the back of the trailer till you get it pulled out. it would be a good idea to weld in a new brace in the area that was bent, just a angle iron doubler would work fine. but the guy you borrowed the trailer may still be pissed. mike

I borrowed the trailer form a buddy from this board. I have to say he is being really cool about it so far. I can understand his anger, but like I said he is being pretty cool.

Here is my scope of it. The trailer was by no means perfectly straight before, but those kinks were definitely not there when he gave it to me, so I feel responsible. I agree I think it was a combination of several things....ball on my truck possibly too high, was on a rough road (although driving very slow) and I unloaded it the day before without jack standing it. I think the trailer was probably weak already, and I sent it over the edge to foldsville :( Here is the day before pics, You can kinda see where it was slightly tweaked, but nothing like it is now.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid5/p8cf614b4492607568736f9934ee4965b/fde3f07d.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid5/p820782b92dabd0d490ffb51d90b804d9/fde3f084.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid5/p6f15829ccf77f0d9d25610a1dd97ede5/fde3f081.jpg

drag it and your junk to chico and well notch it bend it back then plate it better.

Originally posted by Sillyneck
drag it and your junk to chico and well notch it bend it back then plate it better.

Seriously Phil, Can you fix that???

yea...I need to know if any cross members are bent....but I could just cut the bent junk out weld new box in then long gusset it better than it was before.

Keith- Sounds like you and the owner are working this out well. I admire you for stepping up and taking responsibility!

Phil has some good fab skills. I'm sure he can fix it and make it better than new!

Good luck!

Thanks Mark. Like I sadi, I dont feel like I "Broke" it, but I know I sent it over the edge, and regardless it was in my possession when it occured. I would expect the same from anyone else that borrowed any of my junk :)

You dont have any junk anyone wants to borrow :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

:D :D :D

at least you werent towing it with that ol :rainbow: tacoma. jiMMy

While you are working on it add some bumpstops to the center pivot where the springs attach. There should have been one there to make sure the shackle could not hit the frame. That is what cause the collapse more than the weight. I have used a similar trailer to tow a New Holland skid loader and I had DOUBLE the weight limit on it. No problems at all.

Hey, Keith -- if I loan you my trailer can you make it into a beaver tail too? :flipoff2:

What were you doing, jumping the speedbumps at the mall? :eek:

Randii

Pull the leafs out, a cut up each side with the portaband saw, check the deck with an 8ft level, weld it, gusset it, and it will be stronger than it was.

Originally posted by randii
Hey, Keith -- if I loan you my trailer can you make it into a beaver tail too? :flipoff2:

What were you doing, jumping the speedbumps at the mall? :eek:

Randii

I was haulin yer Mama :p :flipoff2:

Have you got access to some SERIOUS floor anchors? If so, jack stand one end (probably right in front of the tires), chain the bent area down to the anchor, and put a strong bottle jack under the other side (behind the tire?). Jack it up till you have some MOFO tension, then heat it with a rose bud. Make sure you use some plate to spread the force at all 3 locations so you don't wind up with new bends. Continue jacking as necessary. Once it fold comes out (at least most of the way, may need a hammer a bit, check with long straight edge of some sort) reinforce with plate like other have said. This is basically what the guy with the frame machine will do.

Nice. Thanks for the info guys, we'll see how it goes Sat ;)

No serious comments to add, but it does remind me of Fast Times at Ridgmont High.

"My dad's a television repair man. He's got an ultimate set of tools. I can fix it!"-Jeff Spicole


-Jeff Briggs

Makes me glad I went with torsion axles on the one I'm building! I'd love to know what wall thickness they used for the main outside rails. Post it back if you can when you get it all straightened. I'm using .188 on my main 2x4 rails, .120 on the 18" crossmembers.
As mentioned before, you deserve a hand for stepping up to the plate and paying for repairs. Too bad the majority of people out there never do.

Be careful with the torsion axles....need to make sure on the angle up or down...the 188 wall seems light even for your vehicle, assuming you still have the exo toy....the cross pieces should be fine but if you look at Gravely Trailers the usually use 1/4 wall on the flanks for 6k rating....build it yourself cause most of trailer mfgs build them for tractors or cars.....my next one will be built by me......I will sue torrision axles as well since they seem to move better but are different on loading and unloading......

Judging by the picture you already have enough stuff (almost) to fix the kinks in that trailer........

Step 1. unload Jeep from trailer
Step 2. unhook trailer from tow ball but leave chained to truck
Step 3. use winch on Jeep to flip trailer upside down
Step 4. back truck up so hitch is above trailer tongue
Step 5. park Jeep on back side of trailer
Step 6. using two hydraulic jacks jack up trailer so the frame is
bent back the other way.
Step 7. while the frame is upside down and easily accessable Do
as others have mentioned and plate in the kinks..
(this way there is no upside down welding)
Step 8. Flip trailer back over.

Originally posted by CRO
Judging by the picture you already have enough stuff (almost) to fix the kinks in that trailer........

Step 1. unload Jeep from trailer
Step 2. unhook trailer from tow ball but leave chained to truck
Step 3. use winch on Jeep to flip trailer upside down
Step 4. back truck up so hitch is above trailer tongue
Step 5. park Jeep on back side of trailer
Step 6. using two hydraulic jacks jack up trailer so the frame is
bent back the other way.
Step 7. while the frame is upside down and easily accessable Do
as others have mentioned and plate in the kinks..
(this way there is no upside down welding)
Step 8. Flip trailer back over.


:rolleyes: How bout we park a rig on the trailer, hi lift it flat from the rear, and weld some 1/4 inch straps on it? Think it would work?
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OH WAIT!!!!! It DID work ;) Thanks Silly, start to finish one hour :D

SILLY! Silly! Silly! You da man!

pics?

Didnt take any pics. It really turned out to be no big deal. It jacked up easy enough (maybe from the fact the walls of that box steal are like a millionth of an inch :rolleyes: ) and just welded 1/4 inch straps on both rails. Let it down, held great with silly flapmobile on it :)

;)

I'm glad to see you fixed the problem, and fixed it better than it was in the first place. This is the story of my life, I borrow something from my buddies and it always fawks up in me. Usually from where they just patched it up from the last time. I always fix or replace what I tear up or what tears up when it's in mine possesion. I just wish more people would do the right thing. better yet maybe I need get some different buds:flipoff2:

New to this site. Found thread when googleing how to fix a trailer a friend borrowed and returned fawked. Good to see some people make amends for their mistakes. Found info very useful. I'm sistering my outside frames as a matter of precausion. Got a 93 wranger gettin ready to do some cubic replacement therapy on. Time for the old girl to grow some legs. Thanks again hope to see some of you on the trails soon. Billy

Holy dead thread batman.:eek:

New to this site.

Yeah, we can tell.

:shaking::shaking::shaking: