Axle-joining

**glasgowdan** · 26-01-2006, 17:14

The bit that attaches our axle to the main shaft of the trailer seems to be in poor condition and Im wondering whats the easiest way to secure it strongly.

Is it sufficient to buy one of those steel plates with 4 holes, and use 4 u-bolts to bolt it to each shaft respectively?

Or not?

Boat is a 16ft fastliner so quite light

Cheers

D

**scottonjayne** · 26-01-2006, 17:34

you will probally find that either the axle or the frame has a location pin in it,you are better reparing by welding on new brackets,that way you can be sure the axle wont TRAMP

**glasgowdan** · 26-01-2006, 17:43

what sort of brackets do yu mean?

**harpo** · 26-01-2006, 19:25

Originally Posted by glasgowdan

The bit that attaches our axle to the main shaft of the trailer seems to be in poor condition and Im wondering whats the easiest way to secure it strongly.

Is it sufficient to buy one of those steel plates with 4 holes, and use 4 u-bolts to bolt it to each shaft respectively?

Or not?

Boat is a 16ft fastliner so quite light

Cheers

D

put a few pics of your trailor and whats wrong that way you will get the right advice

**glasgowdan** · 26-01-2006, 22:40

Ill not be able to get pics for a while, but have got a picture to show exactly where the join I have to make is... I will take it to assumer there are simply two bars at right angles to each other and have to be joined very strongly... whats the best way?

**Nos4r2** · 26-01-2006, 22:48

Still not really clear Dan-I think the only way to do it will be to post pix of your trailer-where you've circled on that trailer isn't joined to the main centre bar as it's a sprung rather than indespension type trailer-but:-

if you're saying that your main axle beam is bolted on to your main longitudinal beam and your axle beam has indespension units on it then yes, U-bolts and plates will be fine. Using angle iron rather than flat plates will be stronger though-it doesn't bend as easily so the u-bolts won't slacken off.

Does that make sense?

**harpo** · 27-01-2006, 09:10

Originally Posted by glasgowdan

Ill not be able to get pics for a while, but have got a picture to show exactly where the join I have to make is... I will take it to assumer there are simply two bars at right angles to each other and have to be joined very strongly... whats the best way?

if the joint was welded i personaly would grind weld off make sure the metal around the joints are stong enough to take welding if their ok weld back up and also weld some strengthners in if your not happy with joint.if the joint section has gone thin then if you know what your doing you can cut and renew with box new section other than that keep your old trailor as patern buy all the metal you need to make a like trailor and swap all the rollers and other things over. you havend said its bolted at the joint if it is take off u bolts and still make sure the metal is in good condition and get new plate and u bolts (myself i put a spot of weld on where the cross section is to stop axle moving but thats just me personally)

**ChrisP** · 27-01-2006, 09:30

I am not clear on what you are trying to do so I can't help unles you clarify it. With it being safety related I don't want to tell you the wrong thing.

On the subject of welding box section steel on a galvanised trailer. Please have good ventillation as the zinc fumes will give you a stonking headache if you breath them in. Also the zinc gets burned off internally so you need to get some paint in there to stop the box rotting from the inside out. Better, if you can, to use "U" Bolts though I realise in certain circumstances welding is unavoidable.

If you can clariy with a couple of photos and a clearer description of the problem it would help

**steve t** · 27-01-2006, 19:43

zinc fumes will also give you stomach cramps, muscle spasms and uncontrollable shaking, nasty stuff,
cheers steve

**zbigron** · 09-02-2006, 01:48

yep i know what you mean connecting the two crossing parts of the trailor. I have two threaded U-bolts connecting mine. A steel plate must be welded to bottom one (one with the wheels) so that you can bolt it on

can be a bugger to get hold of them though, i got galvanised ones from a plumbing m8.

http://www.championtrailers.com/GAL_BOLTS.htm <<<<<like that

old thread but thought id add my 2p worth