[Stonehenge]

While helping the guys finish up a project yesterday I noticed something that made my heart sink to my stomach - one of my guys had jacked our trailer. The pic is below.

It needs to get repaired - should I take it to a welding shop, have them break the welds, heat and straighten the metal, then re-weld? What are my repair options for something like this?

...on a side note, I'm kinda wishing I had ordered the new axles for our old trailer back when I started that thread....sure could come in handy now....

[Bill Schwab]

Jeff:

It appears the frame is made from channel iron am I correct? Nonetheless, if the brake cylinder is removed, you could cut the frame, or heat it and straighten it out, then and add an insert over the bend to weld on. If it is a recatngular tubing type frame, get about a foot of the inside diameter of the rails, cut it, insert the tubing, then weld it back together. Use 7013 rod at about 110 amps, or a good 220v wire feed and you should get pleanty of penetration. Another thing you may be able to do....Remove the brake and wiring, then take a porta power agaisnt the good rail, heat the bent rail and when it turns cherry red, crank up the ram and you should be able to push the frame back in place.

For long term usage....Since you probably have more than one guy on your crews, make it a company policy that any backing and the riders are required to get out of the vehicle and spot for the driver. They should have been able to stop him before this thing got bent that tight. If you have an issue after you place that policy, written warning first time, second time, agree in writing to pay the repair or adios. This was just a bone headed play that could have easily been avoided.

[Pelican]

It can be straightened both as you suggest and Bill as well, but any repair will have to include reinforcing the repaired area. The metal has been stretched and will be stretched again in repair, thus weakening it. Some 3/8" flat stock welded as gussets will stregthen it and lend integrity.