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16ft Equipment Trailer Repair
I have this old trailer that I used to haul a Yamaha Rhino crossways on the front and a Polaris Ranger Crew on the back back and forth hunting. Well my equipment trailer had something on it so I used this trailer to move my Bobcat. Bad decision. As I loaded the Bobcat it bent the frame on this trailer to the point I just pushed it out in the woods. Well now I need it to load the 12,000lb Lift on.
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The deck boards were already going way down hill. I got to fix this trailer and have it road worthy within a few days.
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Rockin' & Rollin' on the Trailer Today
So I remember what I did I'm leading with pictures. When I showered this evening the rinse water was rust colored!
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I attacked the Decking Boards like I was real mad at them. I used a Saws-all to cut right down the cross members so I could get to the bolts holding the boards down. Last time I did the boards (about 15 years ago) I thru bolted everything. Made it a bit more difficult to strip. I took a couple of picture of the bend in the frame so you can see the damage. I made a mess!
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Loaded all the debris in the pickup for a trip to the dump tomorrow.
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I used the Tractor weight to press the frame down at the bend point best I could then gave the frame the 16# Maul treatment.
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I didn't have any 2 x 3 x 3/16in Angle laying around but had 2 x 2 x 1/4in so I went with that replacing the parts of the frame removed for hauling the 2 UTV's across multiple states. I left in the forward tire pads because they make great steps to get on the trailer. Welded everything out with my trusty Hobert 210 using a spool gun. Makes short work of a steel welding job.
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This is as far as I got today the Needle Gun pictured is 35 years old. I keep it in its original box inside a cabinet under my jig making bench. I descaled most of the frame where the boards lay but have just a bit more to do tomorrow before painting can begin. Dust was getting everywhere so I opened the doors and used the fan to blow all the dust out of the building. With the cold snap on the way I will have to run a heater in the shop so the paint dries.
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Far as I Got This Morning
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I managed to get the frame buffed the rest of the way on the inside. So afterwards I pulled the Jug of Ospho out and went to coating the entire frame that is under the deck. Even running the heater keeping the shop 65 degrees the Ospho is not dry as I write this. After the Ospho was applied off to the dump to get rid of the old boards, then Lowes for paint, then to Jourdan River to catch Crappie for a few hours. A productive day for sure.
Even had enough daylight to put the Citrus trees up.
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Far as I Got By End of Today
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DockShootinJack
He is a work horse
Thank you Sir, I don't sit still.
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Far as I got yesterday was wash all the metal that is under the boards and got a coat of Ospho down with Minerals then rolled a coat of Rustoleum Gray on. I used Gray so I will be sure and paint everything eventually. Friday is Lift moving day so I won't be able to finish it up till the lift is unloaded. I cut all the old wire out and ran 14 gauge marine tinned with in its place.
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I didn't like the way they Mfgr just weaved the wire thru the holes when the wire had no exterior protection. So after taking a Cobalt drill bit and opening all the holes up to 1/2in I ran the main 3 conductor to the wire junction area. Using Convoluted conduit I ran the passenger side light wires strapping the conduit very well in a protected location. Terminating with marine shrink butt connectors, even used a 14-16 to 12-10 step down butt connector for the 3 running light wire termination.
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After fitting the first board I cut the rest and placed them in the trailer ready to square and bolt in tomorrow morning. I had to leave twice today for materials, once to the "Treated Lumber" yard, No Yellow Wood is ever used here. That Yellow Wood treated wood rots here as fast as untreated and the termites think the treatment tastes good, they smoke it. And had to go once for the bolts. 2 different directions. The tongue jack had froze so it took a awhile to free it up and clean the debris out of the shaftway.
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For Lunch today I crusted and baked the Slab I caught that Bon Temps is holding in the picture along with a few smaller fillets. While they were baking I made a sauce with Mushrooms (Don't Look Super Dave!), fresh Garlic, Restaurant Black Pepper (very course ground), cayenne pepper, chicken stock, a white roux, thyme leaves, unsalted butter, and heavy cream. Had 1/2 a bag of seasoned french fries in the air fryer ready right with the fish and sauce. Plating was a pile of fries topped with two jumbo crusted & baked Crappie fillets, smothered in a rich, zippy sauce of chicken stock & heavy cream. Man the recliner looked real inviting after I ate but no rest in the near future for me.
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The Trailer has Left the Building!
Jumped on bolting the boards down as soon as I walked in the shop this morning. Using door frame shims I first work out the reveal of each board as best I can then slide under it with a extra long drill bit to drill all the holes. After bolting the boards down well the shims can be removed leaving a attractive finished job, as best as this trailer can look. :Rofl
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Next was finishing the new wiring, hooking up the lights, testing each circuit with a battery & Test Harness, and making up the trailer connector lead in the front.
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You can see we have Lights!
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Here is a picture of my test rig.
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I always drill and tap a new ground, trying to reuse old stuff just gives a bit of grief when we don't need it.
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I keep Convoluted tubing in stock up to 3/4in diameter. Using it to armor my connector leads makes the whole job a little more durable.
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Got Another Trailer to Customize for Hog Fest
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I've already stripped the decking. I will post a picture of the decking when I get it downloaded to my computer. This trailer is going to be the Wash Station trailer for the BBQ Competitions. Rust removal, priming, and painting of the frame must happen before new decking just like the last one.
