Bending Trailer

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Are there any trailer manufacturers in Hampshire that could manufacture a new custom draw bar? Andy

Yes, see post number 14.

Pete

[Hightower]

Sorry Pete, must have missed that one

I'll drop them an email tomorrow and see what they say, I'm hoping for a soloution that I can fit myself.

[jwalker]

Andy, if you're considering a replacement drawbar, since the trailer is a wee bit flimsy, could you have a drawbar which goes right back to the axle rather than having a crossmember? That would give the whole thing a backbone and you would effectively be directly pulling the axle. A box section with a substantial vertical height would help control the vertical flexing.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Andy, if you're considering a replacement drawbar, since the trailer is a wee bit flimsy, could you have a drawbar which goes right back to the axle rather than having a crossmember? That would give the whole thing a backbone and you would effectively be directly pulling the axle. A box section with a substantial vertical height would help control the vertical flexing.

This was my thinking too Jeff.

I was going to install a draw bar that is twice as deep as wide, go back to the axle and have either one or two crossmembers, welded to the drawbar and fixed to the sides in the maner that I've already illustrated in my earlier post. The bottom bolt of the front fixing that already exists was going to go through a bushing that is welded into the drawbar to give strength.

[jwalker]

Unless you need the crossmembers for supporting the boat rollers, you could do without them if using the axle for attachment.

[Hightower]

I want these cross members, it's to take the load off the weak, two fixing bolt clamp where the frame sides come together (shown in the photo), it also is to stiffen up the sides of the frame too.

[Tino]

That looks nasty. Admiral made thousands of trailers. The fault could be with the way the boat is loaded..ie the set up of the trailer axles , Sampson post.

Lots of good suggestions but for your safety and that of other road users i would recommend that you unbolt the offending bent piece of steel and have an expert to build you another one. Adding weight to the front of the trailer will cause it to be incorrectly balanced making it nose heavy. Mind you this can be rectified by moving the Axle forward but this will make the overhang longer making the lever longer so the bending force will get worse. I would also suggest that you ask a boat trailer expert to have a look to see if the axle is set up in the right place to balance the trailer.

I have seen this many times before..roller trailers really need lots more thought.

The steel in the trailer has been very seriously weakened and if not repaired properly your precious boat may overtake you sometime!

Good luck
Tino

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Tino

That looks nasty. Admiral made thousands of trailers. The fault could be with the way the boat is loaded..ie the set up of the trailer axles , Sampson post.

Lots of good suggestions but for your safety and that of other road users i would recommend that you unbolt the offending bent piece of steel and have an expert to build you another one. Adding weight to the front of the trailer will cause it to be incorrectly balanced making it nose heavy. Mind you this can be rectified by moving the Axle forward but this will make the overhang longer making the lever longer so the bending force will get worse. I would also suggest that you ask a boat trailer expert to have a look to see if the axle is set up in the right place to balance the trailer.

I have seen this many times before..roller trailers really need lots more thought.

The steel in the trailer has been very seriously weakened and if not repaired properly your precious boat may overtake you sometime!

Good luck
Tino

Yes, I am planning to get the drawbar professionally made. But I doubt that fitting this drawbar will really have too much effect on nose weight, one thing I could do (and I'll have to do some working out) is to make the drawbar longer so that I can move the axle backwards, thus reducing the lever effect on launch and recovery, however this increases the loaded weight on that area, so I have to be carefull.

[Hightower]

I have spoken to Ge Graff trailers and several other leading makes of boat trailers, they all seem unwilling to help me in this modification, so is there anyone else I could try?

[David G]

Don't know if these people do bespoke work:

http://www.samspeedmarine.com/trailers/severnValley/

Orve.

[Locozodiac]

[QUOTE=Hightower;239392] wonder if you RIBnet peeps could give me some advice please?

Could you post a clearer under picture of the bent ? Is it a even or uneven contour bent shape ?

[Trailer Bloke]

Originally Posted by Hightower

I have spoken to Ge Graff trailers and several other leading makes of boat trailers, they all seem unwilling to help me in this modification, so is there anyone else I could try?

I know of a really good guy in Chichester- Dovetail Trailers, what he doesnt know about boat trailers! Resonably priced too

His number 01243 641658 David Sheen

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by Hightower

I have spoken to Ge Graff trailers and several other leading makes of boat trailers, they all seem unwilling to help me in this modification, so is there anyone else I could try?

if the trailer is plated with a weight and a load weight, will any of this be affected if you make such a modification?

[Top banana]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

if the trailer is plated with a weight and a load weight, will any of this be affected if you make such a modification?

put another way, if the rig was involved in a serious accident then the vehicle inspectorate would go through every thing with a fine tooth combe. and an insurance company shaking its head

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Trailer Bloke

I know of a really good guy in Chichester- Dovetail Trailers, what he doesnt know about boat trailers! Resonably priced too

His number 01243 641658 David Sheen

That's great, I'll give him a ring.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

if the trailer is plated with a weight and a load weight, will any of this be affected if you make such a modification?

Well, it's got to change things I guess, but how do trailer companies arrive at the weight limit in the first place.

This area is obviously a weak area of construction with regard the forces applied to it in an upward direction, however in a downward direction it seems to withstand a greater load otherwise it would have bent after hitting it's first pothole.

I can't see that putting an uprated drawbar on, built of heavier box section and fixed to 6 points as opposed to 3 would be a weaker design and frowned upon by an insurance assessor providing the trailer weight plate hasn't been altered.

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Well, it's got to change things I guess, but how do trailer companies arrive at the weight limit in the first place.

This area is obviously a weak area of construction with regard the forces applied to it in an upward direction, however in a downward direction it seems to withstand a greater load otherwise it would have bent after hitting it's first pothole.

I can't see that putting an uprated drawbar on, built of heavier box section and fixed to 6 points as opposed to 3 would be a weaker design and frowned upon by an insurance assessor providing the trailer weight plate hasn't been altered.

i think the weight is obviously the weight of the trailer

and weight limit might be the limit of the axle minus the trailer weight? not sure....

i would do exactly what you are doing and then check the weights afterwards to see if it makes much difference. not sure how the insurance may view it, you may need to speak with them or someone similar. perhaps have a chat with bedajim and see what he did ref his trailer as he built that one his self

good luck with it and hope you get it sorted relatively cheaply

[RichardB]

Originally Posted by Hightower

I can't see that putting an uprated drawbar on, built of heavier box section and fixed to 6 points as opposed to 3 would be a weaker design and frowned upon by an insurance assessor providing the trailer weight plate hasn't been altered.

It's probably worth while telling your insurance company once you have made the 'repair' (better word to insurance types than a 'modification'). I'd guess your policy required you to inform them of any modifications. There's a good chance that they will just log your repair information but you will then be covered in the event.

If they want more info, then that's a pain but... if they come along after a prang without being told, then they may well use it as cause for not paying up. (Always supposing they can spot the repair of course - presumably no way for them to get original design specs from Admiral now).

Alternatively, have you considered whether you can claim from your insurance for a repair? (No idea about your policy / excess etc.)

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

i think the weight is obviously the weight of the trailer

and weight limit might be the limit of the axle minus the trailer weight? not sure....

i would do exactly what you are doing and then check the weights afterwards to see if it makes much difference. not sure how the insurance may view it, you may need to speak with them or someone similar. perhaps have a chat with bedajim and see what he did ref his trailer as he built that one his self

good luck with it and hope you get it sorted relatively cheaply

Thanks Chris, I thing the weight limit is Gross and Net that inclues figures the load and trailer.

The load is no where near the plated maximum, so provided the Gross weight isn't breached I'll be fine.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by RichardB

It's probably worth while telling your insurance company once you have made the 'repair' (better word to insurance types than a 'modification'). I'd guess your policy required you to inform them of any modifications. There's a good chance that they will just log your repair information but you will then be covered in the event.

If they want more info, then that's a pain but... if they come along after a prang without being told, then they may well use it as cause for not paying up. (Always supposing they can spot the repair of course - presumably no way for them to get original design specs from Admiral now).

Alternatively, have you considered whether you can claim from your insurance for a repair? (No idea about your policy / excess etc.)

Insurance claim might be a possibility, but I'll find out how much the work costs before entering that route as they'll claim it back in lost NCB over the next couple of years if it's only a couple of hundred.