cross bars broke on aluminium tandem trailer

[DC20]

Apparently behind the U bolts there was enough corrosion that when I went down a rough road the cross bars broke.
I'm trying to devise a way to fix it where it sits in my yard, although I could try to move it to my garage for a nice flat concrete floor.
I'm thinking of placing a block of wood between the bunk and axles and a floor jack on one end and replace one cross bar at a time.
I could use some input on doing this safe and economical.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: cross bars broke on aluminium tandem trailer

Some jack stands and blocks - take the boat off the trailer where it sits and then fix the trailer.

 

[DC20]

Re: cross bars broke on aluminium tandem trailer

Some jack stands and blocks - take the boat off the trailer where it sits and then fix the trailer.

Unfortunately I don't have enough equipment to jack 3000 plus pounds off the trailer.
I hoping to just leave it on the bunks as the cross bars are bolted on from underneath and I can do the front and then the rear.
Something like this one:
http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/21734/2776475700106184351S600x600Q85.jpg
If I can just support the front of the bunks I can drop the cross bar.
I'm thinking a bottle jack under the front of each bunk.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: cross bars broke on aluminium tandem trailer

You may be able to use a variation of how I used to lift my boat off the trailer.

Lower the trailer jack as low as it will go, or put a jack under it 1st, remove the trailer jack, and use the other jack to drop the tongue to the ground. Your intent is to lower the front which raises the rear of the trailer and the boat. (Make sure the transom straps are removed, and the winch strap.)

Now place the jack stands under the rear of the trailer, or in your case, under the back edge of the boat or bunks if possible, at the highest reach of the stands and the lowest point of the boat or trailer. Block the stands to acheive greater height if needed, and if working in the grass/dirt use 3/4" plywood to provide a stable surface under the legs.

Now raise the front of the trailer as high as you can go, which may require multiple lifts with various jacks combinations. The boat/trailer should rise, and depending where it is supported in the back, the wheels may come off the ground. Now you can put a 4x4 across the bottom of the bunks from side to side supported outside the trailer frame by some sturdy means. (I have made supports from 18" sections of 2x4's laid out in a square pattern, 2 to each level across the ends, alternating each level until I reached the height I needed. Make sure to double nail or double screw each layer to the previous one.) In your case you want the trailer wheels to remain on the ground and only lift the boat.

Now lower the front again and the boat is off the trailer and you can safely work under it.

This is a good method to enable work being done of the axles as well.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: cross bars broke on aluminium tandem trailer

Unfortunately I don't have enough equipment to jack 3000 plus pounds off the trailer.

Have you got enough equipment to get 3000lbs off your body when the trailer splits and drops the boat on you?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: cross bars broke on aluminium tandem trailer

why not drive carefully to the nearest ramp and launch the boat? Then replace the cross bars in the parking lot.

I had my rear cross bar rust through and break like that--it's the only part of the trailer that goes under water.

 

[robert graham]

Re: cross bars broke on aluminium tandem trailer

Maybe you could get a welder/buddy to do a quick weld/patch job just enough to drop the boat at the lake, then you can proceed with a full reinforcement/welding. Seems like you'll need to get the boat off the trailer to do a real good repair? I had a friend with a 29' Sailfish, tandem axle aluminum trailer and it broke at the cross-member right where those U-bolts connected....a lot like yours. His trouble was the U-bolts were the Rounded type and not the Square type needed for Square aluminum channel, so the vibration there sorta ate into that channel and weakened it until it snapped out on the interstate highway! The trailer manufacturer replaced the trailer, but it was a fairly new rig. Good Luck!

 

[DC20]

Re: cross bars broke on aluminium tandem trailer

Found out today if I can find someone to take the boat off the trailer at my house the insurance will pay for the professional service.
Then I can easily fix the trailer myself.
So far I have not been able to find anyone who will do it mobile. Anyone know anyone in Tampa Bay?

Right now I don't have pemission from the Admiral to tow the boat.
Having someone temporarily weld the cross brace might be an option.
Right now I don't feel comfortable with blocking the boat off the trailer.
I did talk to someone who has replaced cross bars and was told the biggest challenge would be keeping the bunks together as the boat will want to push them apart once I loosen things.

 

[robert graham]

Re: cross bars broke on aluminium tandem trailer

Maybe you could bolt a section of Channel Beam across that break enough to take the boat to the lake?....that should be fairly simple to do?....

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: cross bars broke on aluminium tandem trailer

Found out today if I can find someone to take the boat off the trailer at my house the insurance will pay for the professional service.
Then I can easily fix the trailer myself.
So far I have not been able to find anyone who will do it mobile. Anyone know anyone in Tampa Bay?

Right now I don't have pemission from the Admiral to tow the boat.
Having someone temporarily weld the cross brace might be an option.
Right now I don't feel comfortable with blocking the boat off the trailer.
I did talk to someone who has replaced cross bars and was told the biggest challenge would be keeping the bunks together as the boat will want to push them apart once I loosen things.

why do you need permission? man up.

it's not that complicated--if you take the boat off the trailer. it's a big project, and dangerous, if you leave the boat on.

Somehow the boat and trailer got to your house from somewhere else. So go back to the water and launch it, or go to a shop/marina with a sling lift or a dry-stack forklift.

It can't be that hard, where you live.

 

[DC20]

Re: cross bars broke on aluminium tandem trailer

Actually the Insurance company also said, don't tow it, or you won't be covered.
Found a wrecker service that came out and towed it this am to the Marina that insurance will cover.
So now I just need to fix the trailer.