Drilling into trailer frame.

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

I'll be posting pics later tonight when I get done working on the trailer. I should have all the wiring done with the exception of some connections up front. I also have to let the epoxy paint cure around the 2 holes I drilled.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

Probably not doing much painting around the edges of the holes since the entire inside of the tube isn't painted other than making it harder for water to get in under the paint edge right at the hole.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

Probably not doing much painting around the edges of the holes since the entire inside of the tube isn't painted other than making it harder for water to get in under the paint edge right at the hole.

Yeah, but at least I know I tried everything I could. Kind of along the lines of getting the rust off the outside of the trailer. It's what you don't see, but short of having it dipped, there is nothing I could do about it.

 

[Dave5440]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

If you are going to make holes, round holes are WAAAAAAAAAY better than square.

How do you drill a square hole? And if you drilled a round hole and opened it up to square with a die grinder that would elimnate the stress cracks originating from the corners

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

no it wouldn't.... the shape STILL focuses the stress at the corners.... round is stronger specifically BECAUSE it has no corners

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

Well I typed up a response last night with some pics, the little box came up asking me if I wanted to leave the webpage. I said no, and it left killing my update with it.

I went to bed.

Anyway, here are some pics from the holes.

The reality is that in all likelihood I would have been fine drilling into the top between the two side rails. The tongue weight is only 600 -700 pounds so that area is not seeing that much stress. I had not looked at it that way.

But, I decided to drill into the side for a margin of safety. I would rather be safe than sorry and I can use flexible conduit to route the wires up into the tool box.

Nice 1" hole, painted the edge. Gives me a chance to look inside the frame rail. Maybe I won't get this one sandblasted. Maybe it's not worth it with the rust in there.

Selection of crimps and solder sleeves. I use channel lock crimpers for most of my crimps. Works well except on the large heat shrink connectors. With those it damages that shrink wrap so I am looking for 1 more crimper that can do those big ones without damaging the heat shrink.

New LED tail/stop and LED backup light.

I'll finish the wiring today, it will rain tomorrow and I will be heading to the lake next week.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

aren't those heatshrink connectors just the BEST...... btw don't sweat a little scale inside.... look for major pitting before you get too worried

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

aren't those heatshrink connectors just the BEST...... btw don't sweat a little scale inside.... look for major pitting before you get too worried

They are. I cannot believe I used to use the cheap ones on things. Even on a car they are subject to corrosion. Everything these days gets heat shrink connectors or adhesive line shrink wrap. Harbor Freight sells adhesive line shrink wrap the works well. One of the few things that is of quality.

The other key is having a nice heat source to shrink them if doing a lot. I've used lighters, flameless lighters and torches. Now I have a butane powered flameless heat gun. It does a good job shrinking everything without burning them or the wire insulation.

The trailer has a fair amount of surface rust in many places. The only real pitting rust is on the fenders.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

I like useing liquid e tape ove all connections when on a trailer. then use heat shrink. but hey I soder all connections to keep them small.

 

[Silverbullet555]

I used e-tape anywhere I did not feel they were perfect. Since I used duplex cable for most of it I also sealed the end of the duplex so water could not get up into the outer sheath. Just one more step to try to protect everything.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

OK, got all the wires fished through their new openings and did connections for where the trailer brake wire splits in two down each frame rail. All that is left to do is the final connections to the trailer plug and bolt on the coupler.

If mother nature doesn't get up on the wrong side of the bed I will finish that tomorrow and hopefully off to the lake on Monday and/or Tuesday and/or Wednesday. Supposed to have pretty good weather for next week, at least through Thursday.

For those wondering how I ran the wires, here are some pics to show. The box that I mounted is just temporary until the new box gets here. I will use conduit or hose of some kind to protect the wires into the toolbox.

The brake wires would not fit though in their loom so I will be trimming the loom tomorrow or inserting another cable to make room. The final connections on the new tool box will be further forward and on the bottom.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

Here are some shots of the final temporary box.

The permanent box will have fewer holes and they will be done better. I was not concerned about these so I just did them quick so I can get to the lake this week.

 

[JimVa]

Re: Drilling into trailer frame.

May we see a few pictures of the inside of the box?