Springs!

[Frank Acampora]

What brilliant engineer at E Z loader had the idea to use aluminum spring hangers?



Now I don't trust using this trailer until I replace them with real steel hangers. I wish I had seen this BEFORE I put the boat on the trailer.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Springs!

PRobably the engineer they stole from Shoreland'r, that decided to have the entire weight of the back half of the boat, supported by just 1 bolt on each side.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Springs!

You sure that's aluminum? Looks like galvanized steel.

 

[Noltz]

Re: Springs!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with using a single bolt. Darn near every pickup truck built from 1940-2000 is built this way.
. Most are still built this way.

What's wrong is the bolt is loose, and it's not a shouldered bolt nor does it have a proper washer to spread the load. As a result it's been peened to death. I also think Bruce is right, and that's galvanized steel. You can use a magnet to check - magnets won't stick to aluminum.

Those hangers can be cut off and replaced pretty easily. Even with the boat on it, just jack it up and torch them off. Quick grind and weld on the new ones (assuming steel trailer). Only question is if the bolt will come out of the steel sleeve in the spring bushing. Having built a few leaf-sprung jeeps with the same setup, once the rust sets in they get pretty stubborn.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Springs!

Nope! What you are seeing is corroded aluminum, not galvanized. The hangers are definitely aluminum as is the whole under frame that carries the springs, axle, and aluminum fenders. Strangely enough, the main frame members are all galvanized square tube.

The bolt has peened the hole enlarged to the size of the bolt head. It was probably tight to begin with but from the working and peening the hole, it became progressively looser.

It is an easy fix because the hangers are bolted to the frame, not welded and the bolts are 3/8 steel. If they give me too much trouble I will simply tighten them until they snap off.

So, I'm going to buy or make two new hangers, and a couple of grade 8 bolts for the spring eyes. Maybe new bushings too. After all, I got the trailer for nothing and investing a few bucks simply won't hurt.

While the trailer is probably still safe for towing, now that I have identified a problem it just makes sense to fix it--before it does leave me on the road. As I said above, I wish I had seen it before I mounted the boat. I could have fixed it with less fuss.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Springs!

Nope! What you are seeing is corroded aluminum, not galvanized.

Must be the rust dripping down from the bolt. Was thinking that rust was from the bracket.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Springs!

Looks like they just bolt on, shouldn't be a big deal to replace them with steel.

 

[Noltz]

Re: Springs!

Yep, looking at your picture now on a bigger screen and I see it now. Oldjeep made a good catch there and those hangers are bolted on from the looks of things. Should simplify the replacement at least.