Dismantling and reassembling a trailer

[DJL]

Does anyone have any experience of dismantling and reassembling trailers? It looks straight forward but wondering if getting everything square and balanced again is problematic.

I'm trying to solve a storage problem.

[fast fred]

cable come-a-long, air gun, wenches, tape mesure. should be good.

[mdt]

Originally Posted by DJL

Does anyone have any experience of dismantling and reassembling trailers? It looks straight forward but wondering if getting everything square and balanced again is problematic.

I'm trying to solve a storage problem.

I would suggest marking everything with permanent marker or paint before the dismantling and you should be fine.

Then it is just a case of lining up the marks when you come to sticking it all back together.


Please note I am using the words “just stick it back together” in the same way Haynes say refitting is the reverse of removal.

[Scary Des]

I’d be inclined to buy new bolts, especially ‘u’ bolts which tend to stretch and deform. Depending on how corroded the trailer is the bolt usually are worse and can suffer pit corrosion Des

[Andy Gee]

It's pretty straight forward, but as has been said before mark everything before stripping. Once re-built check all fixings after a bounce down the road as some WILL loosen off.
Cheers
Andy

[Hightower]

All of the above.

1. Mark things if you intend to put em back in the same place.

2. If you've a beam axle the it's got to be 90 deg to drawbar, if you have independent suspension units then it's a bit more involved as you have to align the two units with each other and 90 deg to drawbar. Just common sense stuff.

3. I would tend to replace u bolts with new ones and any other dodgy bolt found.

4. I guess the most tricky thing is getting the rollers set-up for the hull (assuming they're ligned up already). I spent ages getting mine set up properly. But some people I know just load their boat onto any old trailer.

I'm assuming that you want to store your trailer whilst on a mooring?

[bedajim]

I would also take a few pictures before you start

[DJL]

Thanks guys.

Yeah boats on a mooring. The trailer was only used for delivery and is now sitting doing nothing and the only way to get it in the garage is to take it apart.

Roller setup should be ok, as they basically are in two big sections that bolt on to the chassis, so as long as they go back in the same place, all should be ok.

Seen as the U-bolts are pretty much new, do you think its worth replacing every time it gets rebuilt? Could get expensive.

Cheers
Daniel

[eupa]

Why dont you - to save space tip it up on its arse and store vertically? - if you have a high roof.- a big trailer ( twin axles 11 meters long goes to about
500 kgs). Just ensure that when pulling it up - the wheels are blocked and when up ,that it is well attached to a wall .and wont slide down. I often put the trailer near vertically when working on the cables or brakes.

Just be very careful.... Saves a lot of time and screwing around.

Jonathan

[eupa]

Why dont you - to save space tip it up on its arse and store vertically


or for that matter -- on its side- it seems to be about 6 meters, probably weighs in at 200 kgs- take the wheels off and heave it on to its side. Place it along the wall next to the bikes.

Jonathan