Quote:
Originally Posted by HighlandR
Thank you Beamishken ! Was starting to believe i was the only one here who thought repairing this for the sib was not a totally stupid idea.
I appreciate every reply and take each persons view into account but reading through the responses it does seem a bit doom and gloom, perhaps I didn't explain in enough detail what i was trying to achieve ! .
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Having read the thread, would I be right in thinking that in summary you have a hitch & an axle connected by two aluminium bent beams, both of which are cracked?
The cross bracing you talk about on the boat trailer is dealt with by the caravan floor in the original design.
I assume you would be fitting bunks or similar to hold the boat up? .......
Quote:
Originally Posted by HighlandR
How about a full length ( from hitch to back ) steel box section A frame welded up, and simply bolted on top of the existing chassis and welded to the axle brackets ?.
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Hows about the "landrover " version: - What you say there, but instead of bolting it to the Ally, just clamp the axle straight on & drill it for the hitch. That will give you a decent solid chassis. Then use the scrap aluminium to form the bunks. - Still no wastage, and you put a single, weldable material on the bit you need to be strong.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HighlandR
the caravan still hadn't fell apart after 15 years, guess that explains why the manufacturer has the steel axle bolted to the ally chassis..
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With a crack like that it was (is) only a matter of time..... Beware just 'coz it was done that way doesn't mean it's right - the crack is the clue! I guess they used lly 'coz its so much lighter.
That sacrificial corrosion would be happening since the first day it saw water. - the difference is you will have that in saline environments even if you don't dunk it.
The thing with cracks is once started they won't stop, and if your axle / suspension is designed to take the weight of a caravan, but only holding the weight of a SIB you are going to see a lot of bouncing, thus speeding up the crack propogation.
Google "Fatigue failure" - The allies lost a lot of liberty ships during WW2 because of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HighlandR
I agree 100% that it would be best to simply go buy a better suited trailer rather than make do with this one - but i don't have much money left to spend on this boat setup, which is why i started the thread.
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When I took delivery of my current Rib the trailer could only have been described as a deathtrap.
I looked at modfying / upgrading it, but very quickly found that the difference in cost between a refurb (which would have included welding) and buying a new one designed to fit the boat was going to be negligible. Like don't go out & burn premix for a couple of trips & save up the difference negligible....
Quote:
Originally Posted by HighlandR
Will keep an eye open for a better trailer within my budget, but for the time being and to get the sib on the water soon as we can before winter, I will work with this current trailer and name it Jeepster 2.
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Marine JetSki JS07 (Southampton) | Used Trailers | Trailer Range | Indespension
Any use? - I believe they can deliver it to your local depot.
Indespension do low cost jetski trailers in bunk or roller format new for about £700 - I had one under my old SR4.
As a final thought.... if this is an old caravan the suspension will be way overrated & the hitch braked. could you use the profits of them & the scrap ally to part fund the replacement unbraked trailer with a suitable load rating? (My laser used to sit on a "generic" snipe dinghy chassis. It spent half it's time behind the car airbourne. The 470 (approx 55Kg heavier) was a better weight match to the suspension & towed like it was part of the car on the same road base.
I can see where you are coming from, but having been there I would say have a serious realistic look at the rebuild - it will probably end up alot more expensive than you think!
