Reinforced

[Lionelgee]

Hello SLow Members,

Well it took a while - pretty close to 3 days in fact, however my trailer with its ute crane is bigger and stronger than before. Keith (Rover12350) and Paul (Pop058) were present when my then newly installed and professionally "reinforced" trailer floor under the crane base took its first test. While lifting a 2.6 litre Land Rover Series 3 six cylinder engine there was a loud groan and a buckle appeared in the trailer floor. :eek::eek::eek:.

Over the weekend and after work today I took the crane off and ran a series of 3 lengths of 40 by 40 mm with 4 mm thick walls square hollow section which the crane base is bolted on top of. The hollow section is parallel to the width of the trailer bed and lines up under the securing bolts for the crane base. The bolts pass through the crane base and pass through the top layer of reinforcement and through the checker plate floor, then pass through a 50 by 50 mm pieces of parallel lengths of hollow section that runs back along the length of the trailer from the tail gate to a point above the axle. Underneath and across the lengths-ways located hollow section I place three full width lengths of 50 by 50 4 mm thick walled hollow section, which line up with the three parallel length of hollow section located across the width of the trailer and holding the crane base.

All remaining traces of the earlier buckle in the floor from the first trial disappeared as I tightened up the bolts.

Hopefully the trailer will pass its next test - lifting a 2.25 litre diesel engine without any surprises occurring. :)

Kind Regards
Lionel

[pop058]

Hello SLow Members,

Well it took a while - pretty close to 3 days in fact, however my trailer with its ute crane is bigger and stronger than before. Keith (Rover12350) and Paul (Pop058) were present when my then newly installed and professionally "reinforced" trailer floor under the crane base took its first test. While lifting a 2.6 litre Land Rover Series 3 six cylinder engine there was a loud groan and a buckle appeared in the trailer floor. :eek::eek::eek:.

Over the weekend and after work today I took the crane off and ran a series of 3 lengths of 40 by 40 mm with 4 mm thick walls square hollow section which the crane base is bolted on top of. The hollow section is parallel to the width of the trailer bed and lines up under the securing bolts for the crane base. The bolts pass through the crane base and pass through the top layer of reinforcement and through the checker plate floor, then pass through a 50 by 50 mm pieces of parallel lengths of hollow section that runs back along the length of the trailer from the tail gate to a point above the axle. Underneath and across the lengths-ways located hollow section I place three full width lengths of 50 by 50 4 mm thick walled hollow section, which line up with the three parallel length of hollow section located across the width of the trailer and holding the crane base.

All remaining traces of the earlier buckle in the floor from the first trial disappeared as I tightened up the bolts.

Hopefully the trailer will pass its next test - lifting a 2.25 litre diesel engine without any surprises occurring. :)

Kind Regards
Lionel

Must organise that now you mention it :D

[Lionelgee]

Must organise that now you mention it :D


G'day Paul,

The trailer is all ready to roll - I even degreased the floor and have it all nice and clean just waiting to handle a nice oily Land Rover motor. :)

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

On Sunday Paul and I went to pick up a Series 3 Land Rover 2.25 Litre diesel with my reinforced floor MK-II. The crane lifted the engine up and traversed 3/4 of a turn and not a creak or a squeak. No buckling - no wrinkling of the floor - just one smooth sweep. :) Oh yes I nearly forgot :banana::banana::banana:

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

The next thing on the making the trailer better list is a couple of swing movement telescopic trailer stands. I will attach these via the square hollow section that goes under the trailer floor. They will need to be offset so the winding mechanism can clear the trailer body. The adjustable legs will work better on uneven ground.

A tool box welded somewhere so I can securely store all the tie down straps and jacks is planned too. It will give me more room in the tow vehicle for other goodies.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[bobslandies]

Hello All,

The next thing on the making the trailer better list is a couple of swing movement telescopic trailer stands. I will attach these via the square hollow section that goes under the trailer floor. They will need to be offset so the winding mechanism can clear the trailer body. The adjustable legs will work better on uneven ground.

A tool box welded somewhere so I can securely store all the tie down straps and jacks is planned too. It will give me more room in the tow vehicle for other goodies.

Kind Regards
Lionel

Hi Lionel,

These type of adjustable wind-down legs are available in different heights and capacities and you can either fit them up under the chassis or bolt them to a spigot that goes into a rhs tube when necessary (and store them in your lockup box so they don't go walkabout). Having the winder on the adjustable mast seems better and more convenient than the ALKO model that has the winder more towards the pivoting mechanism.

X2 Drop Down Corner Steadies Stabilizer Legs Handle Caravan Camper Trailer | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/X2-DROP-DOWN-CORNER-STEADIES-STABILIZER-LEGS-HANDLE-CARAVAN-CAMPER-TRAILER/170950055950?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D261%26meid%3D1488618705791799253%26pid%3D10 0005%26prg%3D1088%26rk%3D2%26)

Bob

[Lionelgee]

Hi Lionel,

These type of adjustable wind-down legs are available in different heights and capacities and you can either fit them up under the chassis or bolt them to a spigot that goes into a rhs tube when necessary (and store them in your lockup box so they don't go walkabout). Having the winder on the adjustable mast seems better and more convenient than the ALKO model that has the winder more towards the pivoting mechanism.

X2 Drop Down Corner Steadies Stabilizer Legs Handle Caravan Camper Trailer | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/X2-DROP-DOWN-CORNER-STEADIES-STABILIZER-LEGS-HANDLE-CARAVAN-CAMPER-TRAILER/170950055950?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D261%26meid%3D1488618705791799253%26pid%3D10 0005%26prg%3D1088%26rk%3D2%26)

Bob

G'day Bob,

Thank you for the link to the stabiliser legs. They sure look one solid bit of kit don't they.

Kind Regards
Lionel