Axle Problem

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Postby Jim Marshall » Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:09 pm

Now I am looking at the Generic Benroy plans but my sides are not 3/4 plywood. here is one of my sides glued up. It is 1 1/2 inch thick.

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Where do ya'll suggest that I look in the forum for some information about attaching sides like I have to the floor?
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Postby Jim Marshall » Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:26 pm

I did a search and found the information I was looking for to attach the walls to the floor. Man I love this forum!!! I am one happy camper now. :thumbsup:
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Postby mikeschn » Sun Jan 29, 2006 7:05 pm

Jim,

As you already found out, you'll attach them the same way as with 3/4" sides. Just use longer galvanized drywall screws...

Looking good there... any idea what the sides weigh as shown?

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Postby Denny Unfried » Sun Jan 29, 2006 7:39 pm

Jim, in my 45 years experience in the truck/trailer business it won't make any difference at all. If your trailer was 50' long it might dog-leg somewhat but for such a short trailer you won't even notice and I would suggest to just continue on with your build.

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Postby mikeschn » Sun Jan 29, 2006 7:46 pm

My very first trailer was the HF 4x8 underneath my first benroy. The difference from one side to the other was 1/4". I certainly didn't plan it that way, and I was in shock once I found out. But it tracked wonderful on the highway, and never caused a moment's grief. So I wouldn't worry about it.

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Postby Jim Marshall » Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:32 am

Mike, I don't know what the sides weigh but I will let you know tomorrow. I also found out several other things that will make our build a lot easier, thanks to the information on the forum. : :D :

Thanks Denny, I appreciate that. :D
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Postby critter » Thu Feb 02, 2006 7:41 pm

hey jim,
i can tell you probbaly what happened.you see when you weld tubing together you have to spot weld ever 1 1/2 in to keep it from wracking because when you heat it up that much in one spot it gotta move.i discovered this on another project,try this weld 2 20pieces of angle in a 90 clamped in square possion then check them with a laser mine were of 1in on the far end.thats what spot welding is for.i hope this helps.
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Postby Jim Marshall » Thu Feb 02, 2006 8:23 pm

Critter, thanks for the information. I don't know much about welding as you can tell. I didn't know that welding that long of a strip would change anything but I learned something this time. Have gone on and got our tear started. I am at the point now of thinking about the cabinets. I have all the spars in place and I am wrestling with the notch for the hatch again. I had a plan for the notch but I got busy and forgot about it. Now I will have to saw out the notch or build everything up 3/8 inch.
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Postby Chuck Craven » Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:19 pm

If you don’t do any thing and leave it as is. The trailer will dog track by less than one inch. Most full size vans GM, Ford, Dodge will dog track by 2” to 4” and you will never feel the difference when driving. Just looks goofy going down the road from behind.
Tires will not ware any different that if it was in perfect alignment.
Remember that the trailer is a three-point connection to the road and it will track behind your tow vehicle no matter how out of alignment it is. With a slight dog tracking there will be no difference in stopping. If it has a large dog track then the trailer will pull to one side when heavy stopping is done. That could be a problem like jackknifing the trailer or pushing the tow vehicles rear to one side. But with the small amount you have in alignment you should have no problem. You can make up any difference with the tong alignment. Just measures from the center of each hub to the center of the hitch, both sides are the same you are good to go.
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Postby Jim Marshall » Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:15 pm

Thanks Chuck, I am sorry to be so long to respond to your post. That is some great information and I do appreciate it a bunch. :)
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