Chasis 3/16 out of square...

[Keith B]

Just checked the trailer, again..it's 3/16" out of square... I had a buger of a time keeping it square, and well, I didn't do a very good job I guess. Live with it or grind it apart and fix it?

[Nitetimes]

Looks like you're building on top of it. Adjust the would a bit, 3/16 shouldn't be hard to fudge. Much easier than trying to cut the frame and square it. Which in the end could cause more problems.

[halfdome, Danny]

Keith, does your TD body overhang at at the sides & rear? Is the axle out of square too? If you can't compensate with overhangs with a "in square axle" you may need to rework it to make the chassis square. Danny

[Keith B]

Actually the TD is already being built on the floor in the shop so can't do that......dag-nab-it... I coulda swore I had it...

[Keith B]

Neither the axle nor the tonge are on, so I can make it pull straight no problem there but there really isn't any overhang.... in all reality, the steel was $90 so if I have to REDO, then it's not a fortune...sometimes griding and welding can create "more" problems..

[halfdome, Danny]

Keith, I'm no welder, but I'm learning. Could you put a bar clamp ( or two) on the long corners and rack it enough to weld in some gussets to reinforce it in the square position? Is that pushing those welds past their limits? That's what I do when building something in wood that is slightly out of square. Did you sight down the long edges to see if you didn't bow the chassis which would make it appear out of square? Danny

[Keith B]

Hi Danny...The sides are straight and the whole trailer is level. "Racking" steel that's already been "burn" welded is quite difficult without a press, etc, and I don't have one near that big, and actually it'd have to be racked past the point you want because it will tend to flex back; that's the reason tacks and checking are important. I did the tack and it was a little off so I "racked" it straight and burned it in when I should have cut the tacks off, repositioned, retacked and the checked again to burn. What I might try to do is cut the top and bottom welds w/ a 1/16" blade on each side and try to rack it again...w/ a 1/16" out on each side it should square it up.. but easier said than done.... I saw you were learning w/ you new Hobart.. .you'll really enjoy it... I've done a lot of welding, but mostly repair and outdoor furniture, etc., this is my first trailer from scratch...think about buying a hydraulic pipe bender at HF, $70, you can make some great curves and nifty stuff... good x-mas wish list item , I love mine...once you have it you fine many uses for it.

[madjack]

Keith, I'm no welder, but I'm learning. Could you put a bar clamp ( or two) on the long corners and rack it enough to weld in some gussets to reinforce it in the square position? Is that pushing those welds past their limits? That's what I do when building something in wood that is slightly out of square. Did you sight down the long edges to see if you didn't bow the chassis which would make it appear out of square? Danny

Keith, that is good advice...first make sure all the frame members are "flat" and in the same plane...get some help pick up the frame and try "bouncing" it into square...at 3/16th you are very close and any movement at all would probably be enough to live with...good luck...oh yeah, I feel your pain as well........
madjack

[Gage]

"3/16" out of square" So tell me, how did you come up with that, Across from corner to corner? At the stage that you are at, I wouldn't worry about it. Just say aw damn, oh well and keep on building. After all, your not building a Rocketship. Doug Hodder got that covered.

[Gaston]

Hi Keith
no problem. If you measure most trailers you will find most are at least that far out of square or more. If you haven't installed the springs/axle and tounge yet then no sweat, just make sure the tounge and axle are square to each other. the rest of the frame is just to hold things together. If your a real fussy type you can compensate when you mount the "shell" by mounting it sq. to the axle

[halfdome, Danny]

Keith, if your pipe clamps aren't long enough you can gang up several to make the length by hooking the pads together to make a train of clamps, if you know what I mean. It can be done with "F" clamps too. Trying to rack something by pushing it or dropping it on the long corner and hoping it is square doesn't always produce a square project, clamping is the best way. Danny

[Keith B]

Gage...yes, square is checked corner to corner. I know 3/16" isn't much...maybe it's a pride factor and wanting to get it right... and the rocketship comment...that is what a friend of mine said in a round about way.. "you're not building a piano here" , but still... think I'll sleep on it.. thank goodness it's the weekend so if I do tackle the tear apart I have time. If I wouldn't have written this post no-one would probably notice , but I'm my own worst critic. Is there a "Steel God" I could say a few words to tonight?

[Keith B]

My pipe clamps are all threaded on both ends so a coupler makes an infinite lenght That's how I racked it the first time...none the less, grinding is my least favorite thing... kind of like finish sanding or mudding and tapeing...you know...all those jobs we hate to do but provide the best finish...

[Keith B]

Gaston.. "fussy" is one of the NICEST things I've been called... ask the other 1/2 and she probably has another "name" for me

[doug hodder]

After all, your not building a Rocketship. Doug Hodder got that covered.

Gage is right...you're not building a rocketship...and honestly neither am I...3/16 is really nothing to worry about, others opinions may vary...mine is probably closer to the Soviet Space Station Mir...I regularly hide gaps/out of square things like that...that is what trim is made for, and on the frame if it is out of square kitty corner, and you absolutely must do something about it, some creative use of chain and a chain binder, and a 5 foot cheater pipe some extra gussets etc...might just take care of the issue...but I wouldn't sweat it. More headache than it's worth...It'll be fine...I've found that if you get hung up on every little thing on the way to completion that isn't perfect...it'll never get done...sometimes you just need to let it go and go forward....If you don't have a flat table and a jig to build in...the heat could have easily done that from welding...build another, and you could end up with the same thing...but then you'd have 2 frames, and you'll probably build another anyway...Doug