The Mad Dash collapes at an exit ramp...

[mikeschn]

So we were headed home from a long journey... We pulled off the highway to get some gas... All of a sudden we hear this loud thud behind us. Oh, this can't be good. It wasn't. I jumped out of the car to look, and here is what I saw...



oh sh**...

[greygoos]

Tough break. Hope you guys aren't hurt.

[mikeschn]

A quick view underneath reveals that the tongue welds have broken, and the dual redundant bolts are missing...



Mike...

[mikeschn]

A nice couple comes by and offers to helps. It seems that there is a Menards, just a quarter mile down the road from the exit. So I measure the hole and the bracket width, and it looks like a 1/2 bolt shoved thru the hole should do the trick. So off to Menards we go...

1/2" bolts, washers, nuts, wrenches...

It would have been great if it worked... It didn't. The holes didn't line up...



By this time the police arrived... He turned on his lights, to divert the traffic around us... of course, now the clock is ticking...

[bam1028]

Thats horrible! I hope you guys will be able to get it fixed and back on the the road.

[mikeschn]

So the police said, I'll sit here a while, go get what you need to fix it...

I made a mad dash to Menards, this time with the tow vehicle. I knew I had to get that teardrop off the exit ramp. So my plan was to grab a smaller bolt, with nuts washers, etc... so I could get it through the holes, and get the teardrop into the Menards parking lot...

I guessed that I could get a 1/4" diameter bolt through the holes... So I grabbed lots of 1/4" bolts, washers, nuts,

Got back to the exit ramp and proceeded to do the temporary repair...

Success, the bolts fit thru the hole. We are able to pull around the corner into a vacant lot... But there was no way those little toothpicks were going to get us home...

Then we ran into another snafu...

[mikeschn]

It seems the front brackets are also pulling away from the frame...



Ok, so here's the plan...

Replace the toothpicks with stronger bolts...

Test the front brackets

Limp home...

I sure could use a beer right about now...

[mikeschn]

okay got the bolts on... I seem to recall that the 3/8" bolts are like 4 times stronger than the 1/4" bolts. So I'm comfortable with that part of the frame.



The front brackets seem solid enough...

90 miles to go... We'll drive really really slow... okay, that's about 60 to 65MPH. And the backup plan is to take the side roads home if the highways get uncomfortable...

[mikeschn]

Whew!... It's a couple hours later... we are finally home...



The Mad Dash has been grounded until we figure out what to do about the chassis...

There's a lesson here for all of you, if you choose to accept it...

Mike...

[doug hodder]

Sorry to hear of your event Mike. Glad to hear that no one got injured or hit it. I always get concerned on a trip when I first build a frame and drag it down the road. For what it's worth, If it were me, I'd make a sleeve/tube to fit in that opening where the bolt is exposed to stiffen up that piece so it won't tend to collapse once tightened. Doug

[Philip]

I have seen this happen with the bolt together frame trailers. Every time I have gotten involved with one. I spent quality time with a welder and did away with all the bolts.

The only bolts I use in trailer frame construction is for suspension parts.

Glad the damage was light.

[mikeschn]

Doug,

The sleeve is a good idea, if we keep the existing frame.

Phillip,

I thought it was all welded up good. I guess it wasn't. I remember Kevin Hauser once saying that a good bolt is better than a bad weld, or something like that. He's right.

And when I build my teardrops, I always try to use dual redundant systems. I need to extended that concept to the chassis as well.

And this bracket, it needs to wrap around the top cross member...


Mike...

[S. Heisley]

I have seen this happen with the bolt together frame trailers. Every time I have gotten involved with one. I spent quality time with a welder and did away with all the bolts.

The only bolts I use in trailer frame construction is for suspension parts.

Glad the damage was light.

Bolts aren't the total problem. The welds didn't hold. I like the idea of using a quality welder; though, I would want back-up bolts holding the frame together as well.

A quick view underneath reveals that the tongue welds have broken, and the dual redundant bolts are missing...



Mike...

It seems the front brackets are also pulling away from the frame...



.

Mike, sometimes, you have the worst luck.... So sorry this happened to you.

[S. Heisley]

Is that a Harbor Freight frame?

[mikeschn]

Mike, sometimes, you have the worst luck.... So sorry this happened to you.

Thanks Sharon,

I guess that's what I get for running a forum...

But look at the bright side. I get to tell you guys what not to do!

Seriously though, if anyone can avoid what just happened to me, that'd be good.

Is that a Harbor Freight frame?

It is, although it's been stretched, welded, and apparently some of the bolts have been removed.

Mike...

P.S. Can we conclude that the tongue has to handle the highest loads? and that we should pay extra attention to the tongue?