Bolt together frame - working loose ?

[CompoSimmonite]

I've bought a folding trailer (rare in UK) off eBay and reckon its exactly the same the HF 8x4 model other than hitch (50mm) and lights.
Probably made in the same factory
It's going to be kept in standard condition with the camper body being detachable so it can also be used for bike & rubbish hauling.

I can weld the frame but wonder how people who have left it "bolt together" find it has lasted. Do the bolts work loose, too much flexing and such ?

Thanks.

Paul H,
Stoke-on-Trent,
Staffs.,
UK

[Arne]

I welded mine to get rid of the weight of the bolts. If I used bolts, I would use Locktite on the threads.. keep in mind, the trailer floor and body will keep any twisting to a very small amount...

http://www.loctite.com/cps/rde/xchg/henkel_com/hs.xsl/12165_COE_HTML.htm

I'm sure you have something similar available.

[Nobody]

My HF 1740# 'bolt-together' trailer came with 'Ny-Lok' nuts for all the bolts. Have not had any problem with them 'working loose' in near 10K miles.

[CompoSimmonite]

Thanks for confirming as I thought that as long as not "abused" the bolt together method is acceptable.
I've already got commercial grade thread lock so good idea of "belt and braces" using it along with the nyloc nuts.
One of the reasons I am drifting towards keeping bolt together is I can get the sections galvanized for free. A complete frame, however, would be difficult. A friend works for a small galv plant and is night shift foreman. He is allowed to do small jobs like the chassis sections as they can be done at the same time as other thing but larger items only when there is spare capacity. This is all done with permission of plant owners as long as no money changes hands - just me provide tea room with a good stock of biscuits and buy friend a drink

Paul H

[mikeschn]

Nylok nuts worked wonders for us... never came loose yet... (knock on wood).

Mike...

[angib]

This is all done with permission of plant owners as long as no money changes hands - just me provide tea room with a good stock of biscuits and buy friend a drink

It is my belief that all guvvy jobs of this sort should, correctly, be paid for in Jaffa Cakes:



Though I used to work in a factory making (Olympic) racing dinghies and one of our clients was sponsored by a 'healthy' biscuit company and it turned out the lads in the factory were more than happy to see these clients visit, as they left behind a case of biscuits each time....

Andrew

[Nic]

My HF trailer has been great. The bolts have been great and i have towed on some crazy roads. I have been told that if you weld them together you will have better luck on getting a ground for your trailer lights. That's the only problem i have had with my HF trailer.

[Geron]

I have two Nu-Way bolt together trailers (4x8). They have never given me any problems. One is 16 years old and the other 25 maybe 30 years old. They are Made in America and AFAIK no longer available. (Very similar to HF trailers but with SAE Axles/hubs.) The Chinese knockoffs most like put them out of business.

[Scooter]

My HF 1740# 'bolt-together' trailer came with 'Ny-Lok' nuts for all the bolts. Have not had any problem with them 'working loose' in near 10K miles.

Same here. If you're concerned about the wiring as Nic says, buy a handful of lockwashers to put under the nylok nuts. They'll bite through the paint and get good metal-to-metal contact.

[KevinP]

For a little extra insurance if you are using bolts, use red Loctite to hold them in place and/ or use a secondary nut if you can.

[CompoSimmonite]

I was dissapointed that the trailer didn't have washers for under the head of the bolts and nuts.
Looking there wasn't enough unused thread to add washer to the original nuts and bolts either so I've changed them all for M10 items (far cheaper here in UK than 3/8" items) and used heavy washers.
I've also drilled and added fasteners to the previously unbolted cross member faces.
The M10 nylock nuts also seem far better quality than the 3/8" items so I now am 100% happy with the bolt together method of assembly.

I'm now working on a method of "assisted" folding using a small 12v winch as health problems makes physcially folding very difficult for me.

Paul H,
UK.