Harbor freight trailer will break and crack over time. ?????

[parnold]

Zach.. the temp that the wheel in your tongue jack was too high!



Sorry, couldn't resist.

I'm thinking I'll start carrying around my infra red thermometer though.. would sure beat scalding your hand testing the hubs.

My only experience so far is with a 20 mile trip with my trailer loaded with the lumber at the start of my project. I felt the hubs with my hand, and couldn't discern any noticeable heat.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Zach.. the temp that the wheel in your tongue jack was too high!

Well played!!

[eamarquardt]

Based upon the temperatures that I saw on paper production equipment I'd suggest that anything over 120F or so should be looked into. IE if it feels just warm to the touch, OK. If it feels hot and it's uncomfortable holding your hand on it, then it's too hot.

Given air is blowing all around the assembly, it shouldn't be hot to the touch or on a hot day that much above ambient temperature (unless you have brakes and have been using them a lot.. We once had a gearbox that ran hot (as in it was uncomfortable to hold your hand on it). We fabricated a fan blade to one of the shafts and it keep it "warm" to the touch.

Cheers,

Gus

[len19070]

These threads can go on an on and on.

Somebody that knows somebody who has a friend who works with a guy that knows my sisters cousin by marriage who's dog goes to the same Vet as my cousin told ME!

Lets have one real first hand story about a HF freight Trailer that flew apart While being used under the Manufactures guidelines.

Lets see some pictures, a few stories, a little Blood...some gore and a little more than an opinion or hearsay.

Let the original guy come forward.

Show what he/she's got.

As I have said before on this and other boards, there are many new people who take the postings of this board as gospel...I realize the original poster did a disclaimer, and I thank him for that, so its not him but..to make unvalidated Scary statements....Like your frame is gonna fall apart unless you replace every part on it is just irresponsible.

And should be debunked as such.

I see so many of these STOP BUILDING OR YOUR GONNA DIE posts posted by people who have no photos of there Trailer in there photo album??? Or who have been in the Planning stage for the last 2-3 years.

Don't get me wrong, Planning is essential. But unless you have done it, anything you can say about it is an opinion.

And Not a Fact!

Yes, Yes after watching The History Channel's "Life after People" everything will disintegrate.

But lets try to keep it to the next 30 or so years.

Follow the HF manufactures guidelines, keep up on normal trailer maintenance...not necessarily provided in the owners manual but easily accessible through this board or through "Common Sense" Don't overload it and you should enjoy many years of service out of the equipment supplied by the Peoples Republic.

Happy Trails

Len

[48Rob]

there are many new people who take the postings of this board as gospel...

Don't get me wrong, Planning is essential. But unless you have done it, anything you can say about it is an opinion.

And Not a Fact!

Common sense should apply to the decision making process of anyone, along with a very healthy dose of RESEARCH to verify that at very least, the majority concurs.

On a given message board, 20% of the answers/posters offer correct, concise info, the rest, while well meaning, and big hearted, may or may not be correct when offering 4th and 5th hand info, and can and often do, pass on completely off the wall, incorrect information as fact...

Research any and all info you are offered.

I know nothing of Harbor freight fames, and thus do not post about them.
I try darn hard to only offer opinions and information on products and procedures that I am very familiar with, and can back up.

If we all do this, 99% of the "I think" and maybe it will work" posts will be replaced with solid useable info new members and old alike can put to use.

Rob

[eamarquardt]

Somebody that knows somebody who has a friend who works with a guy that knows my sisters cousin by marriage who's dog goes to the same Vet as my cousin told ME!
Len

Well said, however:

I bought some calipers from HF. The battery cover keeps falling off. Has NEVER happened to my Mitotoyo. I"ve taped the battery cover on and consider them a bargain.

I bought a wood clamp from HF. It broke the first time I used it.

I bought a die grinder from them. Oiled it. It lasted a few dayz.

I bought some air line couplings from them. They won't interconnect with AMFLO (the std I'm sure they copied) and even between themselves.

I got ahold of a welding set they sell. It leaked. Contacted the factory in Taiwan several times, sent them emails with picture of the part I needed. Called em several times. No help. HF people were of no help. I don't know why they include parts diagrams with some of their stuff. Parts are simply not available for most of what they sell.

Bought some bearing dust caps from them. They don't stay on.

I think QC is a foreign (no pun intended) concept to HF.

As a result I'm selective about what I buy from them! For me the benefits of having good old American iron, is worth the additional cost and work. I realize that for some a HF trailer is the easiest (but by no means the only) approach.

I wouldn't discount the thoughts of us that haven't completed a teardrop. Teardrop experience isn't everything. How about 30 years in industrial maintenance and project management. How bout being able to tig, mig, mill and turn to .0005", turn threads, and fabricate just about anything out of anything aside from a teardrops including SS marine hardware, aluminum marine hardware, and perhaps a dump trailer that has carried 10,000 pounds w/o any stress. I've seen the albums of some others that reflect considerable skills and talent outside teardrop construction.

Every once in a while someone on the forum listens to me (a I'm sure others have the same experince) and I get some positive feedback. That, for me, makes up for the "negative waves" that sometimes flow. Just because we disagree, it doesn't follow (in my mind) that one of us is wrong. It seems as on this (and most likely other forums) offering a different approach to the same task is considered criticism. Not to me.

Cheers,

Gus

[len19070]

Somebody that knows somebody who has a friend who works with a guy that knows my sisters cousin by marriage who's dog goes to the same Vet as my cousin told ME!
Len

Well said, however:

I bought some calipers from HF. The battery cover keeps falling off. Has NEVER happened to my Mitotoyo. I"ve taped the battery cover on and consider them a bargain.

I bought a wood clamp from HF. It broke the first time I used it.

I bought a die grinder from them. Oiled it. It lasted a few dayz.

I bought some air line couplings from them. They won't interconnect with AMFLO (the std I'm sure they copied) and even between themselves.

I got ahold of a welding set they sell. It leaked. Contacted the factory in Taiwan several times, sent them emails with picture of the part I needed. Called em several times. No help. HF people were of no help. I don't know why they include parts diagrams with some of their stuff. Parts are simply not available for most of what they sell.

Bought some bearing dust caps from them. They don't stay on.

I think QC is a foreign (no pun intended) concept to HF.

As a result I'm selective about what I buy from them! For me the benefits of having good old American iron, is worth the additional cost and work. I realize that for some a HF trailer is the easiest (but by no means the only) approach.

I wouldn't discount the thoughts of us that haven't completed a teardrop. Teardrop experience isn't everything. How about 30 years in industrial maintenance and project management. How bout being able to tig, mig, mill and turn to .0005", turn threads, and fabricate just about anything out of anything aside from a teardrops including SS marine hardware, aluminum marine hardware, and perhaps a dump trailer that has carried 10,000 pounds w/o any stress. I've seen the albums of some others that reflect considerable skills and talent outside teardrop construction.

Every once in a while someone on the forum listens to me (a I'm sure others have the same experince) and I get some positive feedback. That, for me, makes up for the "negative waves" that sometimes flow. Just because we disagree, it doesn't follow (in my mind) that one of us is wrong. It seems as on this (and most likely other forums) offering a different approach to the same task is considered criticism. Not to me.

Cheers,

Gus

Point taken

HF sells some real Crap...But so do a lot of other places.


I've bought a Hedge Trimmer and a hand full of other things from Sears that were real POS,

I also have a Sears/Craftsman Tractor and many other things that I am very happy with.

I'm sure the Hedge Trimmer people don't make the Tractors, nor do the Lawnmower people make the Toasters.

I still Shop at Sears.

But What about the Frame You purchased from Harbor Freight??

That's what we're talking about.

How old it?

Is it holding up well?

How many miles is on it?

Has the paint faded like others have reported?

Has it broken in half?

And if so were you using it as recommended?

Anybody...Tell us your personal experience with this product flying apart while running down the road.??

Please.

Anybody, anybody Beuller, Beuller

Happy Trails

Len

[eamarquardt]

Point taken
Len

I still shop at \HF and Sears both, carefully.

I sometimes extrapolate. What happens if a die grinder fails. Not a heck of a lot (I have others). Caliper, not much either (I have others).

If a hub or something on a HF trailer fails, it could be more inconvienent than if more standardized hardware were used. Breaking down away from home is something I try and avoid like the plague.

Murphy (IMHO) was an optomist.

Cheers,

Gus Out!

[Toytaco2]

I have to agree with Len's thought: Where are the 1st hand stories & pics of HF trailers that have blown apart going down the road? That seems like a simple test to me and there seems to be plenty of us pulling them down the Highways. Show us some evidence of them failing in reasonable real world use.

If we see the pics then I'm going to start a thread asking the best way to transfer your TD onto a new frame. Till then, I think I'll go camping this weekend. Hopefully my trailer wont fall apart when I roll over in my sleep.

Mike

[absolutsnwbrdr]

It just so happens that when I pulled the Scuttlebutt (on a HF frame) out of the garage tonight, this happened...



















I survived, but it was close. Thank you all for your concern. I think it had to do with the sunlight shining upon the red paint.

[afreegreek]

Somebody that knows somebody who has a friend who works with a guy that knows my sisters cousin by marriage who's dog goes to the same Vet as my cousin told ME!
Len

I wouldn't discount the thoughts of us that haven't completed a teardrop. Teardrop experience isn't everything. How about 30 years in industrial maintenance and project management. How bout being able to tig, mig, mill and turn to .0005", turn threads, and fabricate just about anything out of anything aside from a teardrops including SS marine hardware, aluminum marine hardware, and perhaps a dump trailer that has carried 10,000 pounds w/o any stress. I've seen the albums of some others that reflect considerable skills and talent outside teardrop construction.

Every once in a while someone on the forum listens to me (a I'm sure others have the same experince) and I get some positive feedback. That, for me, makes up for the "negative waves" that sometimes flow. Just because we disagree, it doesn't follow (in my mind) that one of us is wrong. It seems as on this (and most likely other forums) offering a different approach to the same task is considered criticism. Not to me.

Cheers,

Gus

boy oh boy, you need some serious applause for this comment. seems like a few on this site think building a TD is equal to building the friggin space shuttle when in reality it's not much more than an entry lever project for the do-it yourselfer.

[TwilightLane]

ATTENTION READERS:



The plural of 'anecdote' in NOT 'data'.



Carry on.

[WesGrimes]

seems like a few on this site think building a TD is equal to building the friggin space shuttle when in reality it's not much more than an entry lever project for the do-it yourselfer.

Speak for yourself! Mine was a close second for the X-Prize!

[afreegreek]

seems like a few on this site think building a TD is equal to building the friggin space shuttle when in reality it's not much more than an entry lever project for the do-it yourselfer.

Speak for yourself! Mine was a close second for the X-Prize!

Ya, I saw it passing overhead one night and instantly went into my "duck and cover" mode.. thought it was Iranian by the markings but later found out it was just a 420 flag.

[Larwyn]

Get the bolts tight during assembly, put some real grease in the original wheel bearings and then concentrate on the rest of the build. If the final weight is not more than a couple of hundred pounds over the "rating" the trailer frame will outlast you. On the typical teardrop trailer the frame only functions to provide a means for mounting the axle and connecting the TD to the tow vehicle.

Improperly attaching accessories to the frame could tend to weaken it, but if properly installed things like spare tire racks and receiver tubes for bicycle racks and/or other attachments can actually also serve to strengthen the original design.

Many seem to loose sight of the fact that the teardrop trailer is for recreational purposes. As long as it does not shed parts while traveling up and down the highway, a failure here and there can be easily repaired and is not the "end of the world. Stressing over perfection will rob much of the pleasure and convenience that a TD can provide for some people.

A sad, well known, but never mentioned fact is that in many cases an imported trailer from Harbor Freight is of higher quality than the materials and workmanship on the rest of some amateur home built camping trailers.