reinforcing a HF trailer

[postalbear51]

Would welding the joints on an HF trailer make it stronger than just using the bolts to put it together? Also would steel plates at the joints help?

[TimJones]

Why???? again with this. Are they coming apart? Isn"t the floor enough of a gusset plate? It will burn up when the bearings go anyway. I too scared to take mine out any more. 4000 miles last year no problems.

[Shadow Catcher]

If the welds were done properly it would make it more rigid but not stronger. Tall buildings built in earthquake country use full penetration welds on the beam to column connection and bolted connections for when the weld fails.
There are not any stories other than a tongue failure of the HF type trailers (only one off road) and I would assume if it was a problem there would be many accounts. Beware of over building.

[Larwyn]

I welded mine, but only because I could do it myself. It was not that much more trouble to run a quick bead at each joint after bolting it together. I doubt that the welds are serving any real purpose but if a bolt should become loose it will likely prevent the trailer from rattling. If you use good bolts and get em good and tight, welding would probably add nothing to the strength of the trailer. At the time I figured that if a bolt fails the weld should hold and if a weld fails the bolt should hold.

If you are not planning to limit out the trailer, it really does not need strengthening. If you are planning to limit out the trailer, it is time to consider a bigger trailer.

[postalbear51]

HF has their #1195 trailer on sale now and I was looking at getting one to start a build. I was just wondering about making it stronger, or was it strong enough on it's own.

[wannabefree]

Going out on a limb here...
Welding the frame will not make it stronger; it will make it more rigid. If you're worried about the bolts falling out, use locktite. If you're worried about metal fatigue, use heavier gauge metal. If you're worried about the metal failing at the bolt hole, well, welding won't help you there. You'll still have a bolt hole.

Just my opinion. I've read a lot of HF threads lately. Not one has indicated his trailer fell apart.

[Emaxx3]

as others have mentioned, don't worry about it. Just bolt the thing together (save yourself and use an impact gun, okay?). Welding if done correctly will improve the rigidity but so wil bolting down the floor.

Jon

[postalbear51]

Thanks for the comments. I'll just bolt it together and was planning on putting on a floor so no problems with ridgidity.

[Larwyn]

Thanks for the comments. I'll just bolt it together and was planning on putting on a floor so no problems with ridgidity.

That sounds like as good a plan as any. Any extra measures you take would be more likely to serve a "confidence level" than any real need.

I think Wanabefree purty much summed it up. Good luck with your build, the trailer will be just fine.