Over Engineering

[Dan & Julie CO]

I find that there is no need to reinvent the wheel it rolls fine.
In other words learn by others mistakes and all will be well
" Don't make provision for failure"

[angib]

One of the things the over-engineers need to consider is that many of the critical strength issues for trailers are G loads (or acceleration) - typically when one wheel runs over some object in the road.

Now building strong and heavy feels good but the extra weight just increases the G load on the part - so most or all of the extra strength gets used up just supporting the extra weight.

Strong-but-light is the really good way to go.

Andrew

[Sparksalot]

LOL. That's a good one.

I have achieved the trifecta.

To paraphrase a famous quote in engineering.

It's not perfect when nothing can be added.

It's perfect when nothing can be taken away and it still function.

[Larwyn]

One of the things the over-engineers need to consider is that many of the critical strength issues for trailers are G loads (or acceleration) - typically when one wheel runs over some object in the road.

Now building strong and heavy feels good but the extra weight just increases the G load on the part - so most or all of the extra strength gets used up just supporting the extra weight.

Strong-but-light is the really good way to go.

Andrew

Listen closely folks, a true mater has spoken. Andrew is one of the good guys. I have only asked him one question that he never replied to. That one question was; "Just what did Compo Simmonite have in that blasted match box?" I am beginning to think that nobody knows and never will. And that has little or nothing to do with Teardrop Trailers, I reckon.........

[S. Heisley]

I think it's a human frailty to want to over-build. My whole build probably is a little; but my cabin frame..... After weighing my frame, I ended up trimming the frame boards of unnecessary wood in some places, to bring the weight back in line, closer to what it should have been.

[eamarquardt]

My design philosphy: Overkill in moderation.

Just because it looks cool, doesn't mean it is cool. Thinking "outside the box" is good, but there must be a reason "it's always been done this way" and you need to understand why before you do it a different way. Said another way: They can't be as dumb as they appear, I just don't have the "big picture". Usually, they aren't as dumb as they appear!

My thoughts on "rules of thumb": There usually are 4 other digits (unless you have accidenty cut some of them off). Meaning there is always an exception to a "rule of thumb" if you care to look around or don't think it through.

Proper prior planning, prevents piss poor performance.

I've never enjoyed looking at my beautiful paint job from the corner I've just painted myself into.

And finally, I try and tell my boys that it's easier not to screw up in the first place than to fix something you've screwed up because you weren't paying attention when you should have been.

There you have it again: "The World According to Gus".

Cheers,

Gus

[Forrest747]

Growing up on a farm and having one as a hobby you get a sense of what works and what doesnt right away.

I have met several engineers that will design something and then put it to manufacturing or service who is like we cant do this or that test doesnt work or just doesnt work in the real world. When I try to design something or put a setup together I try to look at it from the manufacturing or service point of view. How hard or easy is this going to make thier job.

I have tried to learn from others on this forum, its a great place to work ideas out.

[doug hodder]

When I try to design something or put a setup together I try to look at it from the manufacturing or service point of view.

Thank you! Having built a number of custom pieces of fire fighting equipment for volunteer depts. there is nothing more frustrating or aggravating than an engineer/volunteer on the design crew with an ego. Some can totally dismiss the opinions from the person doing the cut and fit, then complain on the change orders involved down the line. Go figure! Doug

[Forrest747]

Doing the plumbing with the 7 year old and I was having her put on and tighten the hose clamps. Taught her ok when the counter top is on and we have to replace a hose and there is a wall here think about how you are going to want to take off these hose clamps. where is the nut driver going to go. what will be the easiest. Think about the future repair.

[eamarquardt]

My father in law worked at Lockheed. Once they had a very expensive wing spar where a hole had been mislocated by about .020" or so (can't remember exactly but .020" sounds ok), They didn't want to scrap this very expensive part so looked at all the options to repair it and they were all expensive, difficult, and iffy at best. Then someone asked what the hole was for. I was a screwdriver access hole! After they learned that, no one cared (or did it matter) that it was off by .020", ha.

Someone was thinking about serviceablity when they included that hole in the part!

Cheers,

Gus

[kennyrayandersen]

I make my livelihood making things safe, but light-weight (aircraft structural analysis). I really think there is a balance there. Andrews point is well taken – if you add a lot of unnecessary weight there are always consequences and they aren’t all for the better. Engineering is really just the balancing of the requirements, cost, weight, manufacturing, safety and schedule. Everything and I mean everything is a compromise with regard to something. The challenge, for me, is just making it strong enough, without compromising the integrity. Anyone can throw a lot of wood or steel at the problem – the elegance is in creating something simple, light, but serviceable and that does the job. It seems like besides making their second tear wider, the most often mentioned thing that people would change is building lighter. For me a teardrop seems a lot closer to a plane than a house!

[glassice]

one great thing about this site is MR Andrew has take the time and put up so many things I hope he knows he appreciated and so many that jump in and help
For me I seam to for get when my engineers have safed my Co. and pull my hear out of the fire .

[2bits]

To answer the initial question, I think people tend to over engineer the frame, and the walls the most. I think I did well in this area. 3/4" plywood walls, but I am most proud of my frame.

Made out of two 24 foot bars of 2x2 steel. I "engineered" it where the steel mill could do a rough cut right in half (try to keep it simple) so I could get the 4 12 foot pieces home in the back of my truck. I laid out the cuts and got it just like this with the tongue A-frame right back to the axle and had only 4 inches of tube left. I call that Economically engineering!

(Obligatory photo)

[glassice]

2 bits thats one of the cleans frames I seen what wall did you use

[eamarquardt]

To answer the initial question, I think people tend to over engineer the frame, and the walls the most. I think I did well in this area. 3/4" plywood walls, but I am most proud of my frame.

Made out of two 24 foot bars of 2x2 steel. I "engineered" it where the steel mill could do a rough cut right in half (try to keep it simple) so I could get the 4 12 foot pieces home in the back of my truck. I laid out the cuts and got it just like this with the tongue A-frame right back to the axle and had only 4 inches of tube left. I call that Economically engineering!

(Obligatory photo)

Elegant, simply elegant!

Cheers,

Gus