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Originally Posted by NorCal Bambi I also like the idea about using aircraft self locking nuts. In another thread I read that the factory use to just bend over the bolts as a way of locking things together. That would work but it sounds like it would weaken the bolts. My trailer is 45 years old and was still holding together. My desire for pre fitting the shell to the floor before final bolting of the floor was so I could be sure that all bolts and screws were secure before putting the belly pan on. As you have probably seen once the belly pan is wrapped around the C channel there is no way to secure the nuts on the elevator bolts. It seems that extra work early is better that extra work later. |
Don,
Please remember that once you wrap the belly pan sides and corners, the perimeter of the channel, over which the shell has to fit, is going to be substantially bigger.
I made shims out of old belly pan material to test fit the shell over the c-channel.
If youplan on using self locking nuts ( Nylox) you will need 2 people to fasten them. the elevator bolts tend to slip up and spin from the resistive force of the left locking nuts. Somone needs to be up top to push down hard on the elevator bolt heads, to keep the square key seated in teh wood.
An air ratched comes in awfully handy-just don't overtighten. Most of the elevator bolts are weak steel, and will snap off easily.