HELP - Cracked A-Frame

[Silverflames]

It's hard to tell for the pic, but it does not look that bad. A good welder could replace the bad sections in a half of a day. What is going to cost you is the labor. But it is well worth it.

I second the call for cleaning all the rest of it up and hitting it with por 15. You want to "try" to keep that rust in check.

Good luck!

[RM66caravel]

Another opinion, straight bolts and tack weld will be the best method as u bolts or channel bolts can shift if not used just right. It does however look repairable for a professional welder. Patches are temporary and may get you home but will fail again and should never be a permanent solution! New frame is my sug!
Cliff

[perryg114]

I think he is wanting to patch to get home or to a place where he can do the job right. The U-bolts would be in addition to the through bolts just to keep it from shifting at all.

Perry

[DmcrtcTrvlrs]

Originally Posted by RM66caravel

Another opinion, straight bolts and tack weld will be the best method as u bolts or channel bolts can shift if not used just right. It does however look repairable for a professional welder. Patches are temporary and may get you home but will fail again and should never be a permanent solution! New frame is my sug!
Cliff

Yes, this is just a patch to get us to Dallas, where we're going to meet up with Paul Mayeux (62 Overlander) of A&P Vintage Trailer Works. He's going to help me get this straightened out permanently.

[RM66caravel]

Awesome May the patch help you travel safe and the repairs be less expensive then you think!
Cliff

[Antique Pedaler]

Originally Posted by DmcrtcTrvlrs

Yes, this is just a patch to get us to Dallas, where we're going to meet up with Paul Mayeux (62 Overlander) of A&P Vintage Trailer Works. He's going to help me get this straightened out permanently.

Get it to Paul!

[DKB_SATX]

You'll be in very good hands with Paul.

[DmcrtcTrvlrs]

Okay gang,

Just wrapped things up. It's all done. As done as it can be at least for now. Here's how it went:

The finished piece from the fabricator:


Fits like a glove:


Now how the heck does cutting oil work?


Here goes nothin':


One of 6 done:


Got a little rambunctious with the last one:


Throw some Loc-Tite on the locking nuts:


All bolted together:


Clothes put back on:


I haven't towed it anywhere yet. The A-Frame definitely shifted a little bit as I put the tongue jack back down and took it off the jack stands, but I think that's just because of the tolerance in the holes I drilled. We'll be doing a short lap around the block tomorrow to check things out. In any case, it's definitely in better shape than it was before.

We've got 3 days of driving to get to Dallas and then we'll be in Paul's territory and ready for the permanent fix, which we'll tackle after the New Year. I'll post here once that process starts. Thanks again y'all.

[perryg114]

Good luck. If all you saw in BAMA was Birmingham you missed alot. The NE part of the state is real pretty and has some nice parks. I have to admit the lower part of the state is rather ho hum.

Perry

[rideair]

It's been 2 1/2 months since he headed out for TX, did you ever make? get the trailer fixed correctly? Have not seen any updates to your traveling webpage.

Enjoy,

[DmcrtcTrvlrs]

Originally Posted by rideair

It's been 2 1/2 months since he headed out for TX, did you ever make? get the trailer fixed correctly? Have not seen any updates to your traveling webpage.

Enjoy,

Yes! We took her to Paul at A&P Vintage Trailer Works outside of Ft. Worth and he was able to sort of re-create a (much better) welded version of my bolt-on patch. He cut out most of the corroded steel and replaced the bottom edge of that part of the A-frame. He replaced some of the forward outriggers and coated everything in POR-15, so it should be set for a good while.

He also helped us out with some brake problems and set us up with a new front step, along with tons of sage advice on other projects I have on the docket. On top of all that, Paul (along with his wife) is just a genuinely nice person.

I didn't get any photos of the job in progress, but here are some I just shot.

[LiLNomad]

I was on their site last nite also wondering the same thing.