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Australian boat trailer, welded or bent crossmembers?
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Australian boat trailer, welded or bent crossmembers?
Replacing my crossmembers, originals are 3 piece, welded together, also welded to side rails. (5 welds)
Im told by a local trailer manufacturer that welded crossmembers are now not allowed here in australia.
Must be bent only. true or false?
(he wants to sell me new 3 x 3 bent aluminium).
If its true, would my trailer not apply as it was manufactured before these latest design rules?
thanks guys, any comments appreciated. Mark.
That's going to be a tough question for a bunch of yanks to answer.....
The problem with welding is that the material is annealed next to the welds and the strength is diminished. Bending can cause tiny fractures, but the overall strength is better than welding if the bends are not severe.
Im using this forum as there seems to be a lack of trailer forums in oz, also ive noticed quite few lurkers from oz here....
I appreciate expertise on trailers, this forums got it.
Down here we have noticed a change in direction in boat trailer design, seems we copying or importing I beam aluminium boat trailers from US.
Rusty Gal like mine are on there way out.
Any feedback appreciated, even from yanks. Mark.
Here's why I prefer bolted: Unless the weld is 360 degrees around the joint, saltwater will get into the mating area between the frame and the cross member and you can't get it out. I live in Hawaii, and the cost to ship a trailer here is almost as much as the trailer, so we try to make them last. When I get a new trailer, I remove the cross members and coat the mating surfaces with 5200 to seal and bond them. I don't get the salt bloom out of the joints. You can do even better by having any alloy pieces hard anodised.
The photo shows my trailer with anodised bunk supports and you can see the white of the 5200 between the crossmember and the frame rail. I run my bunks crosswise, like a boat cradle. The boat loads much easier and is self centering. It is also far easier to properly rinse both the boat and the trailer.
Here's why I prefer bolted: Unless the weld is 360 degrees around the joint, saltwater will get into the mating area between the frame and the cross member and you can't get it out. I live in Hawaii, and the cost to ship a trailer here is almost as much as the trailer, so we try to make them last. When I get a new trailer, I remove the cross members and coat the mating surfaces with 5200 to seal and bond them. I don't get the salt bloom out of the joints. You can do even better by having any alloy pieces hard anodised.
The photo shows my trailer with anodised bunk supports and you can see the white of the 5200 between the crossmember and the frame rail. I run my bunks crosswise, like a boat cradle. The boat loads much easier and is self centering. It is also far easier to properly rinse both the boat and the trailer.
Here's one of it coming up the ramp. I know putting the bunks on longways is easier, but it makes the trailer harder to rinse and with the whole thing acting like a giant cradle, the boat always lands dead center. If you want to see more, PM me with an email address. I have lots of pictures of the construction I did. The second one is the slider tongue being finished.
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.......Im told by a local trailer manufacturer that welded crossmembers are now not allowed here in australia.
Must be bent only. true or false?
(he wants to sell me new 3 x 3 bent aluminium).
If its true, would my trailer not apply as it was manufactured before these latest design rules?
thanks guys, any comments appreciated. Mark.
I don't think anyone but officials in your country can give you the information you are asking for. Your "local trailer manufacturer" may not know or understand the laws or he may just be trying to sell you his product.
In the USA, this would be covered by state laws. I don't know about your country but whatever organization licenses vehicles should be able to provide accurate information.
Australian boat trailer, welded or bent crossmembers? 
