aluminum boat trailer repair

[ryanjones2150]

Had a guy drop off an aluminum boat trailer in need of some repair. I called the manufacturer of the trailer to find out what alloy they use to make the trailers. Would it surprise anyone to hear that the folks I talked to had no clue what grade of aluminum they use to build these things?

Might as well be asking for Jimmy Hoffa's current whereabouts.

Any guess on what alloy is normally used to fab these trailers and recommended filler metal?

Gracias.

[H80N]

Had a guy drop off an aluminum boat trailer in need of some repair. I called the manufacturer of the trailer to find out what alloy they use to make the trailers. Would it surprise anyone to hear that the folks I talked to had no clue what grade of aluminum they use to build these things?

Might as well be asking for Jimmy Hoffa's current whereabouts.

Any guess on what alloy is normally used to fab these trailers and recommended filler metal?

Gracias.

what brand..??....and model...??

does it have any welded joints...??

or is it all bolted....??

[ryanjones2150]

It's a Back Track trailer model AW20 built in 2012. It's a welded trailer. The guy on the phone told me they use 5052 aluminum for the boats, but couldn't find the info on the trailer. <br />
<br />
The part that's broken is just an upright that runs along side of the boat side walls when you load it. He took it to some trailer place to fix and they just bent it back up. So as soon as the boat touched it the whole thing snapped off. Go figure. You'd think a trailer place would know how much aluminum loves to be bent back and forth. <br />
<br />
The plan is to reattach the mounting arms and add a couple gussets to both the broken and unbroken sides to give it a little more lateral impact strength.

[H80N]

It's a Back Track trailer model AW20 built in 2012. It's a welded trailer. The guy on the phone told me they use 5052 aluminum for the boats, but couldn't find the info on the trailer. <br />
<br />
The part that's broken is just an upright that runs along side of the boat side walls when you load it. He took it to some trailer place to fix and they just bent it back up. So as soon as the boat touched it the whole thing snapped off. Go figure. You'd think a trailer place would know how much aluminum loves to be bent back and forth. <br />
<br />
The plan is to reattach the mounting arms and add a couple gussets to both the broken and unbroken sides to give it a little more lateral impact strength.

Migging or Tigging repair....??

I would probably fall back on 4943 for filler.... 5356 would be my 2nd choice

[ryanjones2150]

I plan to tig it. Give helga a chance to earn her keep. Or move my little htp off the welding bench and use that. <br />
<br />
I suppose I could MIG it. The only MIG I can do is 3/64 5356 through that MM250. But in this case, a large bead profile may actually be a good thing. It might be tough to reach it though, my whip for that is only 10' long.

[ryanjones2150]

I have a little of that sample of 4943 from Galen left, I'll probably swing by the LWS and get a tube of it though. I have zero 5356 at the moment, so I need to resupply anyway.

[WillieB]

Plan ahead. I can't get 4943 locally. Airgas is supposed to be able to get it. With hazardous materials fees, and shipping cost is bad.

Willie

[ryanjones2150]

Every stinking thing I buy at my LWS has $5 "hazmat" fee added. Makes me so dadgum mad! All I'm buying is a pair of gloves!!! $5 please.

[Aeronca41]

Yeah-you don't feel so bad when you're buying a bottle of Acetylene-but gloves? OA goggles? Just nuts.

[ryanjones2150]

I asked them to explain it to me how buying something that has nothing to do with hazmat anything has a $5 hazmat fee added on. They say it's an additional charge for all customers and called it "cost sharing". Do what? I asked them if they sell welding gases to the chemical plants around here, of course they do! Those chemical plants dang sure aren't sharing their profits with me though! Stinkin thievery goin on around here. Like the dadgum government.

[xryan]

Here's my cost sharing, I'd tell them, go screw off and I'll buy everything somewhere else. WTF, a "hazmat" fee?

[ryanjones2150]

Well I have to go pay my hazmat fee. Need to pick up some 5356 tig wire for this boat trailer repair this morning. I may have to turn my LWS into my welding gases only supply.

[piniongear]

Just pass the $5 Hazmat fee on to the trailer owner.
Let him pay it, not you.
Just the cost of being in business, but the LWS is out of bounds in my opinion.

[ryanjones2150]

I brought it up to them again today when I went in there. They say it's standard, just most other places hide it by raising prices, they'd rather be up front about it. Like that's supposed to make it better. But the counter guys cut me enough slack that's it's worth it. It pays to be nice to your parts house guys.

[xryan]

They say it's standard, just most other places hide it by raising prices, they'd rather be up front about it.

Others hide it? Ha that's funny and COMPLETE BS. Think about it for a minute. You buy a pair of gloves on one invoice and get charged $5 hazmat fee?? There's not even anything hazardous. You buy a pair of gloves and 1 bottle of acetylene and (theoretically a hazardous material) and get charged $5 on the invoice....It's an invoice charge to pad the bottom line. Honestly I'd contact your state attorney general, that's complete BS FRAUD. You can bet that's not the only business fraud they involved in. I wonder how much your tanks are actually being "filled" too.