86 GMC squarebody, my introduction to bodywork.

[Blmpkn]

I got it from Menards, which is kind of the Harbor Freight of construction I suppose. The tongue is a piece of 2X3Xthin rectangular tube, and is bolted between two pieces of angle iron welded across the first two cross braces. So when loaded, it's pulling down on the second cross brace, and pulled the vertical leg of the angle iron apart. I never did like the way that was set up and vowed to change it, but other things always took higher priority. I found the crack when re-wiring the lights and figured I'd better fix it sooner than later. I did notice it welded weird. It was kind of inconsistent and would burn through in places, using my usual settings for 1/8" steel. I wonder if they make them from bed frames?

Yeah your trailer and this trailer are definitely the same lol.

 

[dvdswan]

Curious, what was the weight limit on the trailer?

 

[sgtsandman]

I got it from Menards, which is kind of the Harbor Freight of construction I suppose. The tongue is a piece of 2X3Xthin rectangular tube, and is bolted between two pieces of angle iron welded across the first two cross braces. So when loaded, it's pulling down on the second cross brace, and pulled the vertical leg of the angle iron apart. I never did like the way that was set up and vowed to change it, but other things always took higher priority. I found the crack when re-wiring the lights and figured I'd better fix it sooner than later. I did notice it welded weird. It was kind of inconsistent and would burn through in places, using my usual settings for 1/8" steel. I wonder if they make them from bed frames?

Yeah, Northern Tool sells them too as well as my style of Chinese made trailer. The original tongue wasn’t a very heavy gauge in my opinion, maybe whatever gauge is closest to 1/8” but being slightly heavier and the metal wasn’t a fully enclosed rectangular tube. It had a opening on the bottom that was about 3/4” wide and had occasional reinforcement tab welded in here and there along the length of the “tube”.

 

[Blmpkn]

Curious, what was the weight limit on the trailer?

My buddy thinks it's a 1200 lb trailer. Best I could find for numbers on the trailer is 2k gross.

 

[dvdswan]

and... it couldn't handle 2 axles?

 

[Blmpkn]

and... it couldn't handle 2 axles?

It handled the hour ride home no problem.

The problem was the tounge getting dropped on the ground from 2 feet with 1000 pounds on it lol.

In all honesty... for as flimsy as this thing is built... I'm surprised it didn't fold up worse.

 

[sgtsandman]

My buddy thinks it's a 1200 lb trailer. Best I could find for numbers on the trailer is 2k gross.

I think that might be a little low. My VIN plate says the max weight on mine is #1460 and the max carry rating is either #1,000 or #1,100. I need to look at that again.

When I bought the kit there was an option for a #2,000 axle but I didn’t opt for it at the time. I don’t remember what the max vehicle weight rating for what would be but if mine has a #1,000 axle, yours should be able to carry more than #1,200.

 

[Blmpkn]

I think that might be a little low. My VIN plate says the max weight on mine is #1460 and the max carry rating is either #1,000 or #1,100. I need to look at that again.

When I bought the kit there was an option for a #2,000 axle but I didn’t opt for it at the time. I don’t remember what the max vehicle weight rating for what would be but if mine has a #1,000 axle, yours should be able to carry more than #1,200.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/carry-on-trailer-5-ft-x-8-ft-open-mesh-floor-utility-trailer-5x8sp-gen-1611058?store=1464&cid=Shopping-Google-Organic_Feed-Product-1611058&cid=Shopping-Google-LOB-Local_Feed&utm_medium=Google&utm_source=Shopping&utm_campaign=LOB&utm_content=Local_Feed&gclid=Cj0KCQjw06OTBhC_ARIsAAU1yOX-2DZhr7ka2JVboWSzyLEKwyT0C5cKJvoymN-ctw_6VrnqxS8H-ocaAvlFEALw_wcB

I'm relatively sure this is the same trailer. This says it's a 2k axle and can have 1600lbs plopped on it.

A dana 60 front weighs 550lbs, 14 bolt floater weighs 500. I'm not sure If these weights include brakes or not... but the wheels/tires add a few hundred pounds I'm sure.

Either way, under the 1600lbs.

I'm buying my buddy a damn tounge jack for his new trailer though lol, I know that.

 

[sgtsandman]

Yeah, that was one of the first things I did.

Then loading/stabilizing jacks not long after. Not only do they keep the trailer from tipping when not hooked to a vehicle but make nice jack stands for maintenance tasks that need the weight off the wheels.

 

[dvdswan]

All I know, a floor jack comes in pretty handy in moving the 14 bolt under the truck. Even if you're 17 yo.

 

[Blmpkn]

All I know, a floor jack comes in pretty handy in moving the 14 bolt under the truck. Even if you're 17 yo.

I'm excited for the axles to be under the truck.

Not excited to actually PUT them under the truck though lol. My dirt patch isn't the best shop floor.

 

[dvdswan]

plywood... thick plywood. lol

 

[Blmpkn]

Got in the mail a new set of poly bodymounts, my sheet metal to start fixing the cab, and ordered new bodymount hardware along with a door alignment tool.

Removed the front doghouse with the help of my buddy yesterday, and decided to test out the corroseal on the u-bolt plates for the new rear axle today.

Corroseal application is supposed to be as easy as knocking off loose rust, making sure whatever your putting it on is clean, and then slopping it on. So that's what I did.. quick wire wheeling, wipe with alcohol, and slopped it on.

As they were..

Shined up with the wheel of flying splinters..

Applied..

Drying.

Corroseal is supposed to be a 2-in-1 rust treatment. Converts any rust into a stable substance AND apparently works as a latex based metal sealant. It's ready for a variety of top-coats 24 hours after application all the way out to 30 days. I'm probably going to get some tractor/implement enamel as the top coat.. need to do a bit more googling to see what will work best.

 

[Blmpkn]

Dry to the touch.

Gonna see just how tough it is with a wire wheel once it's good and cured.

 

[Roert42]

Looks like it work a lot better then some of the rust converters I’ve used.