arc weld V nuts and bolts

[kieronriley]

in our boatyard someone has built a yard trailor for there 4 ton boat.
it has two 8inch RSJ,s welded on top of two axels then slung under the RSJ,s are four 6inch channels arc welded at all four points of contact ie two on top and two underneath on each channel,the channels are flat side up to the RSJ,s,some people in the yard say that it isnt safe because it has no nuts and bolts,and that welding is not enough on its own,the welding is of a very good quality and i think it should be used as is,but what do you think,thanks.Kieron

 

[Hitch]

So at each joint, theres about 18inches of weld. I think that perfectly safe! Assuming the weld is of decent quality.

 

[Drains]

Yachties? They don't know anything about welding or metalwork. Tell them to go and polish their windlass or something.

 

[Justme]

Picture?

 

[PTvor]

some people in the yard say that it isnt safe because it has no nuts and bolts,and that welding is not enough on its own,the welding is of a very good quality and i think it should be used as is,but what do you think,thanks.Kieron

They're dead right. 70 years and more of ships, oil rigs and nuclear power stations all more or less glued together with bits of weld. And where's it got us?

Seriously, it must be possible to calculate the likely strength of this thing, as well as the likely strength of the bolts. I'd guess the welded version could take several times 4 tons.

 

[dai]

half inch of weld will hold half a ton

 

[scarecrow]

4 ton wouldn't be a huge wait for that size chassis
the only problem area is where the axles are welded to the chassis as the chassis flexes under load on uneven surfaces it puts stresses on the axles welds
the more rigid the chassis is the more stressed it would put on this joint

 

[kieronriley]

welding axel

hi thanks for your response,now a new complaint has risen its head,
you cant weld rolled steel and cast steel they are two different types of metal and the weld will shatter,this is the view of our yard master who now says its the welds that hold the axel to the RSJ,s that he objects to for the reason i have stated ,what truth is there in this ,again thanks for your help.Kieron

 

[Hitch]

half inch of weld will hold half a ton

Here we go again..... that is no rule of thumb for anything,

 

[Hitch]

What sort of axle is it?
I assume thats where the cast steel bit has come from?

 

[PTvor]

I think it depends on what type the cast steel is and how it was welded.

However, how easy is it to drill and put bolts through? It might make for an easier life.

 

[snowcat]

I finished one of these just last week, The axles I assume are ex lorry steering, which are a forging not cast, quite possible to weld, just a case of knowing what your doing....

The other think about these trailers is they normally move Hadley 50ft at a time at a max of 5mph, the saltwater is normally a destroyer long before the work..

Mr Drains is quite correct most of the guys with these boats know very little about welding or Fab, actually I find most of just bussy bodies with knowt better to do, The trailer I made was cut about twice as not one member of the club could operate a tape..

Post up a few pics and were cast (no pun intended) over the trailer...

 

[Pete.]

Tin-pot dictators - don't you just love 'em

 

[Lewis Medlock]

trailor for there 4 ton boat.
two 8inch RSJ,s slung under the RSJ,s are four 6inch channels

Crikey that's a lot of metal!

For a yard trailer that moves at bu99er all miles per hour I'd say it's plenty.

How many nuts and bolts hold together a three and a half ton Ifor Williams trailer that does eighty miles an hour down the motorway?

To be fair I'm not in any way qualified to say whether or not it's safe but I'd love some photos to decide if I'd be happy if it were mine

All the best, Jim

 

[steeo]

Ifor Williams trailer that does eighty miles an hour down the motorway?

Over here the speed limit is 50mph or 80kms with a trailer.

 

[pedrobedro]

Over here the speed limit is 50mph or 80kms with a trailer.

It is here too, unless you are on the motorway or a 70 limit dual carriageway when it goes up to 60mph You are not allowed in the outside lane on motorway with a trailer either no matter how small, something quite a few drivers seem to forget. If it keeps them quiet tell them to drill a few holes and stick bolts through.

 

[scarecrow]

Crikey that's a lot of metal!

For a yard trailer that moves at bu99er all miles per hour I'd say it's plenty.

How many nuts and bolts hold together a three and a half ton Ifor Williams trailer that does eighty miles an hour down the motorway?

To be fair I'm not in any way qualified to say whether or not it's safe but I'd love some photos to decide if I'd be happy if it were mine

All the best, Jim

there would usually be 8 I have replaced a few for people and you should see the state of them probably not much more than the width of a pencil left

most agricultural trailers have the axles welded on it is easy enough to stop them flexing on this weld by plating up the channel or i beam for a short distance past the welded joint