Trailer Coupler

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This trailer has always been too low for the hitches on all 3 trucks.  Instead of redesigning all three bumpers for a receiver hitch, I decided to raise the coupler on the trailer.The coupler was cut/ground off.3/16 plate was added to the bottom of the hitch for the raise.The plate was beveled, and the first pass on one side was run at 115 amps DC+.  The second pass was run on the other side, after grinding the root to assure full penetration, at 125 amps.It gets attached to the trailer tomorrow. Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:As usual, I like a slight oscilation when doing a butt weld, it beats having undercut Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Mini-gooseneck, eh?I think I would have prefered to do lap joints of the plate 'risers' to the Bulldog body, to get some more 'beef' instead of an edge-to-edge butt joint on plate.The bending load on the coupler to the plate risers is going to be trying to unzip or 'peel' those butt joints starting right at the front of the seams.  It just doesn't inspire confidence at a first glance.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseMini-gooseneck, eh?I think I would have prefered to do lap joints of the plate 'risers' to the Bulldog body, to get some more 'beef' instead of an edge-to-edge butt joint on plate.The bending load on the coupler to the plate risers is going to be trying to unzip or 'peel' those butt joints starting right at the front of the seams.  It just doesn't inspire confidence at a first glance.
Reply:If you wanted to make it stronger, you could always weld up some 2x2 steel square tube coming at an angle off of the trailer frame and fit it into the coupler.  That would noticeably increase the strength and you could add as much bracing off of that as you want.--Wintermute"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:In this case, for what Sam's planning to do, probably sufficient.   Especially if only a single axle trailer.   I assume the extension is going to go over the original tongue, not just butt up to it.  I also assume, we are talking about a single axle trailer, not dual axles,   very little sideload on a single axle.   In any case, if I was worried about side-loads I would throw another cross-member or two between the 3/16" extensions, just to take the twist and flex factor out of the equation.  I suspect also, this is a non-issue, I'm sure Samm thought of it already.
Reply:Won't surprise me if you take some flak for this one Samm.If ya need backup just holler!
Reply:Originally Posted by daddyWon't surprise me if you take some flak for this one Samm.If ya need backup just holler!
Reply:Hi,Samm,              I'm impressed with the welding And the pic's, obviously making good use of the new camera.Lincoln SP-170 MigHypertherm powermax 45Lorch T220 AC/DC TigButters FM 215 synergic MigKemppi 180 adaptive mig RULES ARE FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF FOOLS AND THE  GUIDANCE OF WISE MEN.
Reply:Looks good. Are you planning on boxing in the front? A small piece on the nose should stiffen it up and make it look nice.
Reply:Samms stick welds are just so purty! (It'ld be a shame to cover them up!) City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Sorry, Sam, we were posting about the same time yesterday, I see you thought of the stiffeners already ...
Reply:nice work and great stick welding
Reply:Trailer ain't goin' nowhere with that Bulldog still sittin' on the ground Samm!  Got 'er done yet? MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverSamms stick welds are just so purty!
Reply:Get 'er done yet, Sammy?
Reply:Originally Posted by WyoRoyGet 'er done yet, Sammy?
Reply:Very nice welds and fabrication. But...incorporating a step up/down in the trailing component of a towing set up creates a point victim to constant dynamic sheer forces. It also creates constant vertical force when under load, start/stop ..Not a good idea.What rod are you running?Last edited by wagin; 12-04-2010 at 08:09 AM.Reason: more questionMiller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:The way Sam drives nuttin' to worry aboutEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1The way Sam drives nuttin' to worry about
Reply:No Roy its very true...Ed and I have first hand experience with his driving. We got passed by a little old lady with a walker coming out of Burger King in Portland that first day out there, QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:Originally Posted by DDA52No Roy its very true...Ed and I have first hand experience with his driving. We got passed by a little old lady with a walker coming out of Burger King in Portland that first day out there,
Reply:Cows are safe too since they'll probably just get out of the trailer and walk past the TruckEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Out of the trailer?? Heck, Sammy can't even get 'em on the trailer! That mess of bulls of his have 'meal ticket/free lunch' stenciled on his forehead.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammI sorta thought of a lap joint at the outset, but fit issues at the frame pretty much wiped out that idea.  Besides, the full height internal bulkheads, which will stiffen the assembly against side-to-side movement, will add quite a bit of strength to the plate.Besides, I never shy away from butt welds.  If done well they're perfectly serviceable.Also consider the fact that the coupler was originally welded to the frame along the bottom of the original 3/16 plate, and it held together for quite a few years.  I imagine this trailer is at least 10yrs old.Originally Posted by DDA52No Roy its very true...Ed and I have first hand experience with his driving. We got passed by a little old lady with a walker coming out of Burger King in Portland that first day out there,
Reply:Originally Posted by jsfabThanks for the chuckle, Don
Reply:Originally Posted by DDA52 I must admit though, Sam did get that HO Dodge up to the speed limit a couple of times.
Reply:Looking good farmersamm!Sorry, I had to. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-34Fdtg1dI[/ame]You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. Albert Einstein
Reply:Samms " my other car is a Dodge 2...  I love this old Dodge, Samm keeps it in his garage mostly, just for Sunday drives with the gal. Attached ImagesLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Sambo prefers a work rig out there on the prairie. Remember, if she's a rockin', don't come knockin'...
Reply:Ya' know, we are all gonna play Hell when/if Sambo EVER gets his Internet problems sorted out...
Reply:QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Finally back on line  Our internet service providers SUCK around here.The hitch is attachedThe Bulldog hitch never actually matched the "A" frame on the trailer (see pics), and a means of making it solid required a little smoogyingA ledge (1/4 flat) was welded to the frame, then gussets were welded below the ledge to prevent upward/downward movement.The modified coupler was then welded to the ledge.Two internal bulkeads were welded in place to stiffen the whole mess upI had EXTREME trouble with arc blow while using DC rod, and had to grind out some welds and redo them.  It was a nightmare.  I finally finished up with AC rods, and .035 flux core in the LN-25 (the internal bulkheads were flux core welded)This trailer is primarily dedicated to fuel transfer.  The tank holds around 150gal of diesel, and weighs almost 1400lbs when full (fuel 1000+, and tank around 300+).  So far........the trailer hasn't decided to part ways with the truck while going down the highwaymore pics to followEDIT: 1400lb load, not 1100lb load Attached ImagesLast edited by farmersamm; 12-06-2010 at 04:06 PM."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Zee BulkheadsNote the overhead weld on the lower part of the gusset.  This was 7018AC, and it doggone near drove me nuts trying to get a nice looking weld with it.  As it was, I had to live with the results  Switching to wire gave a nicer result, and I wish I'd done it sooner  The wire machine seemed to handle arc blow a lot better, why I don't know. Attached ImagesLast edited by farmersamm; 12-06-2010 at 04:44 PM.Reason: screwed up the pics LOL"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Looks good samm. Gotta love the LN-25. PS: Nice copyright!You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. Albert Einstein
Reply:Ummm, Sam, you do realize that there is such a thing as a drop ball-mount for the receiver hitch, right?    Might have been easier and faster than doing all the cutting and fitting and welding.  http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Ball...all_Mount.aspxor fixed rise/drop ball mounts:http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Ball...all_Mount.aspxNot really faulting the welding, you know.    The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseUmmm, Sam, you do realize that there is such a thing as a drop ball-mount for the receiver hitch, right?    Might have been easier and faster than doing all the cutting and fitting and welding.  http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Ball...all_Mount.aspxor fixed rise/drop ball mounts:http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Ball...all_Mount.aspxNot really faulting the welding, you know.
Reply:I didn't clean the slag/crud offa the welds Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Sam, nary a word in your own defense about the old lady and the walker...what gives?
Reply:Originally Posted by DDA52No Roy its very true...Ed and I have first hand experience with his driving. We got passed by a little old lady with a walker coming out of Burger King in Portland that first day out there,
Reply:............... Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:So Sammy, ya' trying to weasel out of by quoting your alleged 'fear' of havin' gas? C'mon Sam, be the first, maybe only time, ya' ever 'feared' the effects of gas on yourself and others. Try something with just a bit more plausibility...it'll be easier repeating as time goes along. I still see nary a mention of the old gal and her walker...what gives with that?
Reply:Sam, I found you...you didn't find me. You were standing in the non-Okie section, too. And I wasn't wearing camo......the rest is about right. Nothing like carrying an M-4 case thru an airport. I should have just let you get the seatbelt ticket...then we'd see who was doing the whining.Roy, she really did pick up speed coming off that ADA ramp in the sidewalk. QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:SAM & DDA52 this is just to much fun.I haveat this all morning. Thank's for posting.
Reply:SAMM by the way Trailer Coupler Look's good.
Reply:Thank gawd we didn't get stopped-Sam the Okie, drivin' wondering WTF that stupid Ding ding ding wasDon- the Texan inna passenger seatOl' Broccoli, the dood from Los Angeles in the back seat sittin' next to a pile o' weaponsand Sam drivin' 45mph on the Interstate worrying about attracting attentionThe we get to a place that has an elevator........Ding!Sam- "what's that?"Broccoli- "Seat Belt Sam, required on elevators too"Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by DDA52Sam, I found you...you didn't find me. You were standing in the non-Okie section, too. And I wasn't wearing camo......the rest is about right. Nothing like carrying an M-4 case thru an airport. I should have just let you get the seatbelt ticket...then we'd see who was doing the whining.Roy, she really did pick up speed coming off that ADA ramp in the sidewalk.