Pup Hitch

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During our last snow storm, the pup decided to race the tractor trailer and almost won.  So I cut it all apart, realigned it and started piecing it back together.  The main frame of the hitch was better than 3 inches out of true. You can see this on the last piece of angle that I cut loose.  I spliced some 2x4x1/4 rec tube back in the frame and plan on beefing up my weld points.  (taking a break).. I've been at it for about 4 hours so far and am pretty sure it will be 4 more to finish it. Attached ImagesCommon sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:im really confused...  your saying that your dog tried to run after a tractor trailer so you are modifing the entire rig?
Reply:Pup=the short trailer with the dolly that tried to outrun the first trailer, hence the bent metal.
Reply:Pup trailer around here usually stands for two smaller trailers equalling 40-48 ft in length total.   Looks like the second trailer wanted to be first.Come try it out and stay a while.
Reply:This one is about 35' long all togther.  And the tractor trailer is full length..  I managed to get the rest of the angles in, along with the doublers.  Looks like I'll be pulling a sunday shift.  Man, we need more help around here. It was hauling molasses.  That could have been a sticky cleanup on the freeway.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:hahahaha...    sorry
Reply:I dont get it... With all the people laid off around here, only the inexperienced are applying.  We could use two more fabricators.  It's wearing me a little thin.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:How did you tram the centerline on the hitch?"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:dont worry,,  i wont be applying..   id try to weld your dog to the trailer and call it a day..
Reply:probably do it with dog rod,  id try 3/32 at 75 amps...a little hotter if it hadnt been stored right...
Reply:When I tested for my class A, I intentionally skipped the doubles and triples endorsement.Those things are just plain scary.
Reply:I cut the angle loose and used a pipe clamp on the end to pull the tube together.  Then I measured off the bushings forward 8' and made a mark.  I measured off the bolts on the bushings cross wise to my marks until it came out the same.  That got me true to the dolly so I tacked a plate to the top of the tubes to keep it square.  I grabbed the prepped eye assembly, lined it up with the tubes and ran a stringline right down the center.  I had to do a little trimming of the tubes to get it inline with the framework. Attached ImagesCommon sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:First, I want to say how proud of myself I am.. I backed into it, first try. And here is a photo of it finished as far as I could.  It turns out that we dont have enough expanded metal to finish the job, so he will have to wait until a later time. Attached ImagesCommon sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:And one more thing: I had to repair the aluminum ladder on the big tank.  We had repaired it before by inserting a smaller pipe inside, bolting it and rewelding the broken pipe.  But that broke again.  So this time I cut up the side of the plates so I could spice in new pipe on something a bit stronger.  I managed to reuse the old steps.  It was a pretty fast job at about 45 minutes.  I welded it with a powermig 300 and a cobra prince extra light push-pull gun. Attached ImagesCommon sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:That is so slick. I have wanted a Cobra gun for the longest time now. I want to build the baddest party barge on this side of the river. Looks like that powermig and cobra is a nice way to go.Nice job too!!!!Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Wow, that's some big stuff. Thanks for posting the pics. And the diagram to Samm's question. I don't get to see things like that.Looks like you welded that alum downhill. Does that setup run so hot that you can treat it like 6013 on sheetmetal?   My question is because 7018 is mostly uphill.FWIW: Just a hobby guy, can't stick weld out of position and I read too much. But I'm fascinated with anything aluminum and all metal fab. Desk work was easy but it left a big void in my brain.  If you were closer, I'd hand you tools just to learn 'stuff'. 9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Thanks for the reply Brainfarth.  You used the diagonals to square.  No crap hangin' off stuff, lines running everywhere, and other BS, just pure math, and smarts.  Really nice.Hope you find your guys to work"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:You do want to run a little hotter for the downhills.  That is a pretty common way of running aluminum mig.  Just take a peek at any aluminum tanker trucks running around(I used to work for beall and built many of them).Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:Thanks, I'll have a look. 9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250