|
|
OK, I've completed my trailer rebuild project. It basically a new trailer, only thing used from the old trailer is the axle and wheels for now. New 3500 lbs axle will be this winter (the current one is only 2000lbs). The trailer is all painted up, decked, and no problems hauling my ATV and the nephews dirt bike. I did miss my target weight of less than 350 lbs for the trailer by about 75lbs. It weighs in at 425 with wood deck. Did not think the wood would weigh as much as it did, but it seems to be a nice solid trailer that tracks true and is very sturdy. It could probably take 3000 lbs with the new axle.Anyways, now it's time for little add ons like places to attach the straps to hold down the atv. I have seen pics of trailers where they just weld on a half loop of steel rod to the side of the frame like an upside down letter "U" or a horseshoe. I would like to do this. I have some 1/2 inch solid bar stock, but have no clue how to bend it neatly. I am stuck with just basic tools, couple of vises, 12 ton hydraulic press, some length of pipe for leverage, etc. How can I bend this stuff uniformly and neatly say in a "U" shape about 3 to 4 inches tall, by about 2 to 3 inches wide? No torches other than propane.I suppose I could heat the metal in the charcoal grill if I had to. Then maybe put it in the vise, use a piece of pipe for leverage and bend it around another piece of pipe? Any simple tricks? I want to make at least 4 of them for now, as I plan on doing some type of side rails on the trailer this winter. I am open to other simple ideas for ways to attach the strap hooks, I don't have a lip along the side rails for the hooks to grab, so it has to be something that I weld on. I like the "U" idea, as I can have them extend above the deck boards a little. Thanks in advance, YD
Reply:1/2 inch is not difficult to bend. You have the tools for the job. Some ingenuity you could use the press for bending. Make a die or bending jig and bend away. It might be easier to bend two 90 degree bends per hook rather than one 180. The jig would be easier to make for 90's. Basically, raise the elevate the material the punch the middle down with your press. You really shouldn't need any heat to get 1/2" round bent. It probably would not be worth the effort because you still need a jig and it would take longer than cold bending. The charcoal grill would do it, though you need a blower under the coals and lots lots lots of charcoal, unless you have real wood charcoal.
Reply:Tapwelder nailed it. That press you've got is waiting to go to work for ya. You can build a temporary receiver jig for the rod lengths to pass through, and a home made punch to do the pushing. The diameter of the punch will dictate the inside radius of the 'U'. Just for numbers a 1" punch will give you a 1" inside radius on your 1/2" stuff for an outside of 2" plus or minus. You won't really need a bedding type receiver die, just two smooth raised rods or edges for your piece to be bent to pass through.
Reply:Thanks for the replies. I ended up using two pieces of pipe and just bending them by hand. It actually came out better than expected. I ended up doing this instead of the press cause I could not find anything that woud hold the bar stock secure enough. Thanks again, YD
Reply:Left over u-bolts from axle swaps work pretty good.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 |
|
发表于 2021-9-1 00:29:46