Still working on reconditioning an equipment trailer- 1980's model
eager beaver 12k rated. It has 6" I beam frame rails. I have the
floor boards removed and have cleaned and primed the frame. Now that
I have it on a flat concrete slab, I can see that there is a 1" high
upward curve in one rail over the front axle. It has a one piece
frame rail all the way from the tongue to the beaver tail,which curves
down about 4' from the rear. The curved I-beam at the back is factory
butt welded to the flat I beam section. To get the hump out of the
flat I beam, I am thinking about notching the humped area all the way
down to the bottom web, and then jacking up behind and in front of the
notch until the rail is flat again, then welding the notch closed.
Since the I beams are factory butt welded, I don't see any problem
with this approach. I also have thought about blocking up the frame
and putting down pressure on the bent area with my excavator bucket.
The excavator weighs 40k lbs, and I am sure that I can bend the rail
downward. I am concerned that if the i beam yields too suddenly, I
could create a worse problem than I have now. Any advice as to which
method is best?
eager beaver 12k rated. It has 6" I beam frame rails. I have the
floor boards removed and have cleaned and primed the frame. Now that
I have it on a flat concrete slab, I can see that there is a 1" high
upward curve in one rail over the front axle. It has a one piece
frame rail all the way from the tongue to the beaver tail,which curves
down about 4' from the rear. The curved I-beam at the back is factory
butt welded to the flat I beam section. To get the hump out of the
flat I beam, I am thinking about notching the humped area all the way
down to the bottom web, and then jacking up behind and in front of the
notch until the rail is flat again, then welding the notch closed.
Since the I beams are factory butt welded, I don't see any problem
with this approach. I also have thought about blocking up the frame
and putting down pressure on the bent area with my excavator bucket.
The excavator weighs 40k lbs, and I am sure that I can bend the rail
downward. I am concerned that if the i beam yields too suddenly, I
could create a worse problem than I have now. Any advice as to which
method is best?