Ally spine for trailer?

[fisherman]

My trailer has a good axle and suspension, but other bits are going downhill. In the end I intend to make a new spine for it, box section: can I use aluminium? (Given that it fractures rather than bends). It is a light trailer for a 200kg-ish boat.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

It's perfectly possible to heat and bend aluminium without fracturing it.

 

[Plum]

My trailer has a good axle and suspension, but other bits are going downhill. In the end I intend to make a new spine for it, box section: can I use aluminium? (Given that it fractures rather than bends). It is a light trailer for a 200kg-ish boat.

You could but you would need a suitably larger section to obtain the equivalent strength and fatigue resistance of a steel section which will then probably mean you will not be able to use tha same methods to fasten the axle. Unless you can do the calculations suggest you stick with the same existing size steel section and get it hot dip galvanised.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[michael_w]

I used to tow a Soling on an aluminum trailer. All up weight including trailer about 1.75 tons.

 

[Davy_S]

A friend who used to work for British aerospace made a complete Aluminium trailer for a 15ft fishing boat, the boats were tractor launched over the beach, when all normal trailers were rusting away, his remained perfect, much to the annoyance of others, including me!

 

[fisherman]

I need the spine to be rigid, as it supports the overhanging stern of my antique wood 15ft rowing boat.
I have to unhitch the trailer when loading so I don't get the full weight of the boat on the aft end, when the trailer tips forward I hitch up again.
It is overbuilt at the moment for the purpose. I could get away with one axle beam and one spine of suitable size, it all bolts together with U bolts. I suppose if I just buy steel box I can tip oil inside, keep it painted. It's a Snipe breakback, welded fixed. OTOH maybe it needs three axle beams....I was wanting to lose some weight.