welded vs bolt together

As long as the nuts, bolts and washers are a large
enough diameter to deal with the stresses, they're fine.
The old magic-tilts only had one bolt to hold the trailer to the tongue.

 

Aluminum welds can crack with age.

 

if your dunking it in saltwater make sure the hardware is at the very least galvanized or you'll be back to square one in a few years  btw, have you checked on a ramlin trailer yet? i'm thinking one of those would look sweet sitting under my sled

 

ramlin.com

 

Leaf springs are a cheap spring steel.
Stored outside, condensation and rain cause rust in a few days.
Rinsing with the hose will do the same thing.
I spray with some form of lube to extend their lifespan.
Immersion in salt water accelerates the problem, big time.
Replacement springs aren't very expensive.

http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&source=hp&q=trailer+leaf+springs&oq=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=Rtx9S-LEDJGVtgfzv6ykBQ&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CCgQrQQwAw

 

there are a few anti corrosion sprays on the market, you might try hosing your springs down in one of them they will last longer but like brett says , they are pretty much going to rot out sooner or later and are pretty cheap to replace when they do, good luck and post some pics if you get it

 

3/8" bolt holding on the tounge.  A 3/8-18 bolt has an effective cross sectional surface area of 0.0775 in^2

A grade 8 bolt of 3/8-18 is rated for 120,000 Psi. So 120,000psi* 0.0775= 9,300 Lbs

But keep in mind that there is really two surfaces that are providing this shear strength (the bolt touches the trailer on both sides of the tongue where it goes through, both left and right)

So the real shear strength of a 3/8-18 grade 8 bolt is 18,600 Lbs... Theoretically anyways


Below is taken from http://www.derose.net/steve/resources/engtables/bolts.html

Size  Nominal diameter, Stress Area, Grade, Proof load ksi, Clamp load lbs, Assembly torque( dry ft*lb), Assembly torque (lubricate ft*lb)
Size 5/16"
5/16-18 0.3125 0.0524 2 55 2162 11 8
5/16-18 0.3125 0.0524 5 85 3342 17 13
5/16-18 0.3125 0.0524 8 120 4718 24 18
5/16-18 0.3125 0.0524 9 145 5701 29 22
5/16-24 0.3125 0.0581 2 55 2395 11 8
5/16-24 0.3125 0.0581 5 85 3701 19 14
5/16-24 0.3125 0.0581 8 120 5225 27 20
5/16-24 0.3125 0.0581 9 145 6314 32 24
Size 3/8"
3/8-18 0.3750 0.0775 2 55 3196 19 14
3/8-18 0.3750 0.0775 5 85 4939 30 23
3/8-18 0.3750 0.0775 8 120 6974 43 32
3/8-18 0.3750 0.0775 9 145 8427 52 39
3/8-24 0.3750 0.0878 2 55 3622 22 16
3/8-24 0.3750 0.0878 5 85 5599 34 26
3/8-24 0.3750 0.0878 8 120 7904 49 37
3/8-24 0.3750 0.0878 9 145 9551 59 44

 

Whatever you buy, when it's new, take it home and paint all the raw steel (springs, bolts, etc) with grease. That surface rust will never appear again, and the springs will last almost forever. Cozmolene (sp) is better, but unless you have a military connection, it's not as easy to find as wheel bearing grease.

 

do you have the contact info on the ramlin dealer you spoke to? i am seriously wanting a nicer trailer for my f&f something that will allow it to sit as low in the trailer as possible allowing me an easier launch if that doesnt work out were there any places you spoke to that sold nice aluminum trailers you can recommend ?

 

You might try calling Kevin at Orange County Boatworks (ECC) about a Ramlin. ECC puts them on the Gladesmans. I have a Ramlin and absolutely love it...best trailer made IMO. When I called one time they put me right through to someone in charge that answered all my questions.

Other trailers along that line is the new Continental Custom line and the AmeriTrail trailers.

 

i emailed kevin today and he tried to push me towards the one thats under the inshore special, never mentioned anything about a ramlin even though i specifically asked about one, i'll hit him up again. i agree, the ramlins are bad a$$