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Thread: Trailer becomes a frame machine

  1. #1
    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
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    Trailer becomes a frame machine

    Most have seen pictures of several of the trailers I have built over the years.
    This one I made about 20 years ago for a guy but it stays with me more than with him. SO half the time I call it mine.
    When Bob the actual owner wants to use it he borrows it from me LOL
    Bob bought this 2007 ranger pickup with some front end damage. Brought it to me to replace the grill and bumper and straighten out the fenders
    Well I found that the frame was bent more then he thought so I decided to use the trailer as a frame machine to straighten the frame
    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180429_143130.jpg1.jpg
    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180429_143139.jpg2.jpg
    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180429_143235.jpg3.jpg
    Here youcan see how much the engine is shoved forward
    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180430_152835.jpg4.jpg
    the momentum shoved the cab forward as well
    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180430_153016.jpg5.jpg
    Shows just how much the engine and trans are shoved forward
    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180502_115628.jpg6.jpg
    I made this clamping plate to assist in torquing the cross-member back like it should be
    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180502_134106.jpg7.jpg
    Right now I have downward pull to torque the cross-member straight
    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180502_140204.jpg8.jpg
    you can tell by the motor mount things are back in alignment here
    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180502_141923.jpg8.jpg
    Chained down in a pull
    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180506_182705.jpg9.jpg

    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180506_182716.jpg10.jpg

    Trailer becomes a frame machine-20180506_182731.jpg11.jpg

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  2. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Frank S For This Useful Post:

    Gregraper33712 (May 9, 2018), NortonDommi (May 8, 2018), PJs (May 9, 2018), Seedtick (May 8, 2018)

  3. #2
    Supporting Member metric_taper's Avatar
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    Interesting to see this done without an expensive tool.
    I tried fixing my car many years ago, but found I was crushing the uni-body sheetmetal. I used the concrete floor of the garage. I didn't have any mishaps because the frame crushed before I could exceed the holding forces of the expanded bolts I inserted in to the floor. They were 5/8" Red-Hat brand. I did worry about them popping out and pulling up big pieces of concrete.
    My trailer is too wimpy for this task. Thanks for posting.

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  4. #3
    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
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    this is what I had a hand in designing then after the company that I worked for sold chassis aligning machine business to another company which after a while wound up in Cp 13 a guy bought all of the inventory then rented from me for a while I built this one for him using the parts he bought so he would have a prototype after he moved to Seattle I don't know what happened to him
    Trailer becomes a frame machine-111yellow-jacket.jpg

    Trailer becomes a frame machine-listing_pic_730588_1392668815.jpeg
    Never try to tell me it can't be done
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    PJs (May 9, 2018)

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    Supporting Member NortonDommi's Avatar
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    So frank S the secret is out as to why you always build with a 500% safety factor!

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    PJs (May 9, 2018)

  8. #5
    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NortonDommi View Post
    So frank S the secret is out as to why you always build with a 500% safety factor!
    Yep I never know how much abuse I might expect from something I build later.
    If I build it strong enough then I can use it as a completely different tool than I designed it for.
    Right now I still have at least 10 tons of force puling in 4 separate directions at once. DO that with any factory made trailer ant it will never go down the road straight again.



    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook
    Never try to tell me it can't be done
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  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Frank S For This Useful Post:

    NortonDommi (May 9, 2018), PJs (May 9, 2018)

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