Adventures in DIY – The Mechanic's Articles – at Mechanical Elements

National Association of Trailer Manufacturers – Oops?

March 18, 2023 by Mechanic

NATM Trailer Safety Answers

I really thought I was done with posts about safety chains. We have several of them on the site, but I found a video that begs for comment. I really like the video and subject matter – from the Compliance Director of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers. This is a good organization because they … Read The Article

NATM Answers : Are You Trailer Safety Aware?

March 18, 2023 by Mechanic

NATM Trailer Safety Answers

What do you see wrong with the way the safety chains and other trailer safety equipment are set-up in the image? That’s the question we asked in the previous article. The image is a screenshot of a YouTube video by NATM, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers.

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Trailer Aerodynamics

March 10, 2023 by Mechanic

Aerodynamic Trailer Drag

What makes a vehicle slice through the wind easier? How does a trailer fit in the mix? The science is complex, but there are some good concepts of trailer aerodynamics that are important to know. Is there anything I can do to improve my rig?

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Selecting A Crane Winch For Lifting

November 29, 2022 by Mechanic

Which Crane Winch?

There are dozens of ways to lift with a crane. Chain falls are popular. Come-alongs are another common method. There are also a variety of winches – from the hand crank to an electric crane winch for lifting. Is one better than another?

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Laser and Water Jet Cutting for DIY

November 24, 2022November 15, 2022 by Mechanic

DIY with Water Jet Cutting

When thinking about DIY, we normally don’t envision big or expensive machinery to do the job. There are times, however, when it’s really nice to have. There are some really good reasons for Water Jet cutting (or laser cutting), instead of the normal DIY methods.

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Trailer Design – Meeting Your Goals

November 29, 2022September 17, 2022 by Mechanic

Trailer Design Sketch

It looks easy. Trailer design is not like building a rocket, but it’s also not as easy as putting a few pieces of metal together. Good trailer design includes meeting goals and ending up with something that will tow well, and perform to your needs.

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Independent Trailer Suspension – Are You Being Taken For A Ride?

March 11, 2023August 17, 2022 by Mechanic

Independent Trailer Suspension?

I see a lot of comments on websites and hear references once in a while about the wonders of independent trailer suspension. What do you think? Does it deliver on the hype? Or is it a sales hoax? We will look at some video

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Improve Fuel Economy When Towing

June 11, 2022 by Mechanic

Save Money at the Pump

Gas prices are up. Diesel prices are even higher. Since I don’t see those prices changing soon, maybe I can DIY some things to help. Is there any way to improve fuel economy when I’m pulling my trailer?

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Trailer Towing Tips

October 4, 2022April 15, 2022 by Mechanic

Trailer Towing Tips

As we plan and eventually set out for the many adventures this year, let’s plan for a great trip. Here are some good towing tips to make it all go much smoother.

For RV’s or any other trailer, the tips are

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Car Hauler Design – Trailer Research

October 4, 2022February 25, 2022 by Mechanic

Car Hauler Design Research

Prior to starting new plans, we do research to understand the landscape, then look for opportunity to improve and make a better product. That is certainly the case with our upcoming Car Hauler & Equipment Transport Trailer design. New plans are coming soon.

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The Concept of “Strong Enough”

February 11, 2023February 12, 2022 by Mechanic

Is It Strong Enough?

I’m not sure how to categorize this Article. It’s an answer, but more than that. We get questions once in a while something like “My trailer is X long and I want to haul a Y. Is 3 inch angle iron strong enough?”

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Can I Use An Axle-Less Suspension

February 6, 2023February 2, 2022 by Mechanic

Compare Axle-Less

Axle-Less trailers. Yes, that’s a thing, and we get a lot of questions about this unique suspension. Some people ask if it’s any good? Other’s ask if it will work with our trailer plans? Still others ask about using them for tandems? We even get questions about using it

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Trailer Sway – Video Review & Discussion

September 25, 2021 by Mechanic

Trailer Sway Video Review

Understanding Trailer Dynamics like Sway is a really important. If you look for it, there are many articles and some great YouTube videos discussing and demonstrating the many factors and issues.

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Bent Tongue — Judging A Weak Trailer

February 11, 2023July 5, 2021 by Mechanic

Bent Trailer Tongue

When buying a trailer, how can we decide if it’s well built, or just cheap? How do you know if it’s strong or weak? While there are always tale-tale signs, we’ll use this example of a trailer with a bent tongue to illustrate.

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Engineering: Calculate Beam Loading (Intro)

March 4, 2022May 27, 2021 by Mechanic

As a simplistic introduction to beam loading, this article discusses the complications in calculating stresses and deflection. While it’s pretty easy to calculate beam loading for simple theoretical cases, very few beams

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Low Profile Trailer Suspension

June 12, 2021April 2, 2021 by Mechanic

Low & Lean Trailer Suspension

Every once in a while something unique catches my eye. This time it’s a low profile trailer suspension that does much the same as torsion axles — but in a way to allow tandem axle load sharing. As I’ve looked at it more, there are some really interesting advantages

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On The Road – Rattle Traps We Call Trailers

October 28, 2021February 2, 2021 by Mechanic

A Scary Trailer Along The Road

Are you ever scared by what you see in tow rolling along down the highway? I am often surprised at the contraptions that pass for legal. Join me. Let’s make a collection of photos here for a few good laughs — Scary trailers on the road.

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9 Essential Tools For Your DIY Shop

October 28, 2021October 19, 2020 by Mechanic

What Are Your Essential Tools

We’ve been asked many times about “What are the most essential tools for your shop?” Well, that’s a hard question, because frustration and wailing are the result when the right tools are not available.

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Which Welder To Buy?

October 10, 2022July 24, 2020 by Mechanic

Which Welder To Buy?

“I’m looking to build one of your trailers, but I need to know which welder to buy?” or “What type of welder do I need – 110 or 220 volt?” and “What about other projects from your site that may pique my interest?”

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A Tiny House Size Quandary

November 9, 2022June 11, 2020 by Mechanic

Living Tiny In A Bigger Way

OK, so you want to Live Tiny. That’s awesome. What can you do without? What do you really want to have? And how about that claustrophobia?

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