Articles > Mechanics Tips
We can all use Tips for Building, Planning and Fabricating with DIY Projects. Below is a list of articles with insights for success with our plans, details for expediting construction, and general items for success when you do it yourself. If you have something to contribute, please let us know. If you want to see tips on a certain topic, let us know that too. This is the Do-It-Yourself portal, and these Mechanics Tips are for you! Enjoy! – See all the Mechanic’s Posts here.
In the previous articles in our Bolts 101 series, we spoke briefly about Stainless Steel Bolts, but we did not discuss specifics. With typical alloy steel bolts, there are grades (like Grade 5, Grade 8, etc.), but with Stainless Steel, Brass, Plastics and other materials, it is not that simple.
What’s the big deal with Weight in my Trailer? Isn’t Weight just Weight? Yes, I know about tongue weight, but the trailer is made to carry weight. So, if I am below the specified weight ratings, what does it matter? If you have ever felt this way,
How should I connect things as I build my trailer? Welding is a typical practice for many structural frame members, but bolting also has some great benefits. So, this makes me wonder. How do I decide where to bolt, and where to weld? Since it is usually not an all or nothing proposition, we will…
“I am building a new trailer and wondering about what deck material to use? So many choices, all with various advantages and disadvantages. I probably don’t even know all the available choices. How do I decide?”
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.
We often joke about safety – Yup, Safety 3rd. While it is fun to joke, there are a few things we do get quite serious about. How to attach chains for trailer safety is one. Today we are looking at connecting chains on the trailer tongue, so the chain is the right length.
While studying adjustable ball mount styles I noticed nearly all have a stationary rack and a floating carrier. Have you noticed that too? This is a pretty important detail for an adjustable hitch when we look at which one to choose.
There are a lot of little details that go into a trailer building project. Some big, some small. Overall, it is not hard, yet, when we think about the really important things that make a trailer perform well, the list is pretty short. Give just a little extra
Of all the important things to do when building a trailer, getting axle(s) right is near the top of the list. It is the position on the trailer, yes, and proper axle alignment as well. When you mount a trailer axle correct, it makes a big difference for
When building a trailer, there are a bunch of things we want to get right. Here is one. “How To set a trailer tongue properly, and central on the frame“. Intrinsically this is easy to grasp, but maybe not as easy to accomplish. Here are some tricks