Learning good trailer construction by examining bad is a great way to focus on details. This photo shows 4 points of “less that careful thought” in the way the trailer is built. Can you pick them out?
Mechanics Tips
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 tips are for you! Enjoy! – See all the Mechanic’s Posts here.
Force, Displacement & Bloody Knuckles
Is there anything more annoying (painful and frustrating) than busting a knuckle when working on things in the shop? To many of us, blood sacrifices are just part of getting a project done, but it doesn’t have to be that way. This article is NOT about iron gloves or
The Little Things Make All The Difference
The trailer hitch and surrounding hardware are OH so important — with safety as the priority. Here are examples illustrating one success and one horrific failure.
Pre-Stressed Steel Fabrication
The concepts of pre-stressed steel fabrication have been around for ages, but they are not often applied for simple welded structures like trailer frames or crane stands.
Choosing Tandem Axles (and Triples)
It all rides on the trailer axles, so get them right. Here are some common technologies (and misnomers) for tandem axles and other multi-axle trailers.
Trailer Axles: Use Springs? Or Torsion Axle
In the discussion of trailer axle leaf springs versus a torsion axle, let’s put some engineering behind the debate. I don’t want to change opinions, but I would like to offer a practical perspective.
Save Big Buying DIY Project Nuts and Bolts
Ever wonder why fasteners like nuts and bolts are so expensive? You would think something so standard and manufactured in such high volumes would be cheap, but in most places, they’re actually pretty expensive. Why?
Creative & Cheap, That’s How To Fixture
Oh, I need to drill a bunch of holes, all the same, in 8 parts. What a pain! And, I need to cut these other 5 pieces all to match. What a hassle to measure, mark, and cut each one! Is there a good way to make the job easier?
DIY – 7 Ways To Cut Steel
So, you need to cut steel for a DIY project (like a crane or trailer). Easy, Right? What’s the best, easiest, cheapest, fastest way of cutting steel? There must be dozens of ways, so, the better question might be
Trailer Tires? or Automotive Tires?
The topic of trailer tires has come up a hundred times. Why can’t I use automotive tires on my trailer?
That’s a fair question, so let’s explore it.
The Twisted Truth
Need a hole? Many of our plans require drilled holes, so here are some Tips about drilling in metal, like steel, as well as in wood, and other materials.