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Calculation

Trailer Aerodynamics

July 15, 2023March 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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Categories Adventures Tags Calculation, Design, Tips, Trailer Leave a comment

Car Hauler Trailers — New Trailer Plans

June 17, 2023March 5, 2022 by Mechanic
Looking At Car Hauler Trailers

Where do you get plans for true, tough, Car Hauler trailers.  After a ton of market and product study, we are stepping in and stepping up.  Our niche is engineering better plans for DIY, so read on to learn about our approach to Equipment Transport

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Categories News Tags Build, Calculation, Car Hauler, DIY, Plans, Strength, Trailer 2 Comments

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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Categories Adventures Tags Analysis, Calculation, Car Hauler, Strength, Trailer Leave a comment

The Concept of “Strong Enough”

July 15, 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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Categories Adventures Tags Best Practices, Calculation, Force, Gantry Crane, Plans, Quality, Safety, Testing Leave a comment

Engineering: Calculate Beam Loading (Intro)

August 23, 2023May 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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Categories Adventures Tags Analysis, Calculation, Force, Measurements, Press, Safety Leave a comment

How To Measure A Bolt Pattern

August 23, 2021January 18, 2021 by Mechanic
Various Wheel Bolt Patterns

What is the bolt pattern on your trailer wheels?  For the most part it doesn’t matter because you’re not changing wheels that often, yet when it does matter, it really matters.  Here is some good info to measure and calculate

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Bolts, Calculation, Measurements, Tire Leave a comment

Drill Matching Bolt Holes

February 9, 2022August 3, 2020 by Mechanic
Drill Matching Bolt Holes

So many times we need to make matching holes to bolt something on.  You purchased something to mount on your trailer or your workbench or some other project, but now you need the exact

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Bolts, Calculation, Drilling, Measurements, Video Leave a comment

Tricks To Weigh Heavy Things

November 9, 2022June 18, 2020 by Mechanic
How To Weigh A Trailer

Do you need to weigh something really heavy but don’t have access to an industrial scale?  How can I weigh heavy things — like a trailer frame — without a special huge or super heavy duty scale?  Answer:  With some physics and a little math.

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Calculation, DIY, Force, Measurements, Trailer, Video Leave a comment

Converting A Trailer

June 16, 2021February 24, 2020 by Mechanic
Converting a Trailer

The concept of re-purposing or converting a trailer is absolutely awesome.  My hat’s off to anyone who can find a way to reuse and convert something from end-of-life to new-again.  We need more of that in our world!

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Categories Customer Stories Tags Axle, Best Practices, Calculation, Customer Story, Stability, Trailer 1 Comment

Do You Have Plans In Metric?

October 13, 2021February 11, 2020 by Mechanic
Plans In Metric

Virtually everything on the internet is by definition “World Wide”.   Even though Mechanical Elements (Synthesis Engineering Services) is physically located in the USA, we have a world audience, so it’s a fair question

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Categories Plans Info Tags Calculation, Measurements, Plans, Testing Leave a comment

Choosing The Best Trailer Frame Material

March 4, 2022February 11, 2019 by Mechanic
Analysis of Trailer Frame Material in Main Beam

What materials should I use for building my trailer frame?  It’s a common question with strong biases for Rectangular Tube or I-Beam or C-Channel.  Also, choices of Aluminum versus Steel. 

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Analysis, Calculation, Steel, Strength, Tongue, Trailer 16 Comments

Six Beam Shapes To Build With, +1

September 1, 2021February 5, 2019 by Mechanic
Common DIY Material and Beam Shapes

Whether you’re an experienced DIY builder or brand new to the party, there are often quandry’s about beam shapes.  Well, I need to do this, but I only have material like that.  I’ll just use it 

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Analysis, Calculation, Steel, Strength, Tongue, Trailer 4 Comments

Trailer Axles 101 – What You Need To Know

May 23, 2023November 21, 2018 by Mechanic
Trailer Axles - Springs - Wheels - and Tires

I’ll just drop by the parts store and grab an axle . . . . Well, trailer axles are not quite that simple, but knowing a few important details, we can certainly get the right one.  Here’s a quick guide to trailer axles

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Axle, Calculation, Spring, Strength, Tire, Torsion, Trailer 14 Comments
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