Hi, I realise that this is not immediately obviously farming related so my apologies, however the trailer I am looking at building will be used on the farm during the summer when the boat is not on it. I found this site when searching for information about the strength of Universal Column and I beam so I thought someone might be able to help me out.
I am looking to get a trailer fabricated and galvanised by SJAndrew in Cornwall but they wouldn't give me advice as to what materials to use presumably because they don't want the liability should it go wrong. The trailer is NOT for use on roads and is only for use on the farm and for pulling my boat up the slipway.
Any advice for the trailer design is appreciated. I have used H Beam rather than box section because I would rather be able to access all surfaces to wash the salt off, I have seen many galvanised box section trailers rust from the inside out because you cannot access the inside but of course the salt can. I am not sure which orientation to use with the beam, if I was using channel then the strength would be with it in an 'u' or 'n' configuration but I know I beam is used in an 'I' orientation. Obviously universal column is designed to be vertical but I was envisioning it as two channels back to back.
The boat weighs less than 2,000kg, around 1,500kg. The centre of mass is towards the stern as the outboards weigh about 70kg each.
The farm tracks that the trailer needs to navigate are only just wider than the boat so the wheels need to be under the level of the bearers.
My plan is to fix 4x4 into/onto the bearers to provide a forgiving surface for the boat to sit on.
A friend with a similar sized flat bed has said that the axle to hitch should be 14ft as he can get his just about anywhere on the island.
The main beam is 5m long, if I consider the worst case load to be 2,000kg in the mid point of that beam, what sive UC should I use?
I have considered a brace in the mid point between the front bearer and the hitch to discourage twisting, is that necessary/effective?
I am looking to get a trailer fabricated and galvanised by SJAndrew in Cornwall but they wouldn't give me advice as to what materials to use presumably because they don't want the liability should it go wrong. The trailer is NOT for use on roads and is only for use on the farm and for pulling my boat up the slipway.
Any advice for the trailer design is appreciated. I have used H Beam rather than box section because I would rather be able to access all surfaces to wash the salt off, I have seen many galvanised box section trailers rust from the inside out because you cannot access the inside but of course the salt can. I am not sure which orientation to use with the beam, if I was using channel then the strength would be with it in an 'u' or 'n' configuration but I know I beam is used in an 'I' orientation. Obviously universal column is designed to be vertical but I was envisioning it as two channels back to back.
The boat weighs less than 2,000kg, around 1,500kg. The centre of mass is towards the stern as the outboards weigh about 70kg each.
The farm tracks that the trailer needs to navigate are only just wider than the boat so the wheels need to be under the level of the bearers.
My plan is to fix 4x4 into/onto the bearers to provide a forgiving surface for the boat to sit on.
A friend with a similar sized flat bed has said that the axle to hitch should be 14ft as he can get his just about anywhere on the island.
The main beam is 5m long, if I consider the worst case load to be 2,000kg in the mid point of that beam, what sive UC should I use?
I have considered a brace in the mid point between the front bearer and the hitch to discourage twisting, is that necessary/effective?
