Source/question for a crossmember?

[nola mike]

Noticed my rear crossmember had some significant rot. it's a bolt on but I can't find the right size. I figure I can cut it down and drill a longer one but would be worried about the galvanizing. suggestions? anybody know if I can get a custom one made non local (guessing that won't be worth it)

 

[dingbat]

Noticed my rear crossmember had some significant rot. it's a bolt on but I can't find the right size. I figure I can cut it down and drill a longer one but would be worried about the galvanizing. suggestions? anybody know if I can get a custom one made non local (guessing that won't be worth it)

What size are you looking for?

 

[Scott Danforth]

got a length?

googling "bolt on trailer crossmember" brings up a bunch.

cold galvanizing (high zinc primer) is common.

 

[nola mike]

3 x 3" box with a drop, rail to rail is 53", bolt hole distance 49", total length 51"

got a length?

googling "bolt on trailer crossmember" brings up a bunch.

cold galvanizing (high zinc primer) is common.

Yeah I found a good bit but nothing exact. Not a big deal to cut it down. I had already bought some zinc primer planning to sand and coat a few spots on the trailer and lift before they get out of hand.

 

[Scott06]

3 x 3" box with a drop, rail to rail is 53", bolt hole distance 49", total length 51"

Yeah I found a good bit but nothing exact. Not a big deal to cut it down. I had already bought some zinc primer planning to sand and coat a few spots on the trailer and lift before they get out of hand.

go to a welding shop for a custom one that fits, they can galvanize

or as outlined cut a longer one and use the cold galvanizing rattle cans, will hold up pretty well

 

[nola mike]

go to a welding shop for a custom one that fits, they can galvanize

or as outlined cut a longer one and use the cold galvanizing rattle cans, will hold up pretty well

Ended up buying something off the rack, I'll see what happens over the weekend. The crossmember has a drop in the middle. Guessing that would cost more to get it custom fab, and I hate going on scavenger hunts for parts.

 

[nola mike]

Realized that I never updated this. It ended up turning out pretty good. I noticed as I did that that the other crossmember was in rough shape as well. This year I did the same fix with the same off the rack crossmember. Once again, the old one was worse than it looked from the outside. Of note, neither of the old members had drain holes on the bottom. New ones do.

New front cross installed:


Old front cross. This is the view from the bottom:


Old front cross before taking it off:


This was the after shot last year after replacing the rear. The front on this pic doesn't look terrible.

 

[airshot]

Looks good....glad to see projects with people using their skills and brains !

 

[dingbat]

They always rot from the inside out....
By the time the rot shows up on the outside, your beyond repair.

Drilling drain holes compromises the integrity of hot dip coatings. Hopefully you cold galvanized the holes when you where done

 

[nola mike]

Hopefully you cold galvanized the holes when you where done

I did. New member had factory drilled drains, i coated the cut edges and new mounting holes.

 

[Lou C]

Nice work on the new crossmembers.
The OEM ones on my old '94 Load Rite had the drainage holes and believe it or not they are still solid. For fun I looked inside with the endoscope camera.

 

[airshot]

My 1992_trailer is still solid as a rock....but it has only saw fresh water!!

 

[Lou C]

Even in fresh water I'd want either a galvanized or alu trailer
One less thing to worry about in boating

 

[nola mike]

Even in fresh water I'd want either a galvanized or alu trailer
One less thing to worry about in boating

Brackish water trapped inside that member couldn't have helped. And you love your camera!

 

[Lou C]

I do, it saves so much time. Got the idea from Eric O at South Main Auto You Tube channel. He found a leaky head gasket on a Honda CRV with one. It would have made diagnosing my leaky head gaskets much faster 10 years ago! I hear surveyors used them extensively now.

 

[Scott06]

I do, it saves so much time. Got the idea from Eric O at South Main Auto You Tube channel. He found a leaky head gasket on a Honda CRV with one. It would have made diagnosing my leaky head gaskets much faster 10 years ago! I hear surveyors used them extensively now.

on so many levels its so useful. Also if you haven't tried it the UV dyes- I have used in both oil and AF clean the areas with brake cleaner drive it a little and use the UV light. Super helpful the the blue and red AFs that crystalize. has a small crack in the water pump on my wifes mini (plastic), left salt like stains all over the place - showed as a 3/16" UV lighted up area. Was dripping and the pulley flung it everywhere