trailer repair and crossmember drain holes

[oldjeep]

Did a little repair on a 2004 Boatmate yesterday. Kind of an odd repair, the front most cross member had a crack running across one of the top corners about 8". Seemed to have happened at the weld in the tube. It has been like this for a while, noticed it before the boat was put into storage last fall.

As a result of the trailer sitting outside since the boat was launched in may, water had gotten into the tube - a lot of it. I drilled a 1/4" drain hole and got a quart or so of water out. Thought it was odd that there was not a factory drain hole.

No evidence of thining metal in any of the 3 drill holes and the water that came out wasn't rusty.

So, ground the tube clean- drilled a relief hole at both ends of the crack and then ground a v into the crack. Welded it up, should be good now.

Should have taken some pictures, but we were trying to get done before it rained again.

Edited June 23, 2015 by oldjeep

[Falko]

I've noticed my trailer is getting some pretty good rust on it in the cross members from lack of draining.

[oldjeep]

I've noticed my trailer is getting some pretty good rust on it in the cross members from lack of draining.

That is a whole other problem. His axle has a big "dish" in the center of the top. Not sure it would be a good idea to drill a hole in the top and bottom to allow the water to drain through, but it is an odd design for a boat trailer axle. Honestly not sure that my 2012 isn't the same way, but mine lives inside. His cross members are pretty flat on top so not much if any pooling there,

Edited June 23, 2015 by oldjeep

[Falko]

Mine have weep holes drilled through. But they get clogged and/or rust closed. I think I will need to have re-enforcements welded on to one of the cross members this year.

[Michigan boarder]

Mine have weep holes drilled through. But they get clogged and/or rust closed. I think I will need to have re-enforcements welded on to one of the cross members this year.

I did that on my rear cross member, the one that the 3 light bar attaches to. I'll get a picture.