- Thread starter pburchett
- Start date
Part Time Pete
Well-known Member
- Location
- Leatherstocking Region NY
Makes you wonder what inspection requirements there are for trailer manufacturers, and who would be liable when they fail and cause an accident
I am not a big time welder by any stretch. Was the stick welder too cold with
litte penetration?. A couple look as if the weld is along the side of the seem.
You going to have fun cutting a channel and rewelding? Rust leaking out of a
weld? Did the guy have a hangover? Let us know when you finish.
litte penetration?. A couple look as if the weld is along the side of the seem.
You going to have fun cutting a channel and rewelding? Rust leaking out of a
weld? Did the guy have a hangover? Let us know when you finish.
I've said this for quite some time , the industry standard is to built it cheap for the
mass consumer that knows no difference.
Welds in many manufacturing is of "qualified" not certified , thus meaning that two
parts are more or less stuck together.
Also the mass manufacturing of MIG welders has put and allowed people with no welding
skills to be "welders"
you can put two exactly the same profiled trailers side by side and if there was a
trailer that was considerable more in cost the buyer would buy the cheaper one not
knowing there was a difference in just the welds.
the next misconception in the trailer market is powder coating is superior to painting,
powder coating is preferred in the industry only because it is cheaper and not at all
better. that trailer is likely powder coated, now try to weld over those welds.
mass consumer that knows no difference.
Welds in many manufacturing is of "qualified" not certified , thus meaning that two
parts are more or less stuck together.
Also the mass manufacturing of MIG welders has put and allowed people with no welding
skills to be "welders"
you can put two exactly the same profiled trailers side by side and if there was a
trailer that was considerable more in cost the buyer would buy the cheaper one not
knowing there was a difference in just the welds.
the next misconception in the trailer market is powder coating is superior to painting,
powder coating is preferred in the industry only because it is cheaper and not at all
better. that trailer is likely powder coated, now try to weld over those welds.
Bob Harvey
Well-known Member
Poor to lousy.
rustyfarmall
Well-known Member
Those are not good by any stretch of the imagination, but I've seen worse. How about a 3/8" bolt welded in because someone cut the steel too short?
Janicholson
Well-known Member
The chicken was used to make the welds By squeezing the chicken body. Jim
showcrop
Well-known Member
I am not much of a welder but it appears to me that the penetration is better on the lower side of pretty much all of the welds, which I believe means that the electrode was being held at an angle so that the weld was down from the operator's hand. Any body would of course tend to do this, but if I am correct in my understanding, one has to overcome this natural tendency in order to do get good welds.
dr sportster
Well-known Member
If those were results of a welding test : I would fail for bead appearance right off.
timcasbolt
Well-known Member
That was probably done with a flux-core mig.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Pete, to my knowledge there is no quality inspection. All it has to do is meet DOT requirements, and even that can be side stepped.
The liability follows the money. Whoever has it is the target. Some fly by night mfg company with no insurance, no money, the lawyers won't waste their time on them. It will come down to the owner/driver and their liability insurance first, then come after the individual.
The liability follows the money. Whoever has it is the target. Some fly by night mfg company with no insurance, no money, the lawyers won't waste their time on them. It will come down to the owner/driver and their liability insurance first, then come after the individual.
OregonAaron
Member
That is terrible.... god I hope nobody gets killed when they break.
jon f mn
Well-known Member
Those are pretty aweful, but
not uncommon for trailers. The
parts with the yellow lines
are done correctly as far as
weld length, full length welds
there could give a less strong
assembly than done as it is
here. The main difference
between someone who knows
fabricating and those who
think they do is knowing where
and how much to weld. Look
under at the spring hangers
and if the welds across the
front and rear are good, you
don't have anything to worry
about. But that does not
excuse the really crappy welds
done here.
not uncommon for trailers. The
parts with the yellow lines
are done correctly as far as
weld length, full length welds
there could give a less strong
assembly than done as it is
here. The main difference
between someone who knows
fabricating and those who
think they do is knowing where
and how much to weld. Look
under at the spring hangers
and if the welds across the
front and rear are good, you
don't have anything to worry
about. But that does not
excuse the really crappy welds
done here.
Ellis Kinney
Well-known Member
If I had built that trailer the welds would be first pass 6010, 1/8 rod, followed probably by two 7018, 3/32 passes. All that mig, automatic wirefeed welding
ain't that strong in my opinion. Whoever did that welding obviously had no instruction. You could grind it all out and re do it in a day. As an aside-- I
have two pieces of equipment purchased new that were mig welded and the weld failed because all the penetration was on the thinner plate. Ellis
ain't that strong in my opinion. Whoever did that welding obviously had no instruction. You could grind it all out and re do it in a day. As an aside-- I
have two pieces of equipment purchased new that were mig welded and the weld failed because all the penetration was on the thinner plate. Ellis
Eagle Beagle
Member
Common knowledge about trailers built in Texas and Oklahoma a few years back, was that they were a bargain if you didn't mind finishing welding them once you got home with it!
A grinder and paint-make up for the welder I ain't!
Beagle
A grinder and paint-make up for the welder I ain't!
Beagle
You can to off anything that look the same but when you really start looking there are differences . I?ve got a set of screwdrivers both China both look exactly the same the difference is the shaft goes clear through the handle on one set and it just looks like it does on the other set but to look at them you could never tell but you put the wrench on the nut on the top to turn turn the nut on one it just spins but on the other set the shaft is solid so when you put a wrench on it it turns the screw
Most of them I consider marginal. Moving too slow with too low power. Globby, and moderate to poor penetration especially the vertical plates. Not that they won't hold up for a while, but my guess is that the 'rest of the story' is going to be some of the spring perch channels have twisted away now.
I had that happen on a boat trailer I was bringing home from FL to TX many years ago. I got to KS(almost home!) and noticed a more pronounced sway after a gas stop. I pulled over on the side of I70 and had a good look. The spring perches for the rear axle were all cracked. It was a Tue, and I pulled in slowing to the next town and asked around about someone with a welder. Found a truck place, had a stick welder, but no one to operate it. I actually convinced them to let me do the job so I could get home. bit of grinding, but of burning, and away we went.
I had that happen on a boat trailer I was bringing home from FL to TX many years ago. I got to KS(almost home!) and noticed a more pronounced sway after a gas stop. I pulled over on the side of I70 and had a good look. The spring perches for the rear axle were all cracked. It was a Tue, and I pulled in slowing to the next town and asked around about someone with a welder. Found a truck place, had a stick welder, but no one to operate it. I actually convinced them to let me do the job so I could get home. bit of grinding, but of burning, and away we went.
Stephen Newell
Well-known Member
Appears to me they were either done too fast or the welder amperage wasn't high enough or both. There wasn't good enough penetration. The good thing is it's put together. Somebody could smooth it over with an angle grinder and put a second bead over the top of it.
ditchwitch
Well-known Member
Without reading everyones comments. Personally I think the welds look like they have not penetrated the metal good enough to hold much of
anything. I believe i would return that trailer for another one because that one would be dangerous to pull or haul anything.
anything. I believe i would return that trailer for another one because that one would be dangerous to pull or haul anything.
David Snipes
Member
I would not buy any equipment with those poor welds.
Wow, not impressed. I've seen worse,
but from a beginning welder. I do
both arc and mig welding. From the
looks of it the person was a
beginner, had the wrong rod, wrong
angle, wrong technique,wrong
amperage, and poor eye sight.
I root pass with 6010 or 6011 and
finish with 7018. I prefer mig
though. Just weld it as hot as you
can and have a good ground.
but from a beginning welder. I do
both arc and mig welding. From the
looks of it the person was a
beginner, had the wrong rod, wrong
angle, wrong technique,wrong
amperage, and poor eye sight.
I root pass with 6010 or 6011 and
finish with 7018. I prefer mig
though. Just weld it as hot as you
can and have a good ground.
Old weldor
Member
Definitely a beginner!
Evidently they don?t have much of a quality control dept!
Evidently they don?t have much of a quality control dept!
1948CaseVAI
Well-known Member
The welds suck but look to me like most current production welds. Go to TSC or Atwoods and look at the welds on the trailers on the lot. These look pretty typical and they must be "good enough" because you rarely, if ever, hear of an accident caused by a weld failure on a production trailer.
Here is the story on the trailer.
I ordered it knowing it was the cheapest made and that the quality of the welds would be poor. I never expected it to be this bad. I figured I could do a little work/welding on if for the amount I saved. It just surprised me that any company would let something like this go out the door. The price of the trailer was about the price of the steel and parts it is made of.
If you think the welds are bad you should see the wiring!
Here are some of my favorite welds. Don t look too hard for the beads because they are not there. Just tack welded, painted and shipped out the door.
I sort of look at it like this: They tack welded it together for me!
I ordered it knowing it was the cheapest made and that the quality of the welds would be poor. I never expected it to be this bad. I figured I could do a little work/welding on if for the amount I saved. It just surprised me that any company would let something like this go out the door. The price of the trailer was about the price of the steel and parts it is made of.
If you think the welds are bad you should see the wiring!
Here are some of my favorite welds. Don t look too hard for the beads because they are not there. Just tack welded, painted and shipped out the door.
I sort of look at it like this: They tack welded it together for me!
DoubleO7
Well-known Member
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
LOL
Surely you gest!
That frame has never been upside down. Or even on it's side as evidenced by the vertical frame rail welds.
And there is no way the welders of those welds can come close to welding over head.
T in NE
Well-known Member
- Location
- Cambridge, Nebraska
I think I'd call the NHTSA.
jon f mn
Well-known Member
Sorry to disappoint you, but
most commercial trailers are
started upside down. The main
frame and axles are assembled
that way to get good welds
there and then they are
flipped and finished. It's
common practice. If this one
wasn't, it would be unusual,
and then those welds would be
critical.
most commercial trailers are
started upside down. The main
frame and axles are assembled
that way to get good welds
there and then they are
flipped and finished. It's
common practice. If this one
wasn't, it would be unusual,
and then those welds would be
critical.
DoubleO7
Well-known Member
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
That is what I was trying to convey. Not all trailers build the right way.
That this trailer frame was never in flipped or rolled during production because that would be an extra step costing more time, effort and money to do correctly.
If the o.p.
Would be interesting to know if there are any welds anywhere on the underside of that trailer.
The old saying:
You can get cheap, quality or in a timely manner.
But you only get to choose two of those.
caterpillar guy
Well-known Member
I worry more about the cheap cheesy material they use than the welds now days. I keep hearing about how the steel made today is better than any thing made in the past. If so then why does it rust off in such big scales compared to the old steel in things made back in the late 19th and the 20th centuries. We have old truck frames we use for wagons made in the 40's50's 60's all just have those small little flakes. All of our newer stuff like 2000 up has big slab like scale rust coming off.
Similar threads
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy