Bolted trailer?

[CornishPete]

Just seen a new lorry chasis and it appears to consist of two big c channels with lots of holes in and everything looks bolted on, bed, cab, fuel tank, cross members, mud flaps etc
Looked at my old ifor trailer and it's all welded apart from the hitch. Why wouldn't they use bolts like a lorry?

 

[KemppiFrog]

Lorry chassis are made from steel that needs to be 'springy' and that means not so weldable, liable to crack..
Your trailer is likely mild steel.

 

[mtt.tr]

Additionally trailers don't have as many configurations

Trailers lower volume so you can employed skilled labour

 

[dan.taylor.1]

Some newer ifors are bolted in places like the drawbar so they can be replaced if they get bent.

 

[pedrobedro]

A friend of mine had a bike carrying trailer made of Unistrut and bolted together, worked perfectly well.

 

[Brad93]

Nothing wrong with bolting.

You want to see the number of applications where riveting is making a comeback.

Knew a thing or two those victorians.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Nothing wrong with bolting.

You want to see the number of applications where riveting is making a comeback.

Knew a thing or two those victorians.

That, plus these clever adhesives they have for many applications now.

 

[Chippie]

My Alko based caravan chassis is all bolted..

 

[tom2207]

Many years ago when I ran a commercial vehicle workshop , we used to get trucks in that were running 24/7 and doing a lot of miles in the south of ireland , the roads were so bad that the spring hangers that were riveted on from the factory were shaking loose ,, we had special bolts to replace them , they were like wheel studs with the spline on the shank and a serrated faced flange nut finished the set ... lots of todays truck chassis are just like unistrut .

 

[Dcal]

Many years ago when I ran a commercial vehicle workshop , we used to get trucks in that were running 24/7 and doing a lot of miles in the south of ireland , the roads were so bad that the spring hangers that were riveted on from the factory were shaking loose ,, we had special bolts to replace them , they were like wheel studs with the spline on the shank and a serrated faced flange nut finished the set ... lots of todays truck chassis are just like unistrut .

TCBs tension controlled bolts.

TCB - Tension Control Bolts & Shear Wrenches | Tension Control Bolts

Tension Control Bolts Ltd supply TCBs and shear wrenches to companies across the UK and worldwide.

www.tcbolts.com

 

[Robotstar5]

Nothing wrong with bolting.

You want to see the number of applications where riveting is making a comeback.

Knew a thing or two those victorians.

They used self piercing rivets on the Range Rover bodyshell instead of spot welds.

 

[Erie Fred]

"Huck Bolts" are used allot on big trucks.
Cracking of welds has always been an issue, more so with the lighter, more flexible construction being used these days.

 

[sako243]

Knew a thing or two those victorians.

Certainly did. Was just having a chat with the glaziers and the mahonay windows they used to make last far longer than the PVC frames built these days. In fact speaking to a local casement builder he will guarantee the mahogany frames for 50 years which is 40 years more than the PVC frames get as standard.

 

[mtt.tr]

Certainly did. Was just having a chat with the glaziers and the mahonay windows they used to make last far longer than the PVC frames built these days. In fact speaking to a local casement builder he will guarantee the mahogany frames for 50 years which is 40 years more than the PVC frames get as standard.

Shame real mahog was all deforested.

The cabinet maker I apprenticed to had a slab of the real stuff. Didn't want to use as it was irreplaceable so it remained whole. Likely ended up in a fire after someone bought the lot when he retired.

 

[tom2207]

They used self piercing rivets on the Range Rover bodyshell instead of spot welds.

Thats nothing new ,,, they have used self piercing chassis on land rovers for years

 

[Bobupndown]

My Alko based caravan chassis is all bolted..

They're generic though and adaptable to suit the huge variety of sizes of vans from different manufacturers.

 

[PhillipM]

The rule of thumb these days seems to mainly be Bolting for heavy duty work, glue and rivets for where the weight and size of bolts is an issue - and welding only where you can't avoid it.

 

[fizzy]

Bolts are best when they have rusted and won't come loose.
They found this out with expedition Land Rovers in Africa. They have "washboard" roads - loads of ridges - best taken at speed or you bounce everywhere. Brand new landrovers were falling apart. Old rusty ones shipped from the UK were fine

 

[tom2207]

Bolts are best when they have rusted and won't come loose.
They found this out with expedition Land Rovers in Africa. They have "washboard" roads - loads of ridges - best taken at speed or you bounce everywhere. Brand new landrovers were falling apart. Old rusty ones shipped from the UK were fine

I feel confident corrosion will soon take hold ,,,

then all the bits you want to come free ,, wont .
But the rest will ...

Messing aside , Im very curious to see how that alloy monocoque set up holds together ,,, some of the pressure cast parts look great , but??
Im seeing a double pulsed alloy mig gun in my future.

 

[Mick Annick]

Many years ago when I ran a commercial vehicle workshop , we used to get trucks in that were running 24/7 and doing a lot of miles in the south of ireland , the roads were so bad that the spring hangers that were riveted on from the factory were shaking loose ,, we had special bolts to replace them , they were like wheel studs with the spline on the shank and a serrated faced flange nut finished the set ... lots of todays truck chassis are just like unistrut .

I spent many an hour drilling spring hanger rivets out on Ford D series chassis’ as an apprentice