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Welding question
select-fire
Member Posts: 69,450 ✭✭✭✭
Wanting to get a plate welded to the frame of my enclosed car trailer to attach a winch. It is a solid aluminum frame chassis. Can I have a steel plate welded to it or will I have to go with an aluminum plate?
Comments
Why not bolt it on?
real sure you cannot weld steel to aluminum
Not easy or cheaply. You need Bimetallic inserts to do it. Remember Aluminum is a reactive metal and will corrode when next to steel. Even bolted you will need something between the 2 metals.
Well that settles that... will have to go with an aluminum plate welded under the 3/4 water resistant floor.
You will need to use a good non-reactive fastener too. Stainless steel works OK and reduces the chance of galvanic corrosion even then its is best to coat the fastener.
I am sure whoever does the welding can point you in the right direction. BTW For fasteners check Grainger or Fastanel both are good companys and they have guys who know what they are doing.
True it is not easy or cheap to have done. The corrosion issue is often overstated and is more problematic in harsh environments. But corrosion due to it is always a potential problem, to put it one way.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Will run SS fasteners graded to take the load of pulling a car in the hauler.
I was thinking this since don't know how much the winch will be pulling. I'd slap a larger plate under/behind the floor (think dead man) then sandwich another plate under the winch before the bolt down. I'd coat the bolts with anti seize and put a second nut with locking capability so it won't vibrate off.
Also asking the "pro" welder might be the way to go.
I first glanced this topic title thinking select-fire had a son or daughter having a June WEDDING.
Just so happens, by coincidence, I have an appointment tomorrow for a thorough EYE exam!
I have issues with misreading words also. I don't think it's an issue with the eyes. It's just old age rearing its ugly head.
Joe
The Frame goes down each side and right down the middle also. Not to interested in running a plate on each side of the 3/4 floor and winching a car inside. Thinking of taking some solid square stock alum. and attaching it to the main frame and welding a piece of square tube stock alum on top of that and using a 2" receiver trailer hookup.
@Brookwood LOL! I saw the same! Guess i should wear my glasses when reading....
I was going to suggest something like this. How I would do it, is use smaller, thick wall square tube segments and box both ends for strength then weld those together. So, if it had 4 bolts, I would use 8 pieces of tubing. 4 pieces under the bolts, again with both ends boxed. Then, I'd butt weld two together on the two sides where they run the same side. Then, I'd weld tubing between the front and back sections. Again, plugging the ends first. I could draw it much easier than explain it. If you want, I PM me and I'll draw something up and email it to you. A person could also use something like a chunk of inner tube to separate different metals to avoid any galvanic erosion worries, along with proper grade coated SS bolts.
I also like your idea of using a receiver hitch. You could optionally mount the winch to a trailer hitch and have quick disconnects. Then you could potentially use it on your vehicles, other trailers, and best of all, keep it out of the weather and somewhere safe when not in use so it won't get stolen.
if you bolt it to the tongue all you would have to do is put a small opening, like doggy door in front wall and then put the winch line through it and hook it to you vehicle to winch it in, no welding needed on the frame inside, all could be done on the tongue...........
V nose enclosed car trailer. No room.
Here's how one guy did his aluminum trailer.
That video was easy peasy. However I have a 3/4 wood floor.