Jockey wheel.

If you need help or advice on trailers, this is the forum for you.
Show us your trailer builds/modifications or new purchase.
Post Reply
Wrighty1121 England
I'm New
Posts: 10
Joined: 24 Mar 2019, 17:45
MMSI Number: 10
Location: Carlisle
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Jockey wheel.

Post by Wrighty1121 » 21 Apr 2019, 20:29

I've attached a picture to show you what the previous owner has done. My question is, if I was to sight the jockey holes central, which will stop the jockey twisting etc... will I effect the over all strength of the box section by moving the holes 3-4 inches?

Or should I have the local metal works weld over in 1st?
Attachments
0B6F5C01-6722-4050-B86E-1C83E5F149E5.jpeg
Jockey wheel drilling holes to high.
Last edited by ChrisParish on 21 Apr 2019, 20:41, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Rotated image

User avatar
ChrisParish Great Britain
Supporting Member
Posts: 2049
Joined: 23 May 2018, 15:30
Boat Make: Bombard Aerotec 380
Outboard: Suzuki DF20A
MMSI Number: 235916094
Location: Poole
Has thanked: 123 times
Been thanked: 636 times

Re: Jockey wheel.

Post by ChrisParish » 21 Apr 2019, 20:50

Hmm, centring the mount will certainly make it look better and resist twisting in one direction more than it currently does.
The concern with leaving the holes is that it will leave a space into which the steel can move during a collapse. The big issue is that they are so close to the top, meaning that there is less side wall to take the sheer loads at that point.

The simplest fix is to move the jockey wheel and then put bolts through the dodgy holes so that there is no way the box section can collapse (as the bolts are in the way).

There are other factors to think about - what was the design load of the trailer and what load do you currently have on it - for example if it is a trailer rated for 350kg but you only have a T38 on it, weighing about 110kg then the strength lost through the holes won’t make much difference, but if you are near the peak loading of the trailer then it would have a greater impact.

Can you give us some more info?
Not a complete idiot - some parts are missing.

Salty Pete Australia
Newish Member, But I Like It Here
Posts: 34
Joined: 14 Mar 2019, 23:57
MMSI Number: 10
Location: Beckenham
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: Jockey wheel.

Post by Salty Pete » 22 Apr 2019, 01:29

Not going into the strength versus holes in the side of a beam, if it was my trailer I would weld 2 to 3mm plates either side of the draw bar over the holes and re-drill them central.

Post Reply

Return to “Boat Trailers”