How do I fix THAT?

[Terri]

The 8' trailer is broken. DH had a friend help him back up, he ended up jack knifing it, and on the end of the trailer where it fits over the ball it is bent.

I HAD told him that we needed a better hitch: one that looks like an s. He disagreed.

I SUPPOSE the end of the trailer could be replaced, but we do not weld. And, how can we get it into a shop since the end is bent?

We got the ball off by taking it off of the truck, then pounding it with a hammer until it fell off the end of the trailer).

So, we are at home with a broken trailer and no way to get it into a shop. We lack the skills to fix it ourself.

AAAGH!

[Jan in CO]

Terri, is there anyone in your area that does mobile welding? I'd try that first, and see if they can come to your house and cut the end off, then reweld another one on. Bummer. Hope you can get it fixed. Jan in Co

[crehberg]

Yeah, I would be hunting up a mobile welder, too. I good bet if you can't find one local in the phone book or through a friend is to check at any of the wrecker/service shops. They'll usually have a reference or to 2 work off of.

[Terri]

I have never heard of a mobil welder. Perhaps I WILL call a wrecker/service shop!

I was thinking today: If I were to hammer on the inside, might I open it up enough to accept the ball? Or, would a slightly distorted socket make for problems? It looks normal now (the distortion is not obvious until you try to use it), but, it might be a bit lumpy if I started beating on it!

Would that make problems? Alas, I am a newbie to hitches and trailers!

[fordy]

Originally Posted by Terri

I have never heard of a mobil welder. Perhaps I WILL call a wrecker/service shop!

I was thinking today: If I were to hammer on the inside, might I open it up enough to accept the ball? Or, would a slightly distorted socket make for problems? It looks normal now (the distortion is not obvious until you try to use it), but, it might be a bit lumpy if I started beating on it!

Would that make problems? Alas, I am a newbie to hitches and trailers!

..................Borrow a sawzall , purchase a couple of Bimetal cutting blades at home depot and cut the old hitch off leaving as much length on the neck as possible . I'm assuming here the neck is a single piece of square or round tubing . Then purchase a replacement hitch and simply drill bolt holes thru the neck and mount the new hitch too the neck . half inch bolts are more than strong enough to do the job . very simple , really . On a trailer as small as you described , welding is not necessary . , good luck , fordy

[How Do I]

....Borrow a sawzall , purchase a couple of Bimetal cutting blades at home depot and cut the old hitch off leaving as much length on the neck as possible . I'm assuming here the neck is a single piece of square or round tubing . Then purchase a replacement hitch and simply drill bolt holes thru the neck and mount the new hitch too the neck . half inch bolts are more than strong enough to do the job . very simple....

About the same thing I was thinking.

[Terri]

I will run this past DH.

We are in no great rush: we don't need the trailer at the moment, so there is time to talk things out and consider! Not to take too long at it, I hope! When one wants their trailer, one wants their trailer!

[Beeman]

What does the tongue of the trailer look like and what type of hitch end does it have? Is the tongue square tubing? Is this a very light duty trailer? I would think the hitch part is welded on to the tubing. Drill and grind the welds off and that part should come off. look at an online catalog like Northern Hydraulics and see if there is an end like yours. A replacement could easily be bolted on, which would work fine. Then possibly welded on at a later date if you felt it needed doing.
For someone with a mobile welding service ask farm implement dealers or heavy equipment repair shops.

[Windy in Kansas]

Almost all welding shops listed in the Yellow Pages will have truck mounted portable welders if you don't proceed with the fix yourselves.

The welder would torch off the old offending hitch and weld the new one in place. Done easily and quickly but perhaps not cheaply since travel time is involved.