Is an Aluminum drawbar strong enough for a towbar rack

[VPT]

You guys are all on crack!

[xryan]

John, funny I was thinking exactly about THAT bridge, posting a picture of its collapse from steel fatigue, but alas I was shamed to tone it down. Not PC to discuss facts I guess.

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[John T]

I understand the replacement bridge is billet aluminum...

[welderj]

Bologna! Show me one pic of steel that cracked from fatigue.

[VPT]

Thats not fatigue, that is rust, and shock load. You can tell with the blue trailer as it is bent and well the rust.

[welderj]

Thats not fatigue, that is rust, and shock load. You can tell with the blue trailer as it is bent and well the rust.

Uhm, no it's not. It's rusty for 2 reasons, one is the paint cracks and flakes from the metal stretching and the other is from the bare metal exposed when the beam cracked from fatigue due to constant flexing. It's hard for those not experienced to see, but the rust lines follow the cracks. The blue trailer is rusty from the welded repaire from the fatigue cracks not being repainted after the repair.

Jon

[VPT]

No, that isn't bent at all (before welding).



The other cheap walmart trailer is rust and china metal.

[welderj]

No, that isn't bent at all (before welding).



The other cheap walmart trailer is rust and china metal.

That trailer is a semi trailer and that bend is factory. The frames on semi flats are fabricated that way to keep ride height down and still have a tall enough beam to carry the span.

[VPT]

That trailer is a semi trailer and that bend is factory. The frames on semi flats are fabricated that way to keep ride height down and still have a tall enough beam to carry the span.

Yes but normally isn't the "arch" up instead of sagging?

[welderj]

Yes but normally isn't the "arch" up instead of sagging?

Frequently both. The top is arched end to end, the bottom has a shorter steeper arch in the middle so the beam is thinner both in front at the pin and back over the wheels.

Jon

[VPT]

Well the fun seems to have come to an end in this thread. I thought I would get more of a rise out of the "steel doesn't crack" than I did.


But I would still use steel instead of aluminum for the OP's project. At least the part that goes in the receiver and part of the frame for the rack. From there I would bolt aluminum to the steel frame for the basket or shelves or what have you.

It does remind me of the times you see people stick all the heavy things on one side of their receiver rack and it bends and hits the ground on the heavy side after a few bumps in the road. I also get a kick out of the people that use them for hauling deer in the hunting season which around here is also salt/snow season at the same time. Nothing like salting down the deer all the way back to IL with road grime.

[Willie B]

Years ago a friend now deceased gave me a sheet showing how to make beef taste like venison. I can't remember all the steps. Gut shoot it, chase it ten miles, leave it on the ground overnight so coyotes can eat part, drag it through a swamp, then sand, across a greasy garage floor, hang it up with the hide, guts, and head still there. Leave it for a week, hung low enough for dog to wander through open door, and pee on it. Cut it up after plenty of warm days so flies lay eggs. Leave in refrigerator two weeks. Cook leaving fat & gristle on.

The point was that people mistreat venison disgracefully. You wouldn't dream of treating beef that way.

[Sandy]

Those insert carriers are the rocking-est, wobbling-est, bouncing-est, noisy-est dayem things I've sever seen. I picture the wear rate on an aluminum insert being phenomenal. Of course I also realize that most folks that want one generally don't end up using them as much as they think they will either. Maybe three times in the first six months then they set all cold and lonely in a corner somewhere.

The ones I know that do use the heck out of them always buy those HF or Northern Tools ones on the cheap. Those bolt together ones start tearing their self apart right off the git-go. They'll come around wanting you to 'patch it up a bit' cuzz you have that welder. I won't touch 'em. The benefit-reward to effort ratio is all bass ackwards on them. It is still a turd when you're done.

[VPT]

Years ago a friend now deceased gave me a sheet showing how to make beef taste like venison. I can't remember all the steps. Gut shoot it, chase it ten miles, leave it on the ground overnight so coyotes can eat part, drag it through a swamp, then sand, across a greasy garage floor, hang it up with the hide, guts, and head still there. Leave it for a week, hung low enough for dog to wander through open door, and pee on it. Cut it up after plenty of warm days so flies lay eggs. Leave in refrigerator two weeks. Cook leaving fat & gristle on.

The point was that people mistreat venison disgracefully. You wouldn't dream of treating beef that way.

It is an amazing thing to witness! I have a very hard time trusting to eat any one elses venison. But I have seen the light this year. I have hunted and had venison since I was a young lad. This year was the first year I dropped the deer in one shot nearly in the spot he stood. It is the absolute best venison I have ever had! I have heard the myth before but now am a believer that venison can taste like a steak! In a pan, little salt and pepper and WOW! I have yet to try it on the grill just to see. It is amazing! I have to try that every time.