Strange Events

I had this happen last week. I have never seen this before.

Finding folks to do this repair is not easy nor cheap. Trailer places are expensive as well as a waiting list to get into the shop.

I’ve learned alot this past week for sure.

It should be done next week and back on the road. I rented a trailer from a buddy until it is fixed. Always nice to have resources!!

It's hard to tell what I'm looking at. Are those huge holes in the plate?

I’ve seen the beginnings of this on a trailer I pulled for a while. You’d think it would be a straight forward and simple repair for a welder. Was it really a big job or was the shop just backed up?

I guess good thing you caught it when you did!

Looks like corrosion big time. Is the trailer plate coming un-welded?

The machined holes are suppossed to be there. Where the plate caved in isn’t. Plate, kingpin and support braces all have to be replaced. Overhead welding is a pain.

It was rusted out bad. An area alot of people never pay much attention too.

In my research with the manufactuer that plate on a standard trailer, IE spread axle flatbed is a 1/4” thick plate. On heavier trailers 3 axle stepdecks it is a 3/8” plate.

I will be replacing it with a 3/8” plate and needed supports. Price tag is 2500-3000 range. A trailer shop, the one I actually bought it from 2 years ago quoted me 5k for a standard 1/4” plate.

I’m probably going over kill but I won’t have this issue again.

that’s good thinking if i were you I would do the same I’ve only ever seen that one other time and it too was on a spread axle im really glad you caught it just goes to show you the value of a good post/pre trip

Got my trailer back all fixed up. Just finished reinstalling the floor. I sprayed flex seal on the inside before putting the floor back on. That trailer will most likely live on past the end of my career.

The welding shop I used was awesome. Below is the plate and supports after he removed it.