TRAILER WARNING!!!!

[cheriann]

As most of you know, we bought a trailer last year for hubby to pull behind the Nomad. I wish I could remember the brand name, but we got it from ebay. We had something happen that could have been a HUGE disaster, with it on our Florida trip.

We have used this trailer for a few long trips, including all the way to Canada last year. So, I don't know if this is something that happens over time, or just a defect in the welding to ours. Thank goodness, Chaz was tailgunner and none of us on bikes were behind him.

Okay, the story....we were coming back from the Keys in alot of traffic over all those bridges. Suddenly, I heard Chaz scream into my Scala that the tool box came off of the trailer! I turned around at the next safe place and headed back. I got there in time to see Chaz carrying the tool box back to his bike. Thank goodness, the car behind him was far enough back that he could stop in time before hitting the tool box in the road. When we think of ALL the worst case senerios that could have happened, it scares us! He spent the rest of the trip with the tool box strapped down onto the top of the trailer.

He's going to get it welded back down again, but this time he said he is making a cross-type bracket to secure it better.

The first picture shows the beginning of our trip, when the trailer looked its best! The rest show the end result







Where it broke off

[cheriann]

Oh, if the lights look different in the back, Chaz changed the lights for the turn signals and added them to the fenders.

[fish]

other then that I hope yous had a nice trip, are we going to see some pics? I hope.

[spazz]

As Cheri stated this was huge disaster that was avoided. The Brand of the trailer is Alumalite.

I was riding along I heard something hit the road close to me. Then, I heard a dragging sound. The trailer jumped behind me and I saw my toolbox in the mirror sliding across the highway. Both welds had broken at the bottom of the box. The weld ripped a hole the length of the weld and the other side only a small hole. I can't understand why there was only two 3" welds holding this box on. The box is 12x12x12 and is called a toolbox/cooler by the company. The rail it was down on is only 3" wide. With tools in the box ridding down the road they shift from side to side. I am guessing that this is what caused the box to break loose. I do not understand why there was no cross bracing to help this from happening. I am hoping that the company will make good on a replacement. If they do not then I will be welding cross bracing on it to keep this from happening again.

[cactusjack]

Hey Mitch! You see this?

[recumbentbob]

Man o man that could have been disastrous.

Glad it wasn't.

[ringadingh]

The welds probably would hold in most circumsatnces, but mounted where it is, it catches the wind and with the flexing from road vibration I can see that happening. On a thousand other trailers it may never happen. Do the welds look solid where they broke or are they punky looking? Either way if it was me Id also drill and bolt the box down with some large washers on either side.

[waterman]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

The welds probably would hold in most circumsatnces, but mounted where it is, it catches the wind and with the flexing from road vibration I can see that happening. On a thousand other trailers it may never happen. Do the welds look solid where they broke or are they punky looking? Either way if it was me Id also drill and bolt the box down with some large washers on either side.

2nd what Ring says. Bolt the damn thing down. I would have thought they would have had 2 more welds on each of the long sides rather than the short sides of the bracket.

[ray2]

That sure could hav turned out alot worst glad it did not. I think the Alumalite is a good sturdy well built trailer. looks like thay had plenty of room for more weld along the length of the toung or the box could be bolted on.Chaz is right some braceing would be good.

[Cajunrider]

Just saw this! Cheri and Spazz, if you purchased it from the same company as I did, it is America's Best Trailers.com. The owner's name is Jason. Can't remember his last name. I don't have a tool box on mine. This option came available after I purchased mine. I have a cooler rack on my trailer that bolts down. Thanks for the heads up. I will examine my trailer very closely, especially the 2x2" square tubing welds.

[cheriann]

I will add that we had problems with the lock on the cooler not holding and the lid would flip open while riding down the road. When contacted them, they sent him a new lock right away. I feel sure they will appreciate the heads up on the current welding problem and help us out. We'll keep you posted!

[BudMan]

I don't see how it managed to not get trapped under the trailer.
Very fortunate.

[macmac]

Coolers should face backwards so the wind can't blow lids open! A frame should have been welded to the trailer to hold the tool box, and then bolted.

It's a good thing the trailer didn't hit the fallen tool box and dump Chaz.

My trailer came off the hitch in SD and took us down. The latch was still locked with a combination lock, but somehow the gravel road we were on forced the hitch to pop off the ball still locked.

I looked and looked that ball and hitch all over and could find nothing wrong, never did find anything wrong.

You can bet any time after that I triple checked that hitch. It had been locked on for 4 days never coming off till the crash, so it beats me as to what exactly happened.

Behind the scene I could see where the trailer snaked around for about 13 turns, which was felt on the bike as the rear end getting dragged out from under us.

The left saddle bag was holed where the trailer tongue went in before we went down.


IN THE STILL shot of Chaz seated on the bike I see the trailer chains laying on the pavement!

I hope that was just the set up for a quick pic and the chains don't drag....

I bolt the chains one per side on the traler end of the tongue, so I can cross them under the tongue, which catches the trailer draw bar in the event of a disconnect.

For anyone towing that would be a real wise idea if you haven't.

[redjay]

Alumalite should be notified and a recall for inspection/fix done. This could be disasterous for someone.

[cheriann]

Originally Posted by macmac

Coolers should face backwards so the wind can't blow lids open! A frame should have been welded to the trailer to hold the tool box, and then bolted.

Excellent point! I'll make sure Chaz has already thought of this when mounting it back on again