Aluminum Cracking Around Side Door
dnmunch
Reg. Feb 2009
Posted 2009-02-03 3:59 PM (#98728)
Subject: Aluminum Cracking Around Side Door


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Posts: 4

Location: Laramie, WY		I have a six horse cheokee slant load with a side loading and unloading door for the front two slants.  The door configuration is a ramp with two doors on the top that hige to the side to open.  My problem is that the botom left corner and the top right corners are cracking the trailer is a 95 so its been around awhile and I know aluminum fatigues over time.  I have guseted the the corners but it is still cracking not as fast but would like to eliminate the cracking.  The trailer is really long and flexes alot around this door.  Does anyone have any suggestion on how to strengthen the bottom of the trailer up so it does not flex as much.
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gard
Reg. Aug 2007
Posted 2009-02-03 4:23 PM (#98730 - in reply to #98728)
Subject: RE: Aluminum Cracking Around Side Door


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A good fabricator can install doublers in the weak areas, where ever the trailer is flexing. Doublers will support any weak material that is suffering from fatigue, while adding additional strength and rigidity

It sounds as if your gussets were the right idea, and applied in the correct place. Maybe they were not large enough. It's a good idea to stop drill any present cracks to prevent their spreading. A good welder with some aluminum stock can probably fix your problem fairly easily.

Gard

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