Bowed Trailer Doors

cgc.baldhead
Reg. Apr 2012

Posted 2012-04-10 4:18 AM (#142952)
Subject: Bowed Trailer Doors

Member

Posts: 6

My horse "sat" on the butt bar when he was trailered. He slightly bent the door and some of the welds gave way. It has been rewelded but for some reason the repaired door has a slight bow and makes it very difficult to close. By difficult I mean putting all my weight into pushing the opposite door closed and getting handle into latch (whatever those parts are called). Once I get that done I must bang on the handle in order to get it down all the way to lock it. Local trailer builder said it was caused by the expanding weld. Any ideas on how to fix this so that I can easily close the door? His idea of putting a two x four on inside of bowed door didn't sound like a good idea.

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gard
Reg. Aug 2007

Posted 2012-04-10 6:15 AM (#142955 - in reply to #142952)
Subject: RE: Bowed Trailer Doors

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Posts: 5870
5000

Location: western PA

A competent fabricator would be able to cut and reweld the door's repair. Adding wood framing to align the door, would not result in satisifactory results.

Find a good welder, not the one who effected the initial repair, and he should be able to solve your door problems.

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horsey1
Reg. Dec 2004

Posted 2012-04-10 8:08 AM (#142961 - in reply to #142952)
Subject: RE: Bowed Trailer Doors

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Posts: 720
500

Sometimes the 2x4 is used as a piece to hold the door while it is sprung back into position. Aluminum is fairly malleable and can often be pushed back into shape without cutting and rewelding. Many door adjustments are done at trailer factories with a 2x4 or such, to make it just right.

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