Posted 2010-03-08 9:19 PM (#117353 - in reply to #117350) Subject: RE: skid plates for holding tanks
Veteran
Posts: 231 Location: Illinois
A friend of mine torn off the drainage pipe from her trailer last summer...my hubby fixed it for her, and we had this very discussion: Can a skid plate be installed to prevent this from happening again.. I am curious to hear any comments...I personally think it is a GREAT idea. :)
Posted 2010-03-08 10:50 PM (#117355 - in reply to #117350) Subject: RE: skid plates for holding tanks
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Texas
Unless you're just protecting from road debris its going to have to be a very heavy skid plate that will most likely have to stick down even further to make it strong enough. Trailers are heavy and a light weight "normal" skid plate like on most trucks will most likely just get crushed or pulled off when it hits something. Not to say that it wouldn't be possible on some trailers but most I've seen it wouldn't work well on.
Posted 2010-03-09 6:25 AM (#117360 - in reply to #117350) Subject: RE: skid plates for holding tanks
Regular
Posts: 69 Location: Elkhart , Indiana
it is very easy to install ,you need to weld supports on the beams fornt and back of the tank and have a plate made to weld under the tank . any good metal shop can do this . Good Luck
Posted 2010-03-09 8:12 AM (#117364 - in reply to #117350) Subject: RE: skid plates for holding tanks
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I'll agree with Greyhorse. My Logan came with a small skidplate under the valve area. I crushed it and had it rebuilt. We welded an even support bracket in place and I tore that right off. I decided I was better off to not have the skid plate and to have the 1" of clearance and just where I went a lot closer.
The weight of a LQ trailer is heavy enough that it will crush most skid plates.
Posted 2010-03-09 1:35 PM (#117376 - in reply to #117350) Subject: RE: skid plates for holding tanks
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
I commented in the looooong trailer thread about the problems I had dragging tanks. What I did when I put my new tanks in was to keep the plumbing seperate. That way I didn't have the low hanging connection. I then took some 3/8" thick x 1 1/2" wide strap iron and bent it in my press to go under the valves. Used muffler clamps to attach the valves to the strap. I drug the straps a couple of times and the only problem was the nuts on the clamps getting scuffed up. It probably wouldn't work at high speeds, but the times I drug it I was going very slow knowing I might hit. I could just back up and go to plan B. It worked very well for me. I didn't put a plate under the tanks because I didn't want the weight and I didn't want rocks sitting on the plate rubbing holes in the tank. The valves are usually the lowest hanging parts. Protect them and you should be fine most of the time.
Posted 2010-03-09 3:10 PM (#117385 - in reply to #117364) Subject: RE: skid plates for holding tanks
Elite Veteran
Posts: 736 Location: Western WA
Originally written by Painted Horse on 2010-03-09 8:12 AM
I'll agree with Greyhorse. My Logan came with a small skidplate under the valve area.
My Logan came with a pretty substantial skidplate under the valve area. Its probably 1/8" thick. It has saved me a couple of times going through very uneven grass or getting too close to a curb when turning in somewhere. Like someone else said earlier, it probably wouldn't support the weight of the trailer but its a nice first line of defense for the valve area.
Posted 2010-03-09 7:40 PM (#117399 - in reply to #117350) Subject: RE: skid plates for holding tanks
Elite Veteran
Posts: 602 Location: md
WhenI first got my trailer, I designed one for the tank outlets. It has since bent and ruptured the outlet pipe, which
I fixed my self, luckily. There is noting that will carry the weight of the trailer.
Posted 2010-03-10 10:32 AM (#117415 - in reply to #117350) Subject: RE: skid plates for holding tanks
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
A true skidplate must be able to carry the trailer, because for a period of time the trailer will be "skidding" on it, hence the name. I don't think it is practical to build one to protect the valves and tanks as one might want.
skid plates for holding tanks
