FIL getting after it

[guest hs]

My FIL and I started the triple axle conversion last night on my Coles new boat trailer. He is 76 years old and was a welder at Titanium Metals for 25 years. He’s doing the grinding, removal and welding portion and I’m doing the axle spring and fender install. Not to many people his age still doing jobs like this.

 

[BLOWN HOWARD]

Why not go torsion axles instead of old school leafs?

 

[Runs2rch]

Why not go torsion axles instead of old school leafs?

Cheaper.

 

[BLOWN HOWARD]

Cheaper.

cheaper is running 2 axles haha i dont get the hype behind the triple axle deal but to each there own

 

[RichL]

View attachment 839756 View attachment 839757 View attachment 839758 View attachment 839760 View attachment 839758 My FIL and I started the triple axle conversion last night on my Coles new boat trailer. He is 76 years old and was a welder at Titanium Metals for 25 years. He’s doing the grinding, removal and welding portion and I’m doing the axle spring and fender install. Not to many people his age still doing jobs like this.

You're both lucky he can still get down on his knees. Good luck with the project.

 

[Runs2rch]

cheaper is running 2 axles haha i dont get the hype behind the triple axle deal but to each there own

True.

I ordered a triple torsion for our 210 in 04. At the time we were towing 300 miles each way. Tows much better.

Not to mention it looks cool haha.

 

[Carlson-jet]

Those old welder dudes can't get enough. Take it easy on the guy.
Obviously you are in with Fil.
Damn cool guy and let him know others feel that way.

 

[bocco]

I hope you are at least dumping the drum brakes. I tried to save money on a trailer refresh by leaving the drums. I gave back the savings when my brakes froze and over heated and cooked all of the grease out.

 

[Taboma]

You're both lucky he can still get down on his knees. Good luck with the project.

That's no shit right there --- I did notice his FIL and I use the same kind of foamy pad to kneel on ---- getting down is the easy part, popping noises aside, it's the getting up that produces some interesting vocalization and the occasional creation of a new four letter word.

 

[guest hs]

I didn’t go torsion for the simple reason I had two good existing spring type axle set ups already so more or less cost was the reason and I will be adding disk brakes to it and ditching the drums.

 

[cole_skier]

I didn’t go torsion for the simple reason I had two good existing spring type axle set ups already so more or less cost was the reason and I will be adding disk brakes to it and ditching the drums.

That sure is a nice trailer your cutting up. [emoji23][emoji848]


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[guest hs]

That sure is a nice trailer your cutting up. [emoji23][emoji848]


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Yah yah I know haha it will be even nicer next week

 

[D19]

I didn’t go torsion for the simple reason I had two good existing spring type axle set ups already so more or less cost was the reason and I will be adding disk brakes to it and ditching the drums.

Cool project. I stayed with my leafs when I did my trailer restoration. It didn't make sense to switch over to torsion. I bought new hangers to relocate the axles and new spindles to weld on one side after shortening the axles. I didn't want to deal with having to grind the old ones down perfect to weld back onto the shortened axle on. My boat is light so I ditched the brakes all together.

 

[BLOWN HOWARD]

That sure is a nice trailer your cutting up. [emoji23][emoji848]


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I dont remember the old one being in that bad of shape?

 

[ka0tyk]

Lookin good.

Did you get greaseable shackle bolts? They werent very much more when I did mine.

 

[guest hs]

Cool project. I stayed with my leafs when I did my trailer restoration. It didn't make sense to switch over to torsion. I bought new hangers to relocate the axles and new spindles to weld on one side after shortening the axles. I didn't want to deal with having to grind the old ones down perfect to weld back onto the shortened axle on. My boat is light so I ditched the brakes all together.

View attachment 839771 View attachment 839772

View attachment 839774
View attachment 839773

Nice job!

 

[guest hs]

I dont remember the old one being in that bad of shape?

Its a different trailer all together. Im selling the original one that just needs a paint job.

 

[CJ_Donahue]

Ha. I would have sold you mine in a heartbeat. I use a powercaster and it is a pain in the ass with a triple axle.

 

[C08H18]

My Cole trailer rebuild 3 yrs ago. Besides new lighting, added a front roller to reduce bend/bounce, eliminated the U-bolts on jack stand, and added rear tie downs.

 

[guest hs]

View attachment 839775
Ha. I would have sold you mine in a heartbeat. I use a powercaster and it is a pain in the ass with a triple axle.

Your boats a little bigger then mine

 

[guest hs]

View attachment 839779
My Cole trailer rebuild 3 yrs ago. Besides new lighting, added a front roller to reduce bend/bounce, eliminated the U-bolts on jack stand, and added rear tie downs.

Very nice!

 

[guest hs]

Lookin good.

Did you get greaseable shackle bolts? They werent very much more when I did mine.

No I didn’t but now that I see those I wish I did oh well, my house is only 2 miles from the Windsor ramp

 

[coolchange]

Shorter springs? Looks like you just added an axle to the front?

 

[guest hs]

Shorter springs? Looks like you just added an axle to the front?

What I did was cut off the front spring hanger and front fender step I’m adding an equalizer and hanger to the frame then the extra spring and axle then adding an additional forward spring hanger

 

[Universal Elements]

View attachment 839756 View attachment 839757 View attachment 839758 View attachment 839760 View attachment 839758 My FIL and I started the triple axle conversion last night on my Coles new boat trailer. He is 76 years old and was a welder at Titanium Metals for 25 years. He’s doing the grinding, removal and welding portion and I’m doing the axle spring and fender install. Not to many people his age still doing jobs like this.

Yeah, they are still around. My brother just turned 70 and he works more (now) then he did when he was 50. Nice project, too bad the trailer couldn’t be turned upside down and place about 3 feet high. Would of made things a lot easier for your FIL.

 

[AEA]

Did you do calculations for tongue weight with the new axle layout?

 

[RandyH]

Torsion inserts are hit and miss.....from my experience anyway.

 

[guest hs]

Did you do calculations for tongue weight with the new axle layout?

I know the tongue weight is not going to be correct since it’s such a short trailer with three axles and with leaving the two in their original location. I’m doing this more for looks then anything. The wife said no to a new boat so I’m just doling my old girl up a bit.

 

[guest hs]

Torsion inserts are hit and miss.....from my experience anyway.

View attachment 839786

I have seen way more torsion axle failures through my shop then traditional leaf spring axles.

 

[bocco]

Lookin good.

Did you get greaseable shackle bolts? They werent very much more when I did mine.

I've got a box of these at home right now along with new bushings. Waiting for an opportunity to swap them while the boat is off the trailer. Not sure why but the kit that I bought uses a non wet bolt for the center equalizer then taps the top of the equalizer for a 90 degree zurk fitting.

 

[rivermobster]

Nice jacket.

 

[Mandelon]

That's cool of the old man to help out. 75 is the new 65!

 

[DirtyWhiteDog]

Cool project, keep the area well ventilated. Those old lungs don't work as well as they used to.

 

[guest hs]

Got it all laid out tonight

 

[Universal Elements]

Is that too close? Especially when you have the weight of the boat, wouldn’t it get closer? Your top picture has a lot more space.

 

[guest hs]

Whe

View attachment 839960 View attachment 839961

Is that too close? Especially when you have the weight of the boat, wouldn’t it get closer? Your top picture has a lot more space.

when the wheels are put on the front axle and the stand are removed it will have clearance between the shackle and frame. I’m waiting on the front tires and nothing is welded yet just mached up

 

[guest hs]

Made some more progress

 

[2FORCEFULL]

CTB.....(cool thread bump)

 

[D19]

Looks good! Are you going to have the trailer repainted?

 

[guest hs]

Some more progress tonight everything is welded ran the side marker light wires back threw the frame to their new location made a nice hole with a grommet compared to the hack job the trailer manufacturer did with a torch as you can see. Mount the fenders and forward step and she is done. The trailer has a real nice paint job on it so I’m just going to repaint the spots that are bare now with self etching primer then paint

 

[Sherpa]

me personally I'd weld up every hole that penetrates that tubing...... for wiring, grind a flat on a washer, and weld them on the inside of the frame.. (not inside the tubing)......... or make damn sure you seal up every hole in the tubing with silicone.

--Sherpa

 

[guest hs]

Well here is the final product. I just have some paint touch up in a few spots and paint the axle and it’s done. $1100 in parts and about 6 hours in labor. Not to bad for a guy that has to ask help with plumbing questions!

 

[cole_skier]

Well here is the final product. I just have some paint touch up in a few spots and paint the axle and it’s done. $1100 in parts and about 6 hours in labor. Not to bad for a guy that has to ask help with plumbing questions! View attachment 844301 View attachment 844304 View attachment 844305

That looks great. Nice work


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[ToMorrow44]

Well here is the final product. I just have some paint touch up in a few spots and paint the axle and it’s done. $1100 in parts and about 6 hours in labor. Not to bad for a guy that has to ask help with plumbing questions! View attachment 844301 View attachment 844304 View attachment 844305

Looks good! That’s a good price, usually those fenders are about $1000 by themselves

 

[Riverryder]

What are you doingo for prep with the paint? Just rattle can it?


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