View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
JamesTXSD
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 7445 City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
|
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:35 am Post subject: Trailer brackets on King trailers for the CD-25 |
|
|
This came up on our Wild Blue cruising thread, but I thought it might be a good idea to post it separately for CD-25 owners. We had the front brackets on the outside bunks break while towing cross country. We didn't lose the boat, but it could have been a REAL problem. Here's the situation...
Fred (Anita Marie) posted on our thread that he had the same problem. He doesn't trailer much, we trailer a lot; so this may not be a metal fatigue situation. The guy who welded ours felt the design was not great, with those brackets carrying so much weight at a bend.
This is a heads-up for those with these boats and trailers to check the brackets at the inverted "Y" under the bunks.
Best wishes,
Jim B. _________________ Jim & Joan
CD-25 "Wild Blue" (sold August 2014)
http://captnjim.blogspot.com/
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
toyman
Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 556 City/Region: Lake Livingston
State or Province: TX
C-Dory Year: 2006
Vessel Name: Fan-C-Dory
|
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
Can't REALLY tell the configuration, but it looks like the top section was welded to the bottom with a poor weld ??? Lack of penetration on the weld is my guess and IF that's the case have a good welder grind them out and re-weld - PROPERLY. JMOO _________________ Dave W.
KE5GOH
Stuck in the 70's,
In East Texas |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Byrdman
Joined: 06 Nov 2003 Posts: 3320 City/Region: Cumberland River, Clarksville,
State or Province: WA
Vessel Name: " ? " After Rename Ceremony
Photos: FreeByrd and C-Byrd
|
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks Jim for the post. Again...often our trailers are overlooked....or more accurately.... enough is not shared when something goes wrong with our systems. That is a great use of this site and our owners group. Not sure unless you did a lot of welding...or just got lucky that you could have seen a bad weld...and, the visible outside/topside may have looked fine anyway.
I have another friend who had a very interesting event with his trailer. I think after everybody in the mix got finished pointing fingers at the others, the bottom line ended up with the trailer builder putting too short of axles on the trailer, and when the boat ran down the road, with a good load on it, the flex in the sidewalls of the tires rubbed on the inside edge of the tire, against the trailer fender. This ...."occasional inside the tire rub) was not visible....but, in some miles..... the sidewalls gave out one day when the boat weight "landed" on the trailer while retrieving the boat.
Now, good news...is these sidewalls on the tires due to the on again off again rub.... went out at zero forward speed .....rather than at some intersection of some interstate right at rush hour traffic.... That could have been deadly.
So... go ahead all... get behind your boat while loaded and check that clearance between the tires...and the fender....
Jim... I am sorry you had this problem, I am so glad you, your family and your boat are fine. Ya done good bringing this out for others to see.
Byrdman _________________ Patrick Byrd "Byrdman"
Cumberland River TN home waters Puget Sound Summers.
Miss B - CD22A, Aug 2018
C-Byrd, CD18A, Hull #14 sold again.. May 2020
C-Byrd, CD18A, Hu #14 - Bought her again - May16
Aloysius, Sold to Brother Mike Mar16
Aloysius, Hull # 440 RF-246
C-Byrd, CD18A, Hull #14 Sold May09
TC24, Hull #51, Sold Feb06
CD16A, Sold Dec03
Never Deny Yourself The Pleasure of Helping Others. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Nunya
Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 99
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Photos: Nunya
|
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
Just had the same problem with my King Trailer. Replaced the brackets. Haven't figured out what caused it yet. It's only the outside brackest on that bolt to the front axle.
Toyman, the brackets are all one piece. No welds. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4656 City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
|
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Oh, boy. Mahalo...good to know. I'll keep an eye on them. I ususally do a visual "once over" on the entire trailer upon every return home, as I'm cleaning the boat. But now I've got something to SPECIFICALLY look for in more detail. _________________ "We can go over there...behind the 'little one'....."
Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Sea Wolf
Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 8650 City/Region: Redding
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 1987
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Wolf
Photos: Sea Wolf
|
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Jim and all-
For What It's Worth- I concur with the welder. That's a really poor design!
The loading is all transferred at that weld from the inverted "Y" to the lower part of the bracket.
The straps ought to extend down along the lower bracket, be welded both at the top and bottom, so as to distribute the loading on over a larger area, and at several places.
The way it's set up, the whole load transfers at the weld, the area is too small, and flexing and metal fatigue take their toll.
Recipe for failure. Hope the engineer didn't design any airplanes , submarines, bridges, etc.
Joe. _________________ Sea Wolf, C-Brat #31
Lake Shasta, California
"Most of my money I spent on boats and women. The rest I squandered'. " -Annonymous |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Dreamer
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1764 City/Region: Really Sunny SaddleBrooke
State or Province: AZ
Photos: Dreamer
|
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
We saw two more like this at Bellingham on Sea Pal's identical trailer. My EZ Loader's looking better all the time! _________________ Roger
Once a C-Brat, always a C-Brat
Dreamer- Sold 25 Feb. 2013 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Nunya
Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 99
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Photos: Nunya
|
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
I sent an e-mail and pictures to the factory about this as I had the same problem. As expected, no reply. I'll keep a watch on the brackets and if they start to crack again I'll fabricate a new type out of aluminum. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Sea Wolf
Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 8650 City/Region: Redding
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 1987
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Wolf
Photos: Sea Wolf
|
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
Watch the new trailers coming out from this manufacturer (King Trailers).
Do they have the same bracket on their new trailers now?
Will the bracket design be changed within the next few months or so?
They probably don't want to admit to the faulty design for liability purposes, but a change in the brackets being put on the new trailers would indicated a recognition of the problem.
Joe. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4656 City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
|
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2016 1:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Add one more to the list. The starboard front bunk mount just gave way. We launched yesterday in Everett and I noticed it when I parked the truck/trailer. Was not like that on our Friday Harbor trip. Stupid design as it cracks right at the bend; metal fatigue I'd guess. Gonna look at making one myself. A friend has a CNC plasma machine and can cut up to 1/4" steel. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4656 City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
|
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 8:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
So I crawled underneath. I am sure the breakages are due to metal fatigue. The starboard one is 100% broken like the original picture. The port on is 100% broken at the rear and the forward side is about 30% cracked across the bend. It will give out in no time. Stupid...stupid....STUPID design. These brackets have the widest base and the sharpest angles (of bend). I'm gonna talk to my buddy and see if he can cut me something better. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Aurelia
Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 2331 City/Region: Gig Harbor
State or Province: WA
Photos: Aurelia
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|