The wooden floor was rotten, so I took off all the sides
to replace it. I now have the metal skeleton of the trailer,
a square with an A frame at the front with the tow hitch,
and four angle iron uprights, one at each corner of the
square. I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
bend it back into alignment?
Thanks in advance,
Pete

"goodolpete"  wrote in message 
news:51e64c9c-8683-4e57-8753-5a1fd84497e5@s50g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
> The wooden floor was rotten, so I took off all the sides
> to replace it. I now have the metal skeleton of the trailer,
> a square with an A frame at the front with the tow hitch,
> and four angle iron uprights, one at each corner of the
> square. I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
> outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
> I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
> but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
> suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
> bend it back into alignment?
> Thanks in advance,
> Pete
>

Without knowing what relevant equipment you have, may I suggest the 
following options:

Heating with oxyacetylene
Bending by use of a long tube which fits over the upright
Putting block and tackle from top of upright to bottom of opposite upright. 
You may need someone else to come and hit the top of the upright with a 
sledge hammer while you pull on the rope.
Cutting the upright off (wholly or partly) and rewelding it straight.
Turning the trailer so that it lies on its side with the offending upright 
on the ground. Connect a rope to the opposite side and pull with a car so 
that all the weight is on the upright. Depending on how big and heavy the 
trailer is you may need some other bodies to come and jump on it.

HTH

Rob Graham

On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:10:53 +0100, goodolpete   
wrote:

> The wooden floor was rotten, so I took off all the sides
> to replace it. I now have the metal skeleton of the trailer,
> a square with an A frame at the front with the tow hitch,
> and four angle iron uprights, one at each corner of the
> square. I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
> outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
> I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
> but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
> suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
> bend it back into alignment?
> Thanks in advance,
> Pete
>


Use a large ratchet strap.

"Duncan Wood"  wrote in message 
news:op.ue1m4hwzhaghkf@lucy...
> On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:10:53 +0100, goodolpete 
>   wrote:
>
<snip>
>> I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
>> outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
>> I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
>> but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
>> suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
>> bend it back into alignment?
>
> Use a large ratchet strap.

But not anchored to the another up-right though, anchor it to the main 
chassis frame, otherwise the OP might just end up with two bent 
up-rights!

On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:34:33 +0100, Jerry <INVALID@invalid.invalid> wrote:

> "Duncan Wood"  wrote in message
> news:op.ue1m4hwzhaghkf@lucy...
>> On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:10:53 +0100, goodolpete
>>   wrote:
>>
> <snip>
>>> I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
>>> outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
>>> I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
>>> but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
>>> suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
>>> bend it back into alignment?
>>
>> Use a large ratchet strap.
>
> But not anchored to the another up-right though, anchor it to the main
> chassis frame, otherwise the OP might just end up with two bent
> up-rights!
>
>


Good point, although it hadn't occured to me somebody might do that

"Duncan Wood"  wrote in message 
news:op.ue3twu0jhaghkf@lucy...
> On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:34:33 +0100, Jerry <INVALID@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>> "Duncan Wood"  wrote in message
>> news:op.ue1m4hwzhaghkf@lucy...
>>> On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:10:53 +0100, goodolpete
>>>   wrote:
>>>
>> <snip>
>>>> I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
>>>> outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
>>>> I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
>>>> but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
>>>> suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
>>>> bend it back into alignment?
>>>
>>> Use a large ratchet strap.
>>
>> But not anchored to the another up-right though, anchor it to the main
>> chassis frame, otherwise the OP might just end up with two bent
>> up-rights!
>>
>>
>
>
> Good point, although it hadn't occured to me somebody might do that

Or if you can find a railing/crash barrier or whatever at the right height, 
you could reverse into it and push gently.

Steve

"shazzbat"  wrote in message 
news:g6pq8g$8qv$1@news.datemas.de...
>
> "Duncan Wood"  wrote in message 
> news:op.ue3twu0jhaghkf@lucy...
>> On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:34:33 +0100, Jerry <INVALID@invalid.invalid> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> "Duncan Wood"  wrote in message
>>> news:op.ue1m4hwzhaghkf@lucy...
>>>> On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:10:53 +0100, goodolpete
>>>>   wrote:
>>>>
>>> <snip>
>>>>> I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
>>>>> outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
>>>>> I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
>>>>> but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
>>>>> suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
>>>>> bend it back into alignment?
>>>>
>>>> Use a large ratchet strap.
>>>
>>> But not anchored to the another up-right though, anchor it to the main
>>> chassis frame, otherwise the OP might just end up with two bent
>>> up-rights!
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> Good point, although it hadn't occured to me somebody might do that
>
> Or if you can find a railing/crash barrier or whatever at the right 
> height, you could reverse into it and push gently.
>
> Steve
>

The upright goes outwards, not backwards.

Rob

Yeh - mine (home made, big thick and heavy angle iron) does that, and
I have lived with it for 15 years.

Mine's come about due to having welded all the steel angles up to form
the framework. and due to the thermal stress's setup the bottom cross
member warped, causing only one of the vertical uprights to lean
outwards. I tired everything to bend it back, but as I said I made it
out of big thick and heavy angle iron. The only way out would have
been to grind the welds out and reweld. But i just cannot be bothered.

>The wooden floor was rotten, so I took off all the sides
>to replace it. I now have the metal skeleton of the trailer,
>a square with an A frame at the front with the tow hitch,
>and four angle iron uprights, one at each corner of the
>square. I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
>outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
>I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
>but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
>suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
>bend it back into alignment?
>Thanks in advance,
>Pete

dutchman wrote:
> Yeh - mine (home made, big thick and heavy angle iron) does that, and
> I have lived with it for 15 years.
>
> Mine's come about due to having welded all the steel angles up to form
> the framework. and due to the thermal stress's setup the bottom cross
> member warped, causing only one of the vertical uprights to lean
> outwards. I tired everything to bend it back, but as I said I made it
> out of big thick and heavy angle iron. The only way out would have
> been to grind the welds out and reweld. But i just cannot be bothered.
>
>> The wooden floor was rotten, so I took off all the sides
>> to replace it. I now have the metal skeleton of the trailer,
>> a square with an A frame at the front with the tow hitch,
>> and four angle iron uprights, one at each corner of the
>> square. I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
>> outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
>> I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
>> but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
>> suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
>> bend it back into alignment?
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Pete

you only need to cut one of the welds, bend the other and reweld

"Mrcheerful"  wrote in message 
news:r96kk.35270$E41.18523@text.news.virginmedia.com...
> dutchman wrote:
>> Yeh - mine (home made, big thick and heavy angle iron) does that, and
>> I have lived with it for 15 years.
>>
>> Mine's come about due to having welded all the steel angles up to form
>> the framework. and due to the thermal stress's setup the bottom cross
>> member warped, causing only one of the vertical uprights to lean
>> outwards. I tired everything to bend it back, but as I said I made it
>> out of big thick and heavy angle iron. The only way out would have
>> been to grind the welds out and reweld. But i just cannot be bothered.
>>
>>> The wooden floor was rotten, so I took off all the sides
>>> to replace it. I now have the metal skeleton of the trailer,
>>> a square with an A frame at the front with the tow hitch,
>>> and four angle iron uprights, one at each corner of the
>>> square. I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
>>> outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
>>> I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
>>> but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
>>> suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
>>> bend it back into alignment?
>>> Thanks in advance,
>>> Pete
>
> you only need to cut one of the welds, bend the other and reweld
>

Problem is, we don't know if the OP has welding facilities.

Rob Graham

robgraham wrote:
> "Mrcheerful"  wrote in message
> news:r96kk.35270$E41.18523@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>> dutchman wrote:
>>> Yeh - mine (home made, big thick and heavy angle iron) does that,
>>> and I have lived with it for 15 years.
>>>
>>> Mine's come about due to having welded all the steel angles up to
>>> form the framework. and due to the thermal stress's setup the
>>> bottom cross member warped, causing only one of the vertical
>>> uprights to lean outwards. I tired everything to bend it back, but
>>> as I said I made it out of big thick and heavy angle iron. The only
>>> way out would have been to grind the welds out and reweld. But i
>>> just cannot be bothered.
>>>> The wooden floor was rotten, so I took off all the sides
>>>> to replace it. I now have the metal skeleton of the trailer,
>>>> a square with an A frame at the front with the tow hitch,
>>>> and four angle iron uprights, one at each corner of the
>>>> square. I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
>>>> outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
>>>> I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
>>>> but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
>>>> suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
>>>> bend it back into alignment?
>>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>> Pete
>>
>> you only need to cut one of the welds, bend the other and reweld
>>
>
> Problem is, we don't know if the OP has welding facilities.
>
> Rob Graham

Sorry, I should have snipped, my reply was aimed more at 'dutchman'

Mrcheerful

"Mrcheerful"  wrote in message 
news:K1ekk.35340$E41.5621@text.news.virginmedia.com...

<snip 30 odd lines of requoted text>
>
> Sorry, I should have snipped

Yes you should, twice! :~P

"Mrcheerful"  wrote in message 
news:K1ekk.35340$E41.5621@text.news.virginmedia.com...
> robgraham wrote:
>> "Mrcheerful"  wrote in message
>> news:r96kk.35270$E41.18523@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>>> dutchman wrote:
>>>> Yeh - mine (home made, big thick and heavy angle iron) does that,
>>>> and I have lived with it for 15 years.
>>>>
>>>> Mine's come about due to having welded all the steel angles up to
>>>> form the framework. and due to the thermal stress's setup the
>>>> bottom cross member warped, causing only one of the vertical
>>>> uprights to lean outwards. I tired everything to bend it back, but
>>>> as I said I made it out of big thick and heavy angle iron. The only
>>>> way out would have been to grind the welds out and reweld. But i
>>>> just cannot be bothered.
>>>>> The wooden floor was rotten, so I took off all the sides
>>>>> to replace it. I now have the metal skeleton of the trailer,
>>>>> a square with an A frame at the front with the tow hitch,
>>>>> and four angle iron uprights, one at each corner of the
>>>>> square. I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
>>>>> outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
>>>>> I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
>>>>> but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
>>>>> suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
>>>>> bend it back into alignment?
>>>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>>> Pete
>>>
>>> you only need to cut one of the welds, bend the other and reweld
>>>
>>
>> Problem is, we don't know if the OP has welding facilities.
>>
>> Rob Graham
>
> Sorry, I should have snipped, my reply was aimed more at 'dutchman'
>
> Mrcheerful
>

I forgive you.

Rob

On Jul 31, 10:07 am, "robgraham"  wrote:
> "Mrcheerful"  wrote in message
>
> news:K1ekk.35340$E41.5621@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > robgraham wrote:
> >> "Mrcheerful"  wrote in message
> >>news:r96kk.35270$E41.18523@text.news.virginmedia.com...
> >>> dutchman wrote:
> >>>> Yeh - mine (home made, big thick and heavy angle iron) does that,
> >>>> and I have lived with it for 15 years.
>
> >>>> Mine's come about due to having welded all the steel angles up to
> >>>> form the framework. and due to the thermal stress's setup the
> >>>> bottom cross member warped, causing only one of the vertical
> >>>> uprights to lean outwards. I tired everything to bend it back, but
> >>>> as I said I made it out of big thick and heavy angle iron. The only
> >>>> way out would have been to grind the welds out and reweld. But i
> >>>> just cannot be bothered.
> >>>>> The wooden floor was rotten, so I took off all the sides
> >>>>> to replace it. I now have the metal skeleton of the trailer,
> >>>>> a square with an A frame at the front with the tow hitch,
> >>>>> and four angle iron uprights, one at each corner of the
> >>>>> square. I've noticed that the back offside upright leans
> >>>>> outwards, it's 1 inch wider at the top than the bottom.
> >>>>> I've tried banging it, levering it and various other things,
> >>>>> but I can't bend the upright so it is vertical. Can anyone
> >>>>> suggest any clever way of getting enough leverage to
> >>>>> bend it back into alignment?
> >>>>> Thanks in advance,
> >>>>> Pete
>
> >>> you only need to cut one of the welds, bend the other and reweld
>
> >> Problem is, we don't know if the OP has welding facilities.
>
> >> Rob Graham
>
> > Sorry, I should have snipped, my reply was aimed more at 'dutchman'
>
> > Mrcheerful
>
> I forgive you.
>
> Rob- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Thanks for all your replies.
I have found someone with welding facilities and he will do the job
tomorrow.
Cherrs,
Pete