Trailer fenders - flush mount anchor points

[Ign]

I've always wanted to try this, but I didn't have time to completely fab fenders for this client (I have previously on my own trailer using 3/16" and 1/4" plate and welded D-rings right on top) so I ordered a pair of square-broke from eBay for $170. The back wall is 1/8" flat bar but centered front to back I put in some 3" channel w two pcs of 5/8" solid stock for anchor points.

Silent, recessed, does not protrude into deck whatsoever, gives you tie downs centered between the axles, exactly where loads like pallets should be. People trying to hook ratchet straps to the lip of sheetmetal fenders is a huge pet-peeve of mine.

Triangulate under the fender as you see fit

edit: I should say I'm sure something like this has been done before, so while I don't claim to be the first ever it is my own design as far as I thought of it absent outside inspiration

 

[Mr.N]

Great idea, thanks for posting your results!

 

[Strouty]

Need something on the top too, it never fails that the thing being hauled is right up against the fender, but those are still cool and I may or may not steal this stolen idea.

 

[Ign]

Need something on the top too, it never fails that the thing being hauled is right up against the fender, but those are still cool and I may or may not steal this stolen idea.

I thought about exactly that - that's the one drawback to this design.

On my trailer I once hauled a hot tub for my neighbor - it BARELY fit between my fenders and in that case I was glad for my D-rings on top.

But I wasn't willing to add any meaningful tie-down to the top of production 14ga fenders here.

All day long at HD I see people with a pallet of concrete or pellets or peat moss centered over their axles (as it should be).....then they proceed to do their best imitation of a monkey ******* a football running straps to their sheetmetal fenders.

Point being this system is ok for a 40-48" pallet. A 7' hot tub.....not so much

 

[Ign]

I've also been borrowing my non-profit's 24' deck-over.....now there's another solution LOL! Forget fenders...

 

[Strouty]

Fenders are no fun, but the deck height is a huge difference. If you were to do something similar to what you did, except use channel iron all the way to the top of the fender, then you could put one more of the rods and have a rugged spot for the hook, or continue the channel iron into the fender, then create a brace between the tires for the strength.

 

[Jim greengo]

That's a neat idea,beats hooking straps to outside of fenders and bending them.
I wonder if that could be done to the backside of top mount tool boxes ?

 

[Ign]

Mine, but they're surprisingly labor intensive. I'd have to charge at least a grand to build a pair and most people aren't going to pay that when your average ****** 16' 5-lug car hauler is ~$2200

But I absolutely love 'em....in fact the biggest problem is that what I really want is to go from my 18' to a 22' but I've got this trailer so dialed to what I want I hate to replace it!

 

[bradpac]

Good idea! I will have to incorporate that in my soon to happen trailer rebuild. Can you post a link for the fenders?

 

[Ign]

Good idea! I will have to incorporate that in my soon to happen trailer rebuild. Can you post a link for the fenders?

These are the fenders. They're not the greatest thing in the world but hard to beat for $170 delivered

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Steel-14...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

[Bretny]

I really like the pocket idea.
These are the fenders i built for my car trailer last year. Left the front and side open. Allows me to use the tubes as anchor points.

I built them to park a polaris rzr sideways on.