Welding on a new aluminum trailer.

[rerod]

Hey everyone.

I can mig steel, but I remember welding aluminum back in school was a ***** especially the vertical welds common on trailers. I passed the class, but that was all the experience Ive got.

Ive been searching for a used narrow track 7x16 enclosed trailer to convert into a Mini ToyHauler to down size from my sold featherlite TH. I should never have sold the big 8.5x24 featherlite, because I have yet to buy the sort of rare narrow track I'm searching for. I find them on CL, but there to far away, or have barn doors or ceiling to low, 4" fenders etc. Narrow tracks have wheel wells, and no fenders.

Anyway, I can order a new united 7x16 for around $7500, or featherlite can custom build me a 7x16 single axle V nose cargo for $10500. I really like the quality and the longevity of the featherlite and am leaning towards ordering one, but I'm sure eventually I will want to modify it and need to weld. But on the other hand, ordering a steel trailer from United makes me cringe because Ive heard about quality control issues and just the fact your ordering a custom built trailer few companies offer anymore. Mistakes are made and I might end up with a trailer not built to my specs.

Anyway, should I order the featherlite and figure in a spool gun or tig and allot of practice? Or continue to look for a steel narrow track trailer since I already have a mig welder.?

Thanks!

 

[ez-duzit]

Forget about welding on an aluminum trailer. Bolt on your mods.

 

[Bretny]

Why aluminum? For the rust factor? They make galvanized trailers now.

 

[Slowgsr]

Aluminum trailers are great for being lightweight.

I wouldn't learn on a trailer, you don't have a friend with a tig machine by any chance ?

 

[bad_idea]

I hate dealing with aluminum. I would stick (or MIG) with the steel one. See what I did there?

 

[gearhead1]

I don’t remember what the spool gun for my Miller 180 was when I bought it in 2009. I think it was about $150 - $200 when I got it. I’d go the spoolgun/aluminum route. Welding time is welding time, with steel or aluminum.

I looked up a Spoolmate 100 gun which is $337.
https://store.cyberweld.com/sp100migsp.html

So, is the spool gun cost worth having the lighter trailer which will be easier on your truck?

Said differently,
Is $337 worth having a lighter trailer?

 

[BD1]

You're gonna need some amps for aluminium.
What mig machine doesn't you have ??

 

[BillK]

Sounds like you are leaning towards the aluminum. I would go that route but dont waste your money on a spool gun etc. Figure out everything that you need welded to the trailer and take it to a pro and have them TIG it all on at one time. Like the others have mentioned you need a lot of amps to weld anything substantial in aluminum. Not a good place to practice.

 

[bczygan]

Sounds like you are leaning towards the aluminum. I would go that route but dont waste your money on a spool gun etc. Figure out everything that you need welded to the trailer and take it to a pro and have them TIG it all on at one time. Like the others have mentioned you need a lot of amps to weld anything substantial in aluminum. Not a good place to practice.

This.

Take it to a pro as needed.

AMPS and machine needed for an aluminum trailer will be expensive. And you'll need a lot of practice with it.

Bill

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

The strongest aluminum trailers are actually bolted together. Just look at the aluminum frames on over the road heavy trucks. They’re bolted where they need to be instead of welded. Doodads get welded on, structural members get bolted.

 

[rerod]

You're gonna need some amps for aluminium.
What mig machine doesn't you have ??

Thanks everyone.. I have a millermatic 250 mp

Featherlite seems more than willing to custom make me a 7x16 toyhauler. So I guess I better have them install the windows and bathroom, and then finish out the interior myself. Most other stuff like my pitbull motorcycle restraining system and what not I can bolt in.

I was trying to keep the cost at $14k since that's what I sold the big old featherlite for. But maybe I should be more realistic and generous for a trailer I plan to live in for months at a time after I retire.

 

[aczr2k]

7x16 is sort of small isn't it? My fish house is 8x16 plus v and I'm not living in that for months at a time.

 

[rerod]

7x16 is sort of small isn't it? My fish house is 8x16 plus v and I'm not living in that for months at a time.

Sort of, but a good compromise from the 8.5x24 I had after I attach a wall tent. The 7' width is just as important.

7x16 will allow me to get further up the narrow forest service roads I used to only access by motorcycle.

I talked to featherlite today and was told prices have gone up 11% because of the tariffs.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The strongest aluminum trailers are actually bolted together. Just look at the aluminum frames on over the road heavy trucks. They’re bolted where they need to be instead of welded. Doodads get welded on, structural members get bolted.

So how do you bolt to a closed box section or other places where you can not "get behind" ?

Do they use steel or stainless steel bolts ? If they use steel, you they install plastic isoluation washers ?

 

[bradpac]

So how do you bolt to a closed box section or other places where you can not "get behind" ?

Stainless steel rivnuts. Those things are great when working with box tubing.

 

[jubilee]

I’ve owned aluminum livestock trailers since the early seventies and aluminum tank trailers since the sixties. Had to learn aluminum welding out of necessity and got very good at it over the years. Stick, mig, and tig. If you have a dc stick welder, I suggest starting there with aluminum rod.
I have a huck gun but you can buy a 1/4” air rivet gun at HF for about $70. Very good tool. Probably eliminate 90% of your welding. Only use aluminum rivets. Steel shank ok. If you do have to bolt aluminum to steel, use plastic to isolate steel from aluminum. Use stainless bolts. Paint shank of bolt, coat shank with anti seize and use plastic washers. Use plastic to isolate aluminum from steel when riveting.

 

[bugman53]

Stainless steel rivnuts. Those things are great when working with box tubing.

Rivnuts are great but stainless and aluminum do not play well together. You will get galvanic corrosion if it is exposed to moisture. I have not looked but i am sure you can get specially coated steel rivnuts that are compatible with aluminum though.

 

[ez-duzit]

Rivnuts are great but stainless and aluminum do not play well together. You will get galvanic corrosion if it is exposed to moisture. I have not looked but i am sure you can get specially coated steel rivnuts that are compatible with aluminum though.

This is true. Use cadmium plated steel.