Best fix to stop transcrafts from cracking

Keep the dump,just don't use it if you don't need to when you are loaded. Some guys think it's a toy,it's not,it's a tool. If you need it to get in somewhere use it,if not keep the weight on 2 axles,it helps. And to the naysayers T-craft has 2 or 3 frame choices,i always went with the big dog,they hold up. Just like the guy with the Big Bubba,try what you're doing with the Max Miser,you'll be hangin out over in Reading,Pa. getting you trailer straightened out. Back to Ducatijay,you have a minor problem,just do the best you can with what you have and when you get ready to move up do some research as to what various mfg's have to offer. And ignore the guy with the hope no one gets hurt,the problem you have is not that serious. Back in the old days the Steel Mills gave you whatever you wanted. We used to put a 50K in the Nose and a 50K over the spread on 5 axles. We had problems with cracking,crossmembers squashing,hangers breaking loose and we did this everyday. I don't know anyone who had a trailer lay down,and or have a beam break and go to the ground.

 

I've seen trailers broken in half more than once, it does happen, but I doubt your transcraft is going to. The design of them trailers is to flex. The more you stiffen it up, the worse it will crack.

Like Admiral said, find a good welder. Or go buy a new trailer.

 

i have friends that have transcrafts and most of them older than 05 cracked at some point and were repaired and no longer have problems.....they do local work with lots of turning and twisting and load 48,000 + every load .........if you look at the newer trailers and see the way they are braced with xtra cross members at the mounting points the problem can be solved easily and permanently

 

One more time! Yeah i've seen trailers broken in half but, not with the minor problem you are having and or the way your loads are distributed over a fairly large area. Another suggestion. When you get in parking lots where there are other flat beds and drop decks, ck. their frames out. Manac,Doonan,Trailking,XL Specialized all do what i call fish plating in transition and stress areas. That should give you an idea of what you want to do with your trailer. Some of my best ideas have been stolen from other people. Some people think i'm pretty sharpe,i just try to pay close attention to what other people are doing.

 

We had one of ours "fixed" but it cracked again. We ended up selling them to BEI who rents them. They bought them knowing they were cracked and said they knew how to fix them, never gave any details and at the time I didn't care as long as they were gone. I would probably call a Transcraft dealer since they were the ones in charge of fixing the cracks when they were still under warranty. There are no shortage of weekend welders who think they know what works and as I found out very few of them actually do.

I know a lot of guys like to blame dump valves or over loading causing the cracks. Out of the 2 we had that cracked like I said neither were over loaded and one cracked at the rear axle. It's just a poor design or poor quality steel or a combination of both.

As far as the Utility being a good trailer it all depends on what you haul and your price range. There are tons of good used trailers around and even better deals on repo stuff. I bought a 1yr old $70,000+ trailer for $31,000 if that tells you anything.

 

^^^i suspect transcraft steel quality to

i have a 1973 48' transcraft the frame and cross members are still in excellent condition. i looked to buy a newer 53' transcraft but never found one that didnt have major rust problems.

 

1973.....? Didn't know transcraft was around back then.

 

I bought a new 95 Eagle from E&R. They spec their trailers with every heavy option available. Heaviest frame available, 30,000 lb axles,etc. for the guys that haul double loads. I never had more than 50,000 on the deck. I found the first crack when it was 3 weeks old and never could get it to stop. I replaced 200 broken floor bolts when it was 1 1/2 years old. I would never buy one again.