Booby trap on a trailer, can you picture the accident?

That's great advice! Take an unsafe trailer on the road. I guess it's ok as long as you're taking it to the weigh station! Smh

 

Every part of a van trailer is a structural member. Side walls, roof, bottom, doors, skin, everything. It's a stressed box when loaded. That crease in the side of the trailer severely weakens it.

Here's an interesting article that shows how even seemingly minor damage can have disastrous results:

http://www.robsonforensic.com/artic...igates-semi-trailer-that-collapsed-under-weig

 

And if it really is gonna fall apart they will what give him a medal at the coop. I don't think so they will throw the #### book at him. Just simply refuse what ever happened to saying no I am not dragging unsafe equipment. The only way the DOT can help is if he gets them to come put it OOS exactly where it sits with his truck NOT hooked to it.

 

Hi windsmith, while that is true, we don't know what that trailer had on it. The average forklift weighs 9,000 lbs. and couple that to an already overloaded trailer, it could indeed buckle in the middle.

 

It must be worse in person, I don't see a problem other than a slight scrape. Seen worse on the road, and probably pulled much worse.

 

its the cardboard shoe box theory ,very strong until it gets a little soggy and than all structaral integrity is lost

 

I personally won't take a chance on a trailer with a creased wall. I'll write it up and deadline it. Once a mechanic signs off on it, then it's not on me if it splits in half with a load on it.

 

half the dry boxes on the road are this bad or worse
do most of you guys say this stuff
just to confuse a newbie?

 

Many of us drivers pulled trailers much worse than this in the way of sheet metal damages. The only probable problem would be a water leak. Worry about a huge gash, where the ribbing can plainly been seen tore off. THEN don't pull it.


Rookies.

 

Nope. Just because you old timers always do it that way doesn't make it the right thing to do.

Load it up to max gross with paper rolls, haul it down the cross bronx and let me know how that turns out for you.