Other Trailer or hitch carrier... which do you prefer?
- Thread starter Bmedlin85
- Start date
- Location
- CT
No blasting or bashing just stating facts. We could easily make them out of alum but won't because we don't make parts that break. Everything we do is over done.
Powder coated steal is fine in and out of salt water.
Powder coated steal is fine in and out of salt water.
- Location
- Naples, FL
Once again I am confused. What are these facts? When I think facts I like to see proof. I have 100% respect for you and your company, but I have a problem with you actually believing that aluminum construction is inferior to steel. Now maybe your not comfortable building them in aluminum because your not confident in your abilities working with aluminum or maybe your subcontracting your work to a 3rd party welder whom knows that steel has a higher profit margin. But all I did was comment on a post about hitch haulers and let everyone who cares I build them out of aluminum, that's all. Now if you still think that aluminum cant hold a ski then everyone feel free to visit my fathers website and see some other aluminum jobs we have done trough the years including aluminum tour boats and other things that aluminum apparently cant do. azweldinginc.com
WILKEY
SO FAR CHANGE SUCKS!!!!!!
Rad dudes hitch hauler is the 
! Along with everything else they build!
! Along with everything else they build!
- Location
- CT
The fact that steel is stronger than alum. Alum doesn't have the rigidity of steel.
No 3rd party our hitch hauler was designed by me and we build them in my shop and mig weld them.
Im not trying to fight with you. Also on yours you may want to add end to each side, not for just strength but for strapping the ski down. This way you can run endless loop staps, 1 on front, 1 on the back pulling the ski to center and locking it down. Makes it so easy and fast to strap. I don't even use the eyelets, people like having them on there but they are not needed if you strap it this way.
- Location
- Naples, FL
No, you did start a pissing match. Now I run a very successful welding company and I can design build and mass produce almost anything out of metal in my sleep. I see you said you have 130 in 3 years this about one a month. Not saying that is a bad thing but come on bro. Once again I was only giving my input to a group whom may be interested in my products. I also have a machine shop it if I really wanted to I could bang out those same little cookie cutter parts you make and bust your nuts on the price but that's not worth my time. I'm an avid rider and have put very nice skis on the haulers I build and once again if you want to over engineer things and brag about that, be my guest and that is why you still cant even sell your products on ebay because thats no way to run a business. Now I had no intentions off having to dig in on you. But maybe before the next time you try to bash someone else you should make sure that person is not way more experienced than you and know so much about you. P.S. my 8 year old son can mig weld, I at least have the decency to tig weld everything.
- Location
- CT
Not sure I understand why you are worked up.
All I said is that alum will not hold up, and it won't. It you do this for a living I would hope you could understand that.
"130 in 3 years is 1 a month" what does that mean? May want to work on your math.
We sell a very good amount on eBay so I'm not sure what you are talking about there. Most people find us on ebay and then go to our site to buy at a lower price because of the ebay fees.
If you think you can make the same parts we do and support the sport the way we do by sponsoring riders and events while coming out with new parts.... Then be my guest this sport need more support and needs new parts. It doesn't need people who say they can but just make junk.
My resume speaks for itsself.
All I said is that alum will not hold up, and it won't. It you do this for a living I would hope you could understand that.
"130 in 3 years is 1 a month" what does that mean? May want to work on your math.
We sell a very good amount on eBay so I'm not sure what you are talking about there. Most people find us on ebay and then go to our site to buy at a lower price because of the ebay fees.
If you think you can make the same parts we do and support the sport the way we do by sponsoring riders and events while coming out with new parts.... Then be my guest this sport need more support and needs new parts. It doesn't need people who say they can but just make junk.
My resume speaks for itsself.
- Location
- CT
Lol Ya I didn't start mig welding till 12 when my go kart broke and my father showed me how. Happy Fathers Day Dad RIP
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- Location
- A-TEX!!
here is one that I made for my SXI PRO a couple years ago.... The nose on the RN SJ is a bit higher but it still works on my SJ.
I think that this is about $50 in steel.... had some stuff laying around also. It just pins through the front bow eye and theres 2 hooks in the rear to strap it down. It will be pained safety orange after I notch and reweld the neck to fit the SJ perfectly.... OH, it also took a huge hit from a F250 and didnt skip a beat.... oh yea, I could jack the back of my truck up from the very rear of it as well
I think that this is about $50 in steel.... had some stuff laying around also. It just pins through the front bow eye and theres 2 hooks in the rear to strap it down. It will be pained safety orange after I notch and reweld the neck to fit the SJ perfectly.... OH, it also took a huge hit from a F250 and didnt skip a beat.... oh yea, I could jack the back of my truck up from the very rear of it as well
The Penguin
triple secret probation
- Location
- down by the river
I'm not sure why you say "aluminum won't hold up"
I can't be sure of the numbers - but as a guess, I'd say that 75% or better of new boats sold in Texas are delivered on an aluminum trailer. One of the oldest and well known galvanized steel trailer companies in Texas closed its doors last year. Was is it because of competition from the aluminum trailers? My guess would be yes.
There's been a number of aluminum trailer companies in Texas that have opened up and are doing lots of business up and down the Texas coast - I can only imagine that it's the same in other coastal areas of the country.
Plain and simple: for longevity, aluminum is better than galvanized steel which is better than powder coated steel in any coastal environment. I would not own a powder coated trailer or hitch hauler if aluminum was available.
oh - and you did start the pissing contest.
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- Location
- CT
On a trailer the wieght of the load is on the axles, so you are pulling the load not holding it. and yes alum trailers have had problems with stress cracks but thats a whole different topic. On a hitch hauler you are holding 300 or more pounds strainght out on the main shaft, going down the road your car or truck bounces that changes the load on the main beam to well or 3 times the load.
There is no question that Alum will hold up to the elements better than steel, my point was it cant deal with the load. We just had a customer a few weeks ago buy one of our haulers because his alum hauler bent. He was in FL too so im sure he is around salt and he was more than happy to go steel after owning an alum one.
My guess is you wash your skis after riding salt so why are you acting like the hauler is different and its living in the salt water? Just lower the hose down a few inches when you was the ski.
One more question???????????? Where are you finding hitch receivers for your trucks made out of alum? Oh ya thats right they are made out of steel.........
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- Location
- CT
Not saying we make the best, just saying Alum wouldn't be the best to use on the main beam.
I like the one where you said steelbeam aluminum rail and composite bunks. That's a new setup, a few extra $$ but a very nice setup.
I like the one where you said steelbeam aluminum rail and composite bunks. That's a new setup, a few extra $$ but a very nice setup.
The Penguin
triple secret probation
- Location
- down by the river
aluminum will hold up just fine if designed properly.
yes, the hitch receiver on my truck is steel - there is no other alternative to steel available on the market (that I'm aware of) - and yes, it's rusted to hell even though it was powder coated.
if/when the removable ball mount ever rusts through - it'll be replaced with a stainless steel unit.
dragginblazer
Do Good Jetski Crew
- Location
- North Richland Hills, TX
I welded a hauler up a few months ago out of left over 2x2x1/2" sq. tube and 2"od 1/4" wall pipe for the runners. Now I just need to get motivated and make a hitch for my truck.
You guys should galvanize the racks if you have a rust problem...
You guys should galvanize the racks if you have a rust problem...
- Location
- Homer Glen, IL
I have had an all aluminum reciever behind my 3500 for a few years now. I love it, no rust and super lightweight. Ive been pulling 14,000lbs with it weekly since i got it and it hasnt had a single problem. It made me nervous when we first bought it but now its all i use and i can promise you that the 10,000lb cat 287 skidsteer on the trailer puts more load on that reciever than a 300lb ski will put on a 3ft beam out the back of a hitch...
dragginblazer
Do Good Jetski Crew
- Location
- North Richland Hills, TX
So youre going to use a solid 2x2x36" aluminum bar?
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- Location
- Homer Glen, IL
If thats directed towards me I would use 1/4" wall and put gussets along it but thats just me.