Transcraft 48' Highboy Repairs

[Metalman 55]

We bought this used 48' Transcraft combo Highboy a few months back & decided since it seems to work good for us to sandblast & paint the lower steel section & when we started blasting found things quite rough at the front near the kingpin. We have now cut the kingpin plate loose & dropped it & plan to replace the web section of the two main beams. The upper & lower flanges look good, but the web repairs will be somewhat extensive labor wise. We are into it now, so plan to see it through. We did not pay much for the trailer & feel we can make a good trailer out of it once the repairs are completed.

 

[Metalman 55]

Few more pics.

 

[mitch504]

Looks well worth fixing.

 

[Metalman 55]

Anyone know what this extruded decking product is called, that we have on the Transcraft deck? I need to source a little of it on this repair project & am not sure how to identify it.

 

[ianholt150]

I don't know what they use for decking material, but I think that that is aluminum. You might check with Hillsboro Trailers. Their new Endura stock trailer has a similar floor in it.

 

[Junkyard]

Aurora parts is the main supplier for transcraft and Benson trailers. I've heard it called aluminum floor plank or extruded aluminum floor plank. There are several weights on it from a box van to a flatbed. I think it's sold in 8' lengths. I would think a good trailer shop could get a comparable product or go through a Transcraft dealer or direct to Aurora Parts.

 

[Metalman 55]

We finally completed the structural repairs & sandblasting on the trailer today & got it over to a local spray painting shop for painting. The front part of the web of H-frame on both sides had rusted through near the front of the trailer, so we replaced the web & put new stiffeners in, as well as a new 5th wheel plate & king pin. Hope to have the painting completed within a few days.

 

[DMiller]

You're as bad at beating yourself in the head as I am!! Tough repair but when done worth it to not have to scrap it.

 

[Metalman 55]

The main part of the frame was good yet & it seemed logical to breath some fresh life back into her. A fair bit of labor went into it though............. If we treat it right, it should serve us for years to come.

Note, the front channel piece was aluminum & it was in rough shape, so we fabbed a steel one for a replacement.

 

[DMiller]

One caution if it had not already been considered, saw aluminum cuttings mixed with the steel and rust, you know what Thermite is? In the correct amounts, sometimes just in amounts rust and aluminum grindings/dust will take a spark and ignite!! Can't put it out has to be left to burn out.

 

[Junkyard]

One caution if it had not already been considered, saw aluminum cuttings mixed with the steel and rust, you know what Thermite is? In the correct amounts, sometimes just in amounts rust and aluminum grindings/dust will take a spark and ignite!! Can't put it out has to be left to burn out.

Not far off in makeup from tannerite. It's just aluminum powder and calcium carbonate if memory serves. Aluminum powder and cold packs minus the little water packet in them.....loads of fun when hit by a high velocity rifle bullet

 

[Metalman 55]

One caution if it had not already been considered, saw aluminum cuttings mixed with the steel and rust, you know what Thermite is? In the correct amounts, sometimes just in amounts rust and aluminum grindings/dust will take a spark and ignite!! Can't put it out has to be left to burn out.

Didn't know that but we once were working where there was some magnesium I believe it was in some ducting & it caught fire & water would not put it out. Had to leave it burn out & it burned very hot.

Also, we did some work for a company years ago that burned the paper off of various aluminum/paper wrappings, that were shipped in in bales, first shredding it, then burning the paper off of it & it went into the making of explosives.

 

[DMiller]

Welders I worked around did some sanding on a aluminum walkway that had set outside too long, they forgot to clean the floor and had lots of steel grindings in the floor, started smelling 'Hot' steel and found a small pile had ignited, picked it up with a shovel and carried outside, could have gotten exciting!! Ruined the shovel.

 

[Metalman 55]

Out of the paint shop now & almost all of the lights hooked up. Just have a few hours to go & its back on the road again.

 

[crane operator]

Looks good. I always like seeing someone fixing up equipment.

 

[Metalman 55]

It is an older one & we bought it for a good price, so thought it was worth fixing up. With the road salt up here, if you don't keep at the rust, after a few years you have nothing left.

 

[DMiller]

A little Mother's magic wadding(actually a lot) and about a week and the siderails would shine like dimes in a goats butt!!