What is this under my coupler?

Darren Nemeth

Chief Petty Officer
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Dec 25, 2007
Messages
561
This is welded under my coupler. (I ground the coupler off this evening)

Is this good for anything? What is it for? A place to hook the safety chains?
 

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Les Robb

Chief Petty Officer
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Jun 14, 2009
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435
Re: What is this under my coupler?

I may be wrong but it looks like your coupler was designed to fit a wide variety of I beams. In most cases a thru bolt would hold the end of your chains with the hooks attaching to the trailer hitch on the tow vehicle. Here it looks like the beam partially covers the hole which means you would have to weld hooks (not good) to attach your safety chains.
 

Darren Nemeth

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
561
Re: What is this under my coupler?

That coupler is long gone. Ground it off this evening.

What is the best way to attach safety chains to a new coupler? I have some stainless steel chains coming to me from Iboats this week. :)

An eyebolt goes through that welded piece I circled in yellow and the chains thread through that? The beam is blocking the holes. :(
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
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Re: What is this under my coupler?

Ayuh,... When you mount the new coupler, attach it with thru-bolts,+ attach the chains to those bolts,....
 

kartman

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Apr 28, 2009
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108
Re: What is this under my coupler?

those would have to be some pretty crappy welds. if its done right, a weld is stronger than the parent metal. just my .02
 

Bondo

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Re: What is this under my coupler?

if its done right, a weld is stronger than the parent metal. just my .02

Ayuh,... I agree, except, thru-bolts will take Pounds of the parent metal with it at failure....
Welds only tear the material local to them....

'ell,.... I weld together Trailers,+ Still thru-bolt the couplers to 'em.....;)
 

Cox

Seaman
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Sep 19, 2008
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65
Re: What is this under my coupler?

Why not just drill a couple of 1/2" holes through the actual tongue, well past the coupler (depending on the length of your chains) and add galvanized bolts with lock washers, 1 on each side? Is that overkill or simply not the best/strongest method available relative to mounting to the coupler?

Not that it matters now that the original coupler in the first pics is gone, but wouldn't the piece on the underside be a channel for the safety chains to run through en-route to the tow vehicle, preventing them from dragging on the ground? That, in and of itself, would indicate that the mounting point should be further back from the coupler. Sorry if I'm mis-understanding the situation here....still learning myself and I've just spent the last few weeks fixing up my 1986 trailer which consisted of a swing-away installation....coupler, safety chains, and all. Could be that that's exactly what Darren meant by "a place to hook the safety chains".

Damn....that would mean I just typed all that for nothing!!! Hey either way, I'd be teaching at least someone in the process.....myself!!!:confused:
 

Darren Nemeth

Chief Petty Officer
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Dec 25, 2007
Messages
561
Re: What is this under my coupler?

I will have to see what is up when I get a new coupler in the next few days.

The new stainless steel chains came in today and I am very happy with them. :)
 

fishrdan

Admiral
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Jan 25, 2008
Messages
6,989
Re: What is this under my coupler?

This is welded under my coupler. Is this good for anything? What is it for? A place to hook the safety chains?

I don't think anyone answered this question. It's a skid plate so if you drop the trailer off the ball, it will skid on the pavement instead of the tongue/tube digging into the ground.
 

Stachi

Lieutenant Commander
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Jul 14, 2009
Messages
1,671
Re: What is this under my coupler?

I agree , its a skid plate, my 1973 Sea Lion trailer had the same set up.
 

Darren Nemeth

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
561
Re: What is this under my coupler?

I don't think anyone answered this question. It's a skid plate so if you drop the trailer off the ball, it will skid on the pavement instead of the tongue/tube digging into the ground.

Thanks!:D
 

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: What is this under my coupler?

Skid plate !!! Mine is triangular shaped.
 

NYGiants

Chief Petty Officer
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May 3, 2009
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582
Re: What is this under my coupler?

my safety chains are boltedto that by factory but one is a 10' trailer and the other is 12'
 
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