snowmobile tie down bolt on utility trailer

[knoppers]

I have a new aluma utility trailer with the gate on the back to haul my ATV. I want to use it to haul my snowmobile this winter, I was going to bolt on a plate with the nut welded on for the tie down bar. I was woundering if anyone has done this, and do I need to add extra backing plates for strenght, the deck is aluminum, not sure on the thickness, but the plate I bought has a 4 bolt hole pattern to mount, I was thinking of putting a aluminum backer plate on the underside of deck, is this enough strenght?

I also will me putting on plastic glides for the skies, so I wasn't sure if straps were good enough to hold the sled on.

[hunt fish repeat]

A backer in the plywood would be more than adequate, keep in mind it takes much less strength to hold down something securely with no movement than it does to stop something that is allowed to move a few inches.

[chris63]

I'm not sure of your plate thickness but I would make sure your hold down plate is welded in as an integral part of the trailer frame so that God forbid your in an accident your towed machine has the best chance of staying put for your safety as well as the general public.c63

[aanderud]

I'm not sure of your plate thickness but I would make sure your hold down plate is welded in as an integral part of the trailer frame so that God forbid your in an accident your towed machine has the best chance of staying put for your safety as well as the general public.c63

Welding...That's a bit extreme. Most trailers don't even come from the factory with the plate/nut "welded in". Mine happened to have been riveted to the bottom side, in an aluminum channel.

[chris63]

Huh,I've got a double sled bed and a single Karavan aluminums both have welded tie/screw down points.c63

[Macgyver55]

You must mean the nut is welded to a tab and then attached to the frame somehow because you cannot weld aluminum and steel together. My guess is that they are a very similar setup as aanderud described, unless you have the full length "turn key style".

[chris63]

The nuts are just smaller than the channel aluminum so they can't spin when tightened or loosend.The channel is welded to the frame and the nuts(steel) have a tab that hold them into place.Maybe you've stumbled onto the next million dollar idea.Disimaler metal welding.Ooops....were to late looks like Honda motor Corp. has beat us to the punch.New welding technique to join aluminum and steel by pressure welding.c63

[Macgyver55]

The nuts are just smaller than the channel aluminum so they can't spin when tightened or loosened. The channel is welded to the frame and the nuts(steel) have a tab that hold them into place.

Sounds like a very similar setup as my Floe has, a nut on a tab, riveted in a channel that is welded to the frame. The nut isnt welded to the channel on either brand though. Just a misunderstanding of the description.

I did however read up on Honda's new method of bonding the two metals, pretty neat stuff! I guess you just can't say can't about anything anymore!

[BoxMN]

Don't forget to grease the threads! I did last year, and took some sawzall action to get sled off, some heating, and some welding on nuts to get the "mini bolt" out! doh!

[LightningBG]

I think I would put the whole plate/nut piece on the underside of the deck.

[knoppers]

I think I would put the whole plate/nut piece on the underside of the deck.

I thought about that, seems the deck is about .062 thick. either way, I probally will still put a few straps on the sled, since the nut is only 1/2-13. but mounting the plate on the underside makes the most sense.