Trailer damage

[blagrata]

Had an unfortunate incident of a tree falling on my trailer this past weekend.  Picture attached.  The bunk boards are fine.  The jack was smashed.  The port side of the frame is visibly bent a bit where the tree was.   The other side isn't visibly bent... but I think the whole trailer from around the wheels to the front coupler has a little bow in it.   Has anyone had experience with fixing trailers?  I'm going to make several calls tomorrow (including insurance)... but just kind of want to know what to expect?  Can they be straightened?   Would the trailer be safe to take the boat a little ways?   I am in Ohio... so unfortunately the specter of winterization looms soon.  Any advice would be appreciated.  Thanks.  

 

 

[Dano]

Hopefully insurance covers it.  It’s probably fixable by any autobody shop that has a frame machine.  That will get the frame rails straight again.  Then just make sure that messing with the frame hasn’t changed your axle alignment and it should be good to go. 

[liquid d]

flip it on it's back and drop the tree on it again. ...should be fine.

[Gale K]

TAKE THIS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT (as all we're looking at is pics and reading your description)... but the frame rails are a rectangular box... yes, they are bent, but the strength is still pretty good. Weight load up there is tiny. 

"Would the trailer be safe to take the boat a little ways?"    How far is a little ways? What's your appetite for risk? If it was me based on your description and the pictures, I would probably give it a go. (insert all legal liability text here blah blah, drive easy, stop often to visual verify all is good, etc etc)

If there is someone with trailer knowledge that is close by that can give it a quick look to verify integrity visually, might be worth it to have a second set of eyes on it.

[thager]

Let your Insurance Company make the call. Ask them to assume question of risk.

[BraceMaker]

Trailer shops exist for fixing this sort of stuff, they'll probably cut that whole section out and put in a new rail.

[liquid d]

thager!!!!!! NOOOOOOO!

[liquid d]

Do not call your insurance company for something so trivial!  Fix it. It's next to nothing.