lmnsblu355

Bolting on a trailex tire rack onto my featherlite trailer. Trying to decide whether to use stainless steel bolts/nuts or aluminum to bolt the brackets to the side of the trailer.

From the fastenal website:
2024T4 Aluminum Excellent resistance to the elements. Recommended for outdoor use especially when fastening aluminum components. Similar to low carbon steel in hardness. Very light in weight-only one third the weight of steel.

The bolts that come with the rack are galvanized steel (magnetic). Can't use them to bolt on the brackets (too short) but used them to assemble the rack.

What do you think? Aluminum or Stainless?

Spyerx

I'd go good quality stainless but not an expert.

What I AM interested in is pictures of your install when you are done? I have a 3110 I picked up recently and want to add the same rack...

John's 991

If it were me, stainless steel all the way. I would not have that niggling thought in the back of my mind "what if that falls off."

I'm sure some of the engineers on the board could provide the calcs, but as a simple solution I would go with certain strength over insignificant weight savings.

stownsen914

I wouldn't use aluminum bolts for a structural application ... my 2 cents.

Scott

85Gold

SS if bling is needed otherwise I just used grade 8 bolts with flat washers and self locking nuts. Over 50k miles towing and 0 issues.


Peter

Spartan

Raw stainless on aluminum will cause galvanic corrosion. Essentially eats away at the aluminum. I know more about that than I care to from boating!

For my trailex tire rack on a featherlite 3110 trailer I used the "ultra corrosion resistant coating" grad 8 hardware from mcmaster. It's has that very heavy zinc gray coating on it and after a couple of years of living outside there is no corrosion anywhere. If you do use stainless make sure to put a dab of anti seize on there as you can gual the threads on stainless if you really tighten them.

996_C4S

Me too. I have the 17' 3110 and I'm interested in installing an alum rack too. Please share photos and let us know if any mods were required, etc.

How did you choose the Trailex rack? Did you see any other options?

lmnsblu355

Went to Fastenal today. Decided on Stainless. Don't see any significant corrosion on trailer rails where other stainless hardware was used. Maybe the anodized finish is profecting the aluminum???

I will post pictures as the installation progresses.

lmnsblu355

Done. I made some spacers and custom locks to keep wheels from shifting around.

jsl757

Looks good. I've been wanting to install a trailex tire rack on my 3110, did you run into any difficulties during the installation?

lmnsblu355

No. Very straight forward. Having my 15 year old son to assist me and using a bar clamp to hold things in place during alignment/ bolt tightening helped. I'm going to lower the cross bars 3 more inches to get the tires lower/ decrease wind resistance towing behind my X5.

Spyerx

Just ordered one of these Trailex racks this morning for my 3110, should have it early next week in time for next track event. Appreciate the pictures on the mounting locations. Can you specify how high of the deck you ended up with the lower bar?

Any other pictures of the mounting and installation would be appreciated.

Thanks!

mrbill_fl

I used galvanized nuts and bolts, on my featherlight. then sprayed them w/ grey primer/paint

One thing I didn't love about the tire rack was the corners left marks or indentations on my track wheels... So I got some 4" pvc and slipped the pipe over the cross members.

the nice thing about the rack is its totally adjustable. I could drop it lower, but I often use the trailer for moving stuff around/ going to the dump.

Oh, I also have 2 spare trl tires mounted on the same lip. I'll try and post some pic over the weekend.




<--- (old trailer)

here we go:

QuickOne

Raising this thread from the dead

I am getting a 3110 delivered next week and have a trailex tire rack on the way. Could someone tell me the size/dimensions of the bolts I need to order from McMaster?

Thanks in advance.

mr.t0fu

Also resurrecting, anyone do this on a Featherlite 3182?