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Cobra Trailer Top Adjustment Advice Needed
Can anyone recommend a simple, effective method for removing outward
horizontal bulges in the top rail of Cobra trailers? I have a 1983 Cobra with an aluminum top, which has its lift struts on the outside. Over the years an outward horizontal bulge has developed at each lift strut attach point on the top rail, and it has become a challenge to close the top the last few inches. Simple sideways pushing accomplishes nothing. I’ve thought of putting a 2x4 on the side and hitting on the wood with a sledgehammer, but this wouldn’t get the force at the bend point. I’ve also thought about using a come-along between the two lift strut arms where they attach, but haven’t come up with a way to attach the cables without damage. Thanks in advance for any suggestions… -John |
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Cobra Trailer Top Adjustment Advice Needed
On Jun 29, 7:12 am, jcarlyle wrote:
Can anyone recommend a simple, effective method for removing outward horizontal bulges in the top rail of Cobra trailers? I have a 1983 Cobra with an aluminum top, which has its lift struts on the outside. Over the years an outward horizontal bulge has developed at each lift strut attach point on the top rail, and it has become a challenge to close the top the last few inches. Simple sideways pushing accomplishes nothing. I’ve thought of putting a 2x4 on the side and hitting on the wood with a sledgehammer, but this wouldn’t get the force at the bend point. I’ve also thought about using a come-along between the two lift strut arms where they attach, but haven’t come up with a way to attach the cables without damage. Thanks in advance for any suggestions… -John John, instead of a come along, try using a bar clamp. Buy the type that you mount on your own galvanized pipe so you can get the span you need. Use more than one if the area is large. Remove the struts and place short pieces of 2 x 4 in between the clamp's jaws and your trailer top. You will probably need to bend past the straight-line point, so it can "bow" back straight(ish). You may consider installing some aluminum flatbar lengthwise over the weakened area to keep it in shape. Good luck! -Paul |
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Cobra Trailer Top Adjustment Advice Needed
On Jun 29, 8:12*am, jcarlyle wrote:
Can anyone recommend a simple, effective method for removing outward horizontal bulges in the top rail of Cobra trailers? I had a trailer of that vintage and sometime around 1990 I got a repair kit from Spindelberger. It consisted of a couple of aluminum bars perhaps a foot long that were bent to fit inside the trailer and stiffen the bow near the lift struts. I used a come along to squeeze the trailer lid to a specified width, then drilled and installed the stiffeners on the inside. That did the trick to straighten the sides. So, contact Spindelberger and get the repair kit. -Tom |
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Cobra Trailer Top Adjustment Advice Needed
Thanks, Paul and Tom, for your replies.
Paul, I like your approach. The only thing I might do differently is to brace the top with 2x4s from side to side just outside of the bulged area, so squeezing at the lift strut attachment area has places to react against. I'll give this a shot as my first step. Tom, I wasn't aware that there was a repair kit thanks! I'll definitely write to Spindelberger and get details, although I'm leary that the worthless dollar will make it very expensive to buy and ship. Formed reinforcements would definitely be a long term solution to deformation. One question - did the bars mount fore and aft, or did they go from rail to rail? -John On Jun 29, 10:42 am, 5Z wrote: I had a trailer of that vintage and sometime around 1990 I got a repair kit from Spindelberger. It consisted of a couple of aluminum bars perhaps a foot long that were bent to fit inside the trailer and stiffen the bow near the lift struts. I used a come along to squeeze the trailer lid to a specified width, then drilled and installed the stiffeners on the inside. That did the trick to straighten the sides. So, contact Spindelberger and get the repair kit. -Tom On Jun 29, 10:30 am, sisu1a wrote: John, instead of a come along, try using a bar clamp. Buy the type that you mount on your own galvanized pipe so you can get the span you need. Use more than one if the area is large. Remove the struts and place short pieces of 2 x 4 in between the clamp's jaws and your trailer top. You will probably need to bend past the straight-line point, so it can "bow" back straight(ish). You may consider installing some aluminum flatbar lengthwise over the weakened area to keep it in shape. Good luck! -Paul |
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