Trailers : How to Design and Build. Volume 2. Structure [Hardcover]

M. M. Smith (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0914483323 | ISBN-13: 978-0914483328 | Publication Date: December 1994

This volume is a basic introduction to information one needs to evaluate the strength of a trailer's framework. Structure generally covers a wide array of information, which we have attempted to condense for the purpose of this book. This book is a beginning guide to more in-depth analysis, should you need to explore further for you special purpose.

When we first started designing and building trailers, we were surprised to find very little information available to help us. To this day, little has changed. We were extremely disappointed then and can still empathize with you. The fact of the matter is that this industry has had very little development of any sophistication. Manufacturers doing development for their own products have kept information to themselves, for obvious reasons. And few have taken much time to test or expand the base of knowledge regarding trailers. Part of the reason for this is that, although a large quantity of trailers are built on a yearly basis, trailers are purpose-built and the quantity of each particular kind of trailer built does not justify research to any great extent. You can almost be assured that everything you need to design your trailer is not here. Hopefully, the book will at least sensitize you to some of the problems to be evaluated and your search for help can be more focused.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It's amazing how much information is crammed into these pages. The reference list alone is worth the price of admission. This book gets down to the real nitty gritty and covers subjects in a really practical, helpful way without all the dazzle." -- Guinn, welder & fabricator, D & G Welding, Littlerock, California. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

This book contains almost 200 pages of text with 120 informative illustrations, photographs, charts and graphs. Tables for strengths of rivets, nuts & bolts, welds in fatigue and connections plus section property tables are all part of the list. A specially calculated table of torsional strengths which compares angle, channel and tubing is almost alone worth the price of the book. Sample calculations and comparisons aid in understandingthe forces in a trailer structure.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Techni Visions Llc (December 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0914483323
• ISBN-13: 978-0914483328
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #987,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this book unless you plan to buy Vol. 2, November 14, 2003

By 

denverd0n (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trailers : How to Design and Build (Basics) Volume 1. (Paperback)

I agree with the fellow who said this book is a bit of bait and switch. Everytime I thought he was going to get into the real details that I wanted, the author just referred to one of his other books. Without Vol. 2 this book will not give you enough information to build a trailer.

It does provide some high-level information, and might get you to asking the right questions, but for the price it ought to answer some of those questions. I cannot recommend this book.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very basic: no detailed information on design or handling, June 16, 2003

By 

Steven H Sawyers (Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trailers : How to Design and Build (Basics) Volume 1. (Paperback)

If you don't know anything about trailer construction, this book will get you started and make you dangerous. But most of the information in this book can be obtained by walking around and carefully inspecting commercially built trailers, looking at component catalogues, then applying some plain common sense.

I was very disappointed in this book. It has a lot of general overview type information, and lots of pictures of what not to do, but not the specifics of exactly what to do or what design rules to follow. It spends an inordinate amount of time plugging the authors other books.

The essense of trailer design is to end up with something that will carry the load structurally and trail properly without adverse handling characteristics i.e. sway, and whipping. This book won't get you to that point.

These concepts are mentioned in the book but the author wants you to buy Volume 2 for the structural information and then buy, the as yet unpublished, volume 3 for the handling information. I see this as a little bit of bait and switch. Three books totaling $$+ retail is a bit much to pay for this information.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars BUYER BEWARE ! ! !, January 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Trailers : How to Design and Build (Basics) Volume 1. (Paperback)

This book deserves zero stars. Every single chapter and sub-topic section of this book refers you to Volume 2 for more information. It is misleading to state that you can learn any of the following from this book:
"Table of contents by chapters:
1) Developing a design
2) Overall considerations
3) Suspension systems
4) Basic components
5) Accessories
6) Construction aspects"
Because you cannot not learn to do ANYTHING from this book alone. They might as well charge you $23.99 for a blank book which says SEE VOLUME 2 because this book is useless without volume 2. So unless you are willing to spend over $60 for this information, which I am not. YOU WILL BE STUCK WITH A NON-RETURNABLE USELESS ITEM.
After having been ripped off by M. M. Smith. I will try to educate as many people as possible not to trust this author.