Pins vs bolts for folding utility trailer

I finally got one of those Harbor Freight folding trailers. [on sale this month; $229 for the 4x8 with 12" wheels]

I'm actually impressed with most of the design & it seems pretty sturdy. [the castors might get replaced soon-- and I'm not sure about the following]

When the trailer is flat it has 2 3/8x1" carraige bolts holding it down to a piece of angle steel. To fold it you need to unbolt these

2 nylon lock-bolts- then re-attach them to hold the folded pieces together to drop the tongue. It seems like a couple pins or latches of some sort would save a trip to the tool box every time I want to fold or unfold the trailer.

Am I missing something obvious? It doesn't appear that these bolts do anything but keep the folded end from bouncing while in use. They are designed to go through the vertical sides of the angle iron that the rails rest on.

Has anyone already done this? What did they use?

Thanks- Jim

Reply to
Jim Elbrecht
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Obviously to keep the cost down, two bolts are cheaper than some sort of latch. Feel free to upgrade if you think it would be better. Some HF products are masterpieces in minimalist design.

Reply to
PipeDown

I've got the same trailer and it has served me very well. I haven't done the mod you talk about as I have no room in the garage for it! It pretty much stay's in it's open position all the time. A few things I have done which have been useful is I built a cedar frame for sides and covered the floor in ply. I put tie downs pretty much all over the place as well. And I got one of their $9 trailer lift thing (goes on the tongue for raising and lowering it. Works great to keep the tongue high enough to keep water draining out. Anyway, I don't see why pins wouldn't work so good luck with that. Cheers, cc

Reply to
James "Cubby" Culbertson

How about these ?

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Reply to
Rudy

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