Adding gusset/bracing to shackle hangers...
Has anyone added gussets or support to their shackle hangers? My 2017 Keystone Passport has me worried they'll rip off. I drew up a diagram in paint to kinda show what I'm talking about. The red would...
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Looks like industry standard to me. I wouldn't worry at all about them just ripping off. I would be more concerned about frame flex. The correct way to add stiffness is to weld a piece of angle iron vertically between the upper and lower flanges and above the spring hanger its self. That keeps the lower part of the I beam from twisting.
If you need piece of mind you could always just weld a piece of 2" x 2" x 1/4" angle across the width of the frame and between the opposing spring hangers. Position it so that one part of the angle is running flat across the top of the hanger and the other part of the angle is going down the hanger. That would give you 2" of vertical support on each hanger. That would take out most, if not all of the flex. Angle iron is dirt cheap. If you can weld then it's almost free. :) And as far as welding on the trailer and hurting the electrics. That's nonsense. Just disconnect the battery. I can't count how many times I've welded on my trailers and never had an issue.
If you need piece of mind you could always just weld a piece of 2" x 2" x 1/4" angle across the width of the frame and between the opposing spring hangers. Position it so that one part of the angle is running flat across the top of the hanger and the other part of the angle is going down the hanger. That would give you 2" of vertical support on each hanger. That would take out most, if not all of the flex. Angle iron is dirt cheap. If you can weld then it's almost free. :) And as far as welding on the trailer and hurting the electrics. That's nonsense. Just disconnect the battery. I can't count how many times I've welded on my trailers and never had an issue.
