Drilling holes in the TT's frame question

Durb wrote:
Unless you have split point drill bits the half inch bit isn't going to do well starting a hole. I would drill a pilot hole large enough to overcome the non cutting center portion of your drill bit (assuming non split point). This will help with bit walk when starting the hole. Too large of a pilot hole will cause the 1/2" bit to grab when enlarging the hole.

Thank you,

Much appreciated

jack L

Should read the Statute although it won’t help much.

I use heavy duty motorcycle straps at the tongue and rear bumper and ground anchors. Same for the boat and trailer.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I tried drilling a starter hole for a self tapper, and conduit, and my frame is hard like woodpecker lips. I ended up using Caddy Strap clamps, since all I was doing was attaching the smurf tube containing the back up light wiring. I'm no stranger to drilling difficult holes. This would take something hard to get through, carbide, cobalt, etc.

Unless you have split point drill bits the half inch bit isn't going to do well starting a hole. I would drill a pilot hole large enough to overcome the non cutting center portion of your drill bit (assuming non split point). This will help with bit walk when starting the hole. Too large of a pilot hole will cause the 1/2" bit to grab when enlarging the hole.

I can just picture a flat bed trailer after a hurricane has it's way with a camper. Yeah, I think I'd get out of Dodge.

Huntindog wrote:
I am not sure how effective that would be. I envision you returning to a strapped down frame, with the TT box ripped away.

Was thinking the same thing.....but you got good advice from Red Racer on how to do it.

Beam clamp

bobndot wrote:
I agree I would NOT drill into the frame. Some kind of clamp would work in a moderate storm but .......

Hurricane tie-downs ? I'm not so sure it will really work in a Florida hurricane , you're probably wasting your time. People know when hurricanes are coming. If it were me , I would hitch up and vacate the area days before....don't wait till the roads clog.

Just for your info and a little education: They worked perfect on my last trailer that was totaled by "Irma's" five foot sea surge flood.

Other trailers that didn't have the hurricane tie downs were either blown over or moved considerably.

The holes that were in my old trailer were drilled by the contractor that installed the in ground six foot deep rods and I didn't see how he drilled them. This time since the rods are already there I am drilling them in the trailer myself

In the past 25 years the largest storm surge in our area was 9 inches.

It would be stupid to move a trailer when not even the for casters know exactly where a hurricane will make landfall -Unless you had a place to put it a thousand miles away.

Jack L