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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    Central NSW
    Posts
    25

    Default Tailgate fastening

    Hi folks what is the best form of tailgate fasteners - looking at antiluce (drop bolt style), over centre latches (seem to be popular), basic lever style on cheaper trailers, and ute type side board fasteners?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    I prefer the one where you have 2 pieces of 15NB pipe about 50mm long and a piece 12 mm bar with a right angle bend on top. You can use a short section of light chain welded to the pin and to the trailer, to make sure you or whoever borrows the trailer don't loose the pins.
    The anti lose (drop lock) can get tight, to the point that a hammer is required, the over centre catches can get damage as can the ute sided ones, plus these can get expensive, whereas the pipe and pin can be had for under $5 for the whole trailer. With the lever style of catch, the rivet holding the lever can and does fall out, if not welded properly, have a few here that we've had to replace.
    There are a host of different catches that can be used but I prefer the KISS ones, (Keep It Simple S....) and the cheap ones. Try to avoid using the Bolt and Nut type, as the threads get damaged and can be a pain to repair if you're away from home. DAMHIKT
    I used to manage a trailer hire place that had this type of catch on ALL the trailers, bolts were replaced at least one a month, and the nut part every couple of months, if it came back at all!
    Not to many people care about the trailer, whether it's theirs or not, they still have that little accident where it got backed into something that wasn't there when I looked.
    I've seen some trailers whereby IF they were checked for Rego, they'd FAIL.
    HTH
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    Central NSW
    Posts
    25

    Default

    Had not thought of either of those - had a crate with the pin style you described, but the pin can pop out on dirt roads (so the back up is old dog collar or electrical wire twitched on… - yes I really should fix properly).
    Also with the pin style probably would need to review tailgate design so can weld the pipe on.ie say 25mm angle meets flush with back of trailer - Though this would be better to seal up back of trailer.
    Though thinking the antiluce ones maybe a little neater. The heavier over centre ones are exy. The back of the trailer needs to be bombproof.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia.
    Posts
    51

    Default

    I've had the centre latches on a trailer, brilliant until I let my brother have it for some gardening work. One or two nudges into whatever he hit and the latches from then on were a pain to use. Also one latch being replaced after getting some wet soil covering the rear of the trailer for a few weeks, I could have killed him as rust rooted the threads. I suggest if you go this route, better quality units (sometimes that means bigger) seem to work easier as they can be a bit iffy to operate if they are small.

    https://www.bctrailers.com.au/608-la...ntre-latch.jpg


    I replaced all four of them with antiluce units and until the trailer died, they worked very well.

    https://gttowing.co.uk/images_CMS/pr...916_medium.jpg


    Bought a tray back ute with steel tread plate floor and 300mm steel drop sides in 2009, insisted on antiluce units, never had an issue. That said, they do at times lock up and either a tap with something like a boot, rock or stick; does the trick. They've been through the wars with a couple of marks, nicks and in the case of one of them, slightly bent, but they just do the job. They are slightly noisy as the drop sides and/or tailgate rattle a bit, but once they've locked down from vibrations, they become mostly as silent as possible.

    Mick.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    Central NSW
    Posts
    25

    Default

    I reckon a trailer might be the third thing you should never lend.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Optimark View Post
    Bought a tray back ute with steel tread plate floor and 300mm steel drop sides in 2009, insisted on antiluce units, never had an issue. That said, they do at times lock up and either a tap with something like a boot, rock or stick; does the trick. They've been through the wars with a couple of marks, nicks and in the case of one of them, slightly bent, but they just do the job. They are slightly noisy as the drop sides and/or tailgate rattle a bit, but once they've locked down from vibrations, they become mostly as silent as possible. Mick.
    You can get proper rubber washers for them, but if you don't want to spend the money, use some thick inner tube for the washers.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    I’m also a fan of the anti loose type.
    2 things I’ve found in regards to them sticking - make sure you use the rubber washers on them as they provide a small amount of give and makes it easy to give the tailgate a bit of a bump with your hand to release the toggle.

    Secondly - after a few years they do tend to stick more often and get harder to release. I think the pin wears into the toggle a bit.
    You could probably stuff around with a file and sort it out - but I figure if they are worn it’s time to just replace them.

    Steve

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