Trailer Fender Support

On my boat trailer the fender in the center seems really weak. The previous owner pointed out that the fender has started to buckle from people standing on it. The metal just seems too thin. I know there are several ways I could re-enforce this but I was curious if there is anything like a re-enforcement bracket already made to buy off the shelf before I go off and fabricate something. If you look at the picture and the center of the fender, you will see the sag. A lot of trailers in the past that I have seen have a center support strut in the center.

If it's any help, and if it is...VM Trailers were very supportive when I needed assistance with a different issue!

Is that who makes the Sanger trailers?

That trailer looks like a Sport Boat trailer. I'm pretty sure they sell replacement fenders.

I'm pretty sure you could just weld a gusset in the middle and repaint the spot.

VM is what my '03 sits on! Look for the serial plate!

Joe, that was my thoughts as well or even bolting something in place. I'm a mechanical engineer so coming up with something wont be too hard but at the same time if there is something already made, I always find that the easiest path. I thought I have seen trailers have the strut bracket in the center support the fender but I looked at pictures of my last boat and there weren't any.

My trailer has about the same gauge plate for wheel fenders as yours. But the outboard flange drops down a lot further than yours, and has a rounded-V shaped protrusion sticking down on the centerline between the two tires. I believe that flange design is what gives most of my wheel fenders their rigidity in mid-span.

You could make something like that out of an elongated strip of aluminum plate or the like, and fasten it with a row of fasteners to your short flange. It would look good enough without a lot of fuss.

Let's see if I can upload a pic.

Good idea there John. A piece of angle or thin c would fix that pretty easy. ill have to look at mine and see if its doing ok