Need new frame built near Santa Barbara/Ventura

[brownrecluse]

My Boler is 44 years old. A crack is forming above the door which means frame problems. I’d like to just replace the old frame with a new one. Does anybody have a suggestion to have one built in the Santa Barbara/Ventura area? Thanks in advance.

[Markz]

Got a picture?

[brownrecluse]

Pic of what...the crack?

[Stephen_Albers]

It is clear that your frame is not strong enough for the use it has been put to. While the typical frame does deteriorate from corrosion damage over time through lack of service, the first culprit is poor design. Built-to-a-price units like yours are only strong enough for paved highway operation. If you plan boondocking operation over unimproved roads, then a frame redesign is needed to avoid future failures.

[Jon in AZ]

Member Ian Giles did an all-new reinforced frame for his Boler rebuild. There are details about the frame on his website. You could take the information to local welders and get bids.

https://www.proud-canadian.com/13-bo...eyond-1/boler/

[brownrecluse]

Yes, yes people, like I said in my initial post, a new frame is in order. That’s not the question. Yes, I’ve seen Ian’s great website but that doesn’t help me since I’m not a welder. What I’m looking for is recommendations for a place to build me a frame.

[Jon in AZ]

Getting a referral to a specific shop from someone who has had a frame built is a long shot. That’s why I was thinking you might need to start vetting local welding shops yourself. But seems like every time I say something like that someone pops up just to prove me wrong. Hope that person is reading this!

One other possibility did occur to me. Happier Camper in Los Angeles is not far away. They manufacture their own molded trailer- not sure if they build their own frames or contract out- but before that they maintained a fleet of vintage rentals. They might be able to give you a referral.
https://happiercamper.com/contact/

[brownrecluse]

Thanks! I’ll check with Happier Camper.

[Nor Cal Mike]

Originally Posted by brownrecluse

Yes, yes people, like I said in my initial post, a new frame is in order. That’s not the question. Yes, I’ve seen Ian’s great website but that doesn’t help me since I’m not a welder. What I’m looking for is recommendations for a place to build me a frame.

If I were in your place, I would be copying the specs from Ian Giles' frame rebuild, put them to paper, and then start shopping those plans around local welding and fabricating shops. Start nearest your home and work your way out until you find a fabricator willing to do the work for the price you want to pay.