Will this get me cross country?

[atozzi1400]

I have been contemplating this for a while. There is a lot of rust on the bottom of the U bolts and I am unsure of how safe this is. We are taking this from Rhode Island to Wyoming to Redwood forest then back to Wyoming- aka FAR! I was thinking that I could cut off and replace the Ubolts and the plate and that would be that. Any advice?
I have pics here.
s1132.photobucket.com/albums/m573/Anthony_Fantozzi/Shasta%20renovation%20project/Suspension%20rust/

[Bow_Tied]

I have seen worse. However my advice is to have it checked over by a trailer shop... or replace the parts. Which ever gives you the most peace of mind - don't ruin your trip worrying about it. It should be an hour job, maybe a bit more, for a trailer shop to replace those parts IMHO.

[distant75]

I don't think you'd have any issues but if it were mine I would replace before the trip. Having them replaced would give you piece of mind during your trip.

[atozzi1400]

Thanks for the advice. I have been wanting to take it to a trailer shop soon anyway to see if they caught anything I didn't. Next step I just need to find one near by!

[safetybruce]

Taking it to a trailer shop will be worth the cost just for peace of mind as already suggested. Was not able to open any pics in your photobucket album from my work computer, not surprising...but I work with grit blasters and water blasters almost every day, and am amazed at how some scabby piece of steel that you think, once blasted will show it is ready for the junk basket, only to find with the rust removed it looks almost as good as new...I was told a good rule of thumb is a 8 to 1 ratio rust thickness to actual metal lost...don't know that to be accurate, because once we blast to clean metal, we still do non destructive thickness measurements to make sure the piece is still within safe operating tolerances if there is any doubt. Don't let surface rust make you immediately suspect equipment failure is soon to follow...that said...I'd visit a competent trailer repair place and happily pay for advice as to your specific camper....now if they suggest a complete replacement and then move around to the tongue and point out a bit of rust there too, and say they can replace the whole tongue at the same time...that tingling sensation you get means you should thank them and get a "second opinion"...can anyone else confirm or debunk that 8 to 1 ratio I mentioned? That is just what I've "heard"...