January 27, 2026

A Tale of Bent Hinges & Backyard Welding: How We Fixed the Yee Haul Trailer

Sometimes, the junk hauler needs a little haulin’ himself…

They say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, our trailer was definitely broke—so it was time to fix it.

It all started one fine day on a dump run. I backed up, hit the switch, and as that ol’ trailer tilted back, BOOM—the back doors swung wide like a saloon in a Western shootout. Except this wasn’t the Wild West… it was just my hinges givin’ up the ghost.

Turns out those hinges had been welded once before, bless ‘em, but this time they were bent, busted, and beyond patchin’. For a little while there, we held it all together the only way a good country boy knows how—with a ratchet strap and a prayer. Might not’ve been pretty, but hey, she held up just enough to get us through a few more jobs.

Once we got a break in the action, I picked up some brand-new heavy-duty hinges and some square tubing. I knew this wouldn’t be a quick bolt-on fix. Nope, this was gonna take some fire and sparks.

We fired up the angle grinder and got to cuttin’ out the old busted tubes on both sides.

Then came the welding. Now I won’t claim to be the best welder this side of the Blue Ridge, but I laid down some beads I’m hopin’ will hold. (Fingers crossed.) Might not win any beauty contests, but it’s functional—and in the Yee Haul world, that’s what counts!

After some final fitting and a little paint to keep the rust at bay, that trailer door is swingin’ smooth again—and stayin’ shut when it’s supposed to.

Lessons Learned:

• If it rattles, inspect it. If it bends, fix it. If it breaks, weld it.
• Ratchet straps can save your hide (temporarily).
• There’s no shame in a DIY fix—as long as it holds.

So if you see our Yee Haul trailer out there looking a little sturdier these days, just know—she’s been through the wringer, and come out stronger on the other side. 🤠