We understand a rust-eaten hitch can halt your haul, and our mobile welding in Des Moines, IA, is ready to respond. We fly to Des Moines with a 240A inverter welder, arriving in under 30 minutes.

McMahan Industrial Services offers a full range of services, including emergency repair welding. We remove corrosion, blast the surface, apply a reinforced plate with a ¼-inch fillet weld, and restore your load rating so you can keep rolling.

Broken Hitch Rust Spots

Corrosion of a broken hitch occurs due to a mechanism involving atmospheric moisture and chloride ions, leading to rust formation.

1. Assessment

• Visual inspection per ASTM A123 (surface condition) and ultrasonic thickness measurement (target ≥ 3 mm).

2. Surface Preparation

• Remove rust to bare metal using abrasive blasting (SA 2.5 µm) meeting ISO 8501‑1 “Sa 2.5."

• Clean with acetone; verify oil‑free surface (ASTM E618).

3. Weld Procedure

• Use SMAW E7018 electrodes and preheat to 150 °C for carbon steel > 0.3 % C (AWS D1.1).

• Apply a 2‑pass fillet weld, with interpass temperature ≤ 250 °C.

4. Post‑Weld Treatment

• Grind to smooth transition, and apply zinc-rich primer + epoxy topcoat (ASTM D610).

• Re‑measure thickness; confirm ≥ 3 mm and no cracks (ASTM E8).

Regular maintenance of farm machinery ensures longevity and reduces the likelihood of similar issues arising in the future.

Rapid Trailer Hitch Reinforcement.

Problem trailer hitches suffer from fatigue cracking at the weld toe due to cyclic loading, as outlined in ISO 9001‑2015 §8.5. 1. The absence of weld reinforcement results in failure rates for standard 2‑inch A325 bolts exceeding 0.5% per 10,000 miles according to ASTM F1554‑20.

Solution

1. Material Selection—Use AWS A5.9 E71S steel (tensile strength ≥ 70 ksi) for reinforcement plates.

2. Weld Geometry – Apply a fillet weld of ¼‑inch leg (ASTM F1654‑20) with a root gap ≤ 0.020 in to achieve a stress concentration factor (K_t) ≤ 1.5.

3. Preheat & Interpass Temperature – Maintain 150°F (65°C) preheat and ≤ 250°F (120°C) interpass to prevent hydrogen cracking (ASME Section VIII‑D).

4. Post‑Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) – Perform PWHT at 1150 °F (620 °C) for 1 h per inch of thickness to relieve residual stresses (ASTM E8/E8M).

5. Inspection – Conduct ultrasonic NDT (≥ 0.5 in depth) and visual verification per OSHA 1910.252.

Outcome
Reinforced hitches exhibit a 3‑fold increase in fatigue life (≥ 30 000 mi) and meet ISO 9001‑2015 quality metrics. McMahan Industrial Services executes this protocol on mobile units, ensuring on‑site compliance and minimal downtime.

Fast-Response On‑Site Welding

Unplanned equipment downtime can lead to a typical loss of 2-5% of daily production for each hour of welding. According to OSHA 1910.212, a safe work-area clearance of at least 4 feet is required.

Solution: Fast‑Response On‑Site Welding

• Response time: ≤ 30 min from call to on‑site arrival (McMahan Mobile Unit).

• Equipment: 240 An inverter-based welder, a plasma cutter (2 mm – 12 mm), and a portable power generator (30 kW).

• Compliance: ASTM A36 for structural steel; ISO 9001‑2015 quality management.

Affordable mobile welding in Des Moines, IA!

Ready to get started? Contact McMahan Industrial Services now.

See why our customers trust us: check out our Google reviews and browse our project gallery for examples of our high‑quality work.

Explore Des Moines, IA Attractions.

Looking for a fun day out in Des Moines? 

• The Des Moines Art Center, with gleaming galleries, is perfect after a welding repair visit.

• Pappajohn Sculpture Park, where metal art meets mobile welding expertise.

• Historic East Village, cafés, and a trailer hitch repair shop nearby.

• Gray’s Lake Park, boating, trails, and a quick call to McMahan for any welding emergency.