when you have a drive distance of 46 1/2" is it better to have a solid tie bar or a tube tie bar? I was told that with that distance a solid one would bow in the middle from it's weight. Tunnel boaters what are your tie bars? It makes sense to me, But.... Thanks for any input, Keith

I just bought and installed one that was 33.5" wide. It was solid.

I think only the outside dia matters, I'll check tomorrow in Engeering man. and let you know.

vtec

I am also going to guess that there is little added strenght with it being solid.

Jon

A solid is indeed stronger than hollow, but if you take a solid of "X" diameter, and compare it to a hollow one of larger diameter but same weight, then the larger hollow one will be significantly stronger in flex resistance.

A 1" solid versus 1 1/2" hollow (.190" wall thickness) will weigh exactly the same. Guess which is stronger...

Armed with that info, you can "weigh" the differences and make an educated choice.

One thing, though, it is ALWAYS helpful to "fill" a hollow tube with a crush-resistant material to maximize strength (a round x-section tube will flex to an oval shaped x-section as it deforms). Filling a hollow tube with inexpensive grout works well.. In the financial foodchain, grout is pretty low...

The solid is less likely to get crushed or dented. Once a hollow is dented, the strength of it diminishes.

My tie bar does double duty as a step. Its solid.

A quick check in McMaster Carr
2" OD x 1/4 wall 316 tube $91/ft
2" OD 316 solid $67 ft
so unless you sre really concerned about the weight solid is the way to go.
I don't buy from McMaster as they are ussuakky high priced but the are a good reference

Assuming both(solid and hollow) tie bar have same o.d.

Solid will have more strenth in tension(pull ends apart).

Hollow will have more strenth in compression(push ends together).

Assuming two tubes have the same cross sectional area and are made of the same material they will have the same strength in a tension load.

In compression, hollow section will tolerate a much larger force before buckling simply because their material is distributed further from the central axis.

Another element of strength is the tube material and manufacturing process i.e carbon content, seam vs. seamless etc.

Hollow vs. solid is not enough info to make an informed decision.


vtec

Thanks for input. I was told to use a 1 1/2" tube for this length tie bar over a 1" solid. I would imagine it should be seamless. wouldn't that be stronger than seemed tube?