Stoughton Lease Return and Repair Guidelines


The Stoughton Rental & Lease Co., LLC Repair Standards Guide will be used to provide guidance on current Repair Standards. All repairs must be made in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and manuals in compliance with all federal, state, and municipal laws and regulations. The repairs listed below are representative of common repairs made to trailers and are not intended to be all inclusive. Please contact your local Stoughton Rental & Leasing branch for guidance on repairs not listed.

Nose Repair

Radius Panel Repair:
Damaged radius panels may be straightened or replaced. Radius panel sections are not allowed.

Corner Cap Damage:
All damaged corner caps must be replaced.

Roof Repair

Roof Corner Damage:
Corner roof damage may be corner patched or a 2’ roof section may be done at the nose. Buck rivets must be used for all roof repairs.

Roof Repair:
A maximum of one (1) roof section is allowed on a roof. A 20’ foot section may be done from front to rear or rear to front. If a longer section is required, the roof must be replaced.

Roof Patch:
12” x 12” patches are permitted. Buck rivets must be used for all roof patches. A maximum of two (2) patches in a 6’ length of roof is permitted. No more than eight (8) patches are allowed in the entire roof. If more than eight (8) patches are needed, or a patch is larger than 12” x 12” the roof must be sectioned according to guidelines above or replaced.

Roof Bow:
Damaged or bent roof bows must be replaced. Loose roof bows must be reattached.

Rail Repair

Nose Top Rail Repair:
Nose Top Rail sections are not permitted. Small seal repair is permitted as is a repair to straighten. Any other damage requires Nose Top Rail replacement.

Side Top Rail Repair:
Side top rail repairs are not permitted. Damaged top rails must be replaced.

Bottom Rail Repair:
Rail sections are allowed as long as they do not exceed 25% of the overall length of trailer. No rail sections are allowed in the center of a trailer. Splices are not allowed behind the landing gear subframe or ahead of the ends of the slide rails. A splice plate must be used to overlap and join the rail section repair and original bottom rail and must extend a minimum of three (3) cross members. Splice plate must be made of a 4” x 1/8” steel and mylar insulating tape must be used between aluminum and steel to prevent corrosion.

Unacceptable Bottom Rail Repairs:
1) Welded and plated on outside of damaged area.
2) Bolted-on plates to cover damaged area
3)Welded and filled damaged area

Plate Panel and Post Repair

Z-Plate Panel Repair:
Z-Plate Panels may not be sectioned or patched. Damaged plate panels must be replaced. Buck rivets must be used when replacing panels. No other types of fasteners are permitted. Small cuts or holes (6” x 12” maximum) in plate panels may be repaired with fast patches.

Z-Plate Panel Inner Logistic Post:
Z-Plate Panel Logistic Posts can be sectioned and or replaced. The section of a post may not exceed 24 inches. If the damaged post exceeds 24 inches, it requires replacement.

Outer Post Support Strip:
A small cut can be neatly sealed. The strip can be sectioned up to 24 inches or replaced if the damage is greater than 24 inches. Sectioned posts must overlap from top to bottom by at least 1”.

Inner Logistic Post:
Can be straightened if deflected more than ½” or replaced.

Undercarriage Repair

Landing Gear and Landing Gear Assembly:
Bent landing gear support braces must be replaced. Damaged landing gear legs can be replaced individually.

Cross Member:
Cross Members that are bowed or have a deflection of more than ½ inch, must be replaced. The five (5) Cross Members over the landing gear must be replaced if damaged. Cross Members over the tandem that have been damaged and/or twisted, can be replaced, sectioned, or straightened. Cross Member Flanges attached to the floor can be straightened, if the flange is not pulled away from the floor.

Spring Ride Suspension:
Springs may not be repaired or welded. If the spring set is damaged, the spring or spring set must be replaced.

Mud Flap Replacement:
Damaged and/or torn Mud Flaps must be replaced with Stoughton Mud Flaps.

Mud Flap Bracket:
Damaged, bent, or broken Mud Flap Brackets can be straightened, welded, or replaced.

Tire Replacement

Tire Replacement:
Retreads are acceptable when casings are not older than seven (7) years and are original or second-time retreads. Casings older than seven (7) years or retreaded more than twice are not accepted. Acceptable casing brands include: Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone, Hankook, Yokohama, Bandag and Cooper.

Door Repair

Swing Door:
Swing Doors cannot be sectioned (includes corner door kits). If swing doors are damaged, they must be replaced. Damaged door seals must be replaced.

Overhead Door:
Broken, cracked, or bent OH door panels must be replaced.

ICC Bumper Repair

Rear Under Ride Guard, ICC Step/Bumper Repair:
If the ICC Step/Bumper is bent or damaged, it must be replaced.

Trailer Interior Repair

Floor Repair:
Floor repairs with scrapes or gouges less than ½-inch depth can be filled with 3M Bondo Fiberglass Resin (or equivalent). If gouge damage exceeds ½-inch depth, the floor needs to be sectioned. Ideally, the section would be a 3-foot section crossing over 3 (three) cross members. Adjoining sections must be staggered. The repair must be completed in a professional and clean manner.

Scuff Liner Repair:
Scuff Liner that is torn or bent and cannot be straightened and refastened can be sectioned. All sections must start and end at the center of a side post. Buck rivets must be used to reattach Scuff Liner using existing holes. Bolts or other fasteners are not permitted.