seeing as how many people tend to snap dropouts im making a little how-to on reinforcing.
supplies:
~3/4' x 1/8" x 4ft aluminum (or steel) bar (or maybe you like square tube)
~2, 1/4" x 3.5" bolts w/ washers and nuts
~drill bit for axle hole (ill post size later when i go out and check)
~drill bit for front 4 reinforcement bolts
~1/4" drill bit
~masking tape
~hack saw or rotary tool
~pen
as long as you already have the drill bits tape saw and pen, this should only cost you about $7 from your local home depot.
Step 1: cut 4ft piece in half
Step 2: tape the pieces tightly together so when you drill them they will be identical
Step 3: after youve removed all the bolts/screws from the underside of your deck where your reinforcement will go, you put a straight even line of tape over one side of where the reinforcement will go and poke out the holes in the tape with the pen.
Step 5: take off the tape as its now the template for the reinforcement. so put the template of tape on the two pieces of metal you taped together earlier and drill the holes
Step 6: drill out two extra somewhat evenly spaced in the middle with the 1/4" drill bit for the bolts you bought to give the middle some extra clamping
(sorry no pic here)
Step 7: put the reinforcements on and where the two holes are for the bolts you will need to drill through your deck. then just put those bolts in, tighten everything down and youre done!
(sorry no pic here)
what it looks like when its done: