Busted TRex

[jeepGold]

Has held up for about 6 months and I don't hunt in rock infested areas. I contacted the manufacturer and he will work with me on rewelding it stating that in 3 yrs no one has broken one.. I don't have the time to send it across the US and then have him send it mid way across the US to weld it then send it back to me... If local weld shops want to charge me an arm and a leg then I will but otherwise I won't. These scoops take abuse at the hand of what they do but that's what they are designed for.. all things fail after awhile I suppose and I found a local shop to do it for 45.00. Shipping would be that much and I need to get back to the beach. I didn't post this as a stab but only for awareness and to see if anyone else has had the same problem.

Has anyone else broken a TRex 9.5 at the welds?

 

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[Irishgoldhound]

 

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[carlos006]

I have decided to look for local welding shop and have them repair it.

 

[lookindown]

I was looking at my Stealth 720 and it has a triangular gusset welded inside the basket at the point where the top of the basket attaches...looks very strong at that point...completely different than the T Rex design.

 

[cudamark]

It should be built for durability not looks!!! I have yet to have someone come up to me and say "nice scoop"

Really? I get ooohs and aaahs over my 720i all the time.....from novices to veterans.

 

[plymouthian12]

Here is the one of the 2 I broke over the summer didn't take a pic of the second one

 

[Fletch88]

With a 100+ golds you can just buy a couple new ones every year! Lol

 

[Beach Papa]

I would post photos but you have seen enough crappy welding already. My 8" x 12" SS (I think) RTG scoop broke at the weld after about 1 year. (I don't see the same scoop on their web site, so maybe they don't make them any more or I got it somewhere else.) Looking at where it broke and other places where it was cracked, it was obvious they were the greatest stress points. After I broke mine, I saw other scoops on the internet with little turn down ears that beefed up the weld at the most critical points. Looks like your scoop broke THROUGH the little ear, so not sure it was just a weld issue. I don't know the thickness of my scoop but your metal looks thinner than mine. I also didn't return mine to the mfgr. under warranty for repair or replacement, because you cannot detect without a scoop. (maybe that is why they never heard of a scoop breaking). I am NOT a welder but I am dangerous and I own a stick welder. So, I got some SS rods and welded a heavy piece of SS across the three weak points in the scoop. Mig would have been prettier but I laid some metal on the scoop and although it looks "Home Made" it has held up fine for the last 5 years, so I am happy. You did the right thing by getting it done right locally. Happy hunting to ya.

 

[cudamark]

Here is the one of the 2 I broke over the summer didn't take a pic of the second one

I think you need one with a built-in crow bar! I've managed to bend mine in a few spots while prying in the rocks also.

 

[plymouthian12]

Thinking about having a friend try and make me a titanium one

 

[mham2]

Totally unacceptable ,they should send you a new one ! I have a stealth 920 ix buy sunspot love it , two years old no sign of any problems

 

[carlos006]

I agree it's a design flaw.. to make things worse they want me to pay for shipping to and from. I am taking it to a welding shop to repair it then it's going up for sale.

 

[Fletch88]

I've heard rave reviews of the T-Rex scoop but to me I can tell it's a weaker design of the bunch and even compared to some that cost less which are similar, tougher and better designed. On the T-Rex, all the force from prying is being pulled from the top and sides of the scoop with not much support at the back of the scoop at the base of the insert. All the torque when pulling back is being strained unevenly in my opinion. The scoops that are made with stems welded in front and directly behind the handle insert are more rigid and the base can withstand more prying and the torque on the scoop being exerted from prying back is more evenly isolated. Here is a scoop I bought and have used 3 seasons now in hard packed gravel, wet sand and many times digging in rocky areas. The scoop is very tough and well designed. I got this one from Indiana beach scoops on eBay for $139.00. Good luck guys!

Here was my beach scoop Indiana before they changed the design. Total junk and try sending one back to Europe for warranty

 

[plymouthian12]

Fletch no problems in rocks huh I could be interested in one. I haven't found a scoop yet that can handle the digging I do

 

[Irishgoldhound]

Fletch88: That scoop by Indiana is not the same as the one I have. It's easy to see that one is a poor design. No brace or support on the back of the handle insert to withstand constant pulling and prying back on the scoop. No wonder it bent.

 

[Irishgoldhound]

This scoop has no support whatsoever at the back of the insert making it an easy scoop to bend back like a sardine lid.

 

[Irishgoldhound]

look at the difference on this scoop how the welded steel stems will keep the insert and the top of the scoop more solid for prying backwards

 

[Irishgoldhound]

 

[Irishgoldhound]

I've broke 2 wooden handles with this scoop after 3 seasons. Solid scoop. If you guys are using it like a pry bar then any scoop will bend. I don't see how you can bend a stainless steel scoop from just wet sand. Reefing back on your scoop and beating down hard with your foot will surely break it.

 

[Irishgoldhound]

Here's a scoop that I also have. "Dalyn" beach scoop". It's like a wrecking tool. A bit heavy but when I want to hunt in rocky or hard/wet packed ground this is what I bring...

 

[Irishgoldhound]