View Single Post
  #4  
Old 01-09-2012, 05:35 PM
Blue_Heron Blue_Heron is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Gator Country
Posts: 1,416
Default

Leaf spring replacement is a maintenance item on a trailer that will be used in salt water. You should have plenty of trailer shops in Dade, Broward, or PB counties. Find a good one close by, because you may need parts on short notice. There are lots of good deals on trailer parts online, but most of the parts are heavy or bulky and you may spend more on freight than you save on purchase price. Not always, though.

Some other things to think about:

Brakes - If you don't have them or they aren't working, a set of disk brakes is a good investment in safety. Drum brakes are less expensive, but are a mistake on a boat trailer IMHO.

Axles - If your axles aren't galvanized, you might as well change them when you do the springs, they won't be far behind. If you're not going with brakes, you should at least consider galvanized hubs.

I would suggest all stainless steel fasteners. If that's too much $$ for your budget, the minimum would be hot dip galvanized. The electro-galvanized bolts and nuts won't last and you'll be cutting them off next time you change your springs.

You can easily spend more money than your trailer is worth getting it up to snuff. But then you can trailer on long trips with safety and confidence. I once had a trip to hell pulling a tandem axle trailer that I thought was in ok shape. Since then, I don't take any chances on my trailers.
Dave
__________________
Blue Heron Boat Works
Reinventing the wheel, one spoke at a time.
Reply With Quote