Choosing a new trailer

[TarponTom]

I paid extra for aluminum wheels once that looked great for a few months. When they started to errode it was fast! Maybe dissimilar metals in salt water, I dont know but it's galvanized now for me.

[Briguy]

Does anyone have an idea on how to make trailer parts last longer. My continental galvenized dual axel trailer is already showing some minor signs of rust forming. I sprayed the lug nuts with corrosion x max wax. Am I better spraying highly succeptable parts with cold galvenize, like the hubs and springs? Springs seem to really rust after only a few years. Had I not got this trailer for under $1200 bucks only 4 months old, I probably would have gone with an aluminum trailer,stainless package with turbolube hubs. I guess my question is am I better coating the trailer springs with cr X or cold Galvin spray? Oh yeah, Pettit makes this stuff called metal prep I used on the inside gas tank of my motorcycle. Maybe that would work.

[TUGBOAT]

Briguy
When My ol' trailer started that I wire brushed what I could sprayed with Ospho.Then used a metal etching primer then a Allum. (grey)colored paint.Did'nt want to get rid of it after that.
Scream'n Reels' [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Capt Chuck]

Briguy

There is not much you can do about the springs rusting especially when in the saltwater environment [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] With proper care you should get at least 10 years out of them. They can be bought for approx. $25-$30 each when needed.

In the interim, I go to Kmart and get the "Rust-proofing / Rubberized Undercoating Spray" from the auto dept. Approx $4.00 a can. Two cans will do it!. Make sure the springs are dry and spray the $hit out of them. You can use a throw away brush and dab some in the tight areas. Use a piece of cardboard as a backdrop, a drop cloth and throw away gloves as the stuff splatters everywhere [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]. I double coat the axels also. Seems to hold up about 2 years. You also can get this stuff called "Trailer Coate" which is quite expensive but works extremely well. Boater's World and West Marine carries it [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I would highly recommend that you bite the bullet and replace the "U Bolts" and all others with Stainless before they rust up and give you real trouble. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Bigshrimpin]

BriGuy,
A good coat of 10w-30 on the leaf springs and grease on the threads of the u-bolts once a season doesn't hurt if you want to prevent rust.

[TarponTom]

Briguy,
I replaced my springs with torsion axles but when I originally bought my Slide-On they coated them with a thinned-down roofing cement. I redid them yearly and it seemed to help. Thin it with gas and brush it on, messy as hell though.