$ 3000 Trailer Lights

[RJG 26S]

So a couple of weeks ago while hooking my trailer up to my Expedition, I noticed that a light was out. I checked the bulb and it was fine, must be something wrong with wiring. Bummer, ok since if I am going to fix the wiring, I might as well upgrade the incandescent lights for some new LED lights. I thought that it would not be that big of a deal.

The following Saturday, eager to install the new lights, I had my tools in hand and got under the boat to start pulling off the old wires and holy Fe2O3! The rust was bad. Upon a more casual inspection of the trailer last fall when I bought my I saw there was some rust and I knew I had to paint it soon, but this seemed pretty bad. Ok, time to get the boat off the trailer and start prepping it for grinding and a new paint job. After building a couple of sturdy supports, I moved the boat off the trailer. Last night I removed the fenders, goal posts, and springs. But when I removed the bunks, I just kept getting less and less confidence in the amount of remaining good metal on the boat.

The dilemma: Do I spend a good 20 - 30 hours stripping the paint and rust , priming and repainting a trailer and getting new bunks and hardware to replace the rusted bolts that I had to cut off and end up with a trailer that would be less marginal than when it left Costa Mesa 11 years ago? Furthermore, I was thinking is this something that I want to keep worrying about every couple of years to keep ahead of the rust?

Upon discussing this with the Admiral, I suggested that since we plan to have our for many more years, that we will inevitably need a new trailer. In addition, if I would not be working on the trailer this weekend, I sure could make good progress on the honey-do list. The answer: "We need to get the new trailer now." Woo - hoo!

Working with them now to place an order: http://www.tufftrailer.com//index.php?m ... cts_id=284

[pokerrick1]

I like how they get another $35 for the spare tire mount!

BTW, it's more than $3,000 - -- you forgot to add spare tire and taxes (maybe yiou can take the spare off the old trailer NAH! - - -you don't want anything old on your new trailer!) and you forgot sales tax.

Rick

[RJG 26S]

My aluminum dreams are dashed for now.

The Admiral and I were talking about what to do with the steel trailer. I said that I could get the rust off, paint, and sell it. She said, "oh really, so it is still useable?"

So I am back to the refurbishing project for me.

The upside: I will get to go sailing the 4th of July weekend whereas I would not have if I were waiting for delivery of a new trailer.

Bob

[Crikey]

Bob,

I would consider paying for a good sandblasting job on all the trailer parts instead of trying to grind, and wire brush before painting. Before we got our M we looked at a used X with a very bad trailer, which was largely the deal killer. The exterior was so bad that what lay hidden inside had to be very suspect and probably beyond economical repair. Find some local guy who knows what he is doing, and won't charge an arm and a leg (I'm guessing around $200). Bigger outfits can actually erode the remaining metal if they don't pay attention and the job should be primed heavily right away.

Ross

[Sumner]

Bob,

I would consider paying for a good sandblasting job on all the trailer parts instead of trying to grind, and wire brush before painting. ....Ross

I think we paid about $275 to have our trailer media blasted before I added the second axle. Money well spent. You just cant get into all the places you need to and that are the most likely to rust with a disc.



Also put an epoxy primer on and then top coat that you won't be sorry. I got my paint from Summit Racing, good prices.

Good luck,

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[Cedarsailor]

I'm with sandblasting and the epoxy primer. I brushed, ground and primed with red oxide last summer before painting. You can imagine my reaction when I saw the rust along the bottom of the frame this spring. The trailer was in the salt chuck once when the boat was retrieved last fall. If you can do it yourself, great. Otherwise you're further ahead to contract it out to a reliable shop.

[InsuredEnough]

SandBlasting is very affordable.

you can get a whole semi trailer blasted and painted for less than $1000 out here.

[FLembo18]

I like how they get another $35 for the spare tire mount!

BTW, it's more than $3,000 - -- you forgot to add spare tire and taxes (maybe yiou can take the spare off the old trailer NAH! - - -you don't want anything old on your new trailer!) and you forgot sales tax.

Rick

sorry, but I have to laugh at Rick's post.
Frank L.

[Crikey]

On second thoughts, perhaps if you played possum (oooo my back!) and had your admiral help with wire brushing, that might have brought that nice 'luminum trailer into your driveway. But - because these things eventually rust from the inside out regardless of what you do, just think of all the other things you can buy right now with the money you saved on the short term fix and prime the pump for your eventual replacement aquisition.

Everything comes to he who waits!

Ross