Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

I went out this morning to hook up the trailer to enjoy the beautiful day fishing and boating. Well when upon hooking up the electrical connector I found only one of the side marker lights was working. I weighed the option of repairing the lights and heading on my way or fixing the trailer the right way as it's long overdue for a rebuild.

This trailer came with my boat and it's one of those trailer kits that you can order from Northern Tool and other places like that. When I bought the combo used about 3 years ago the trailer didn't have a winch or any lights so I added those then as well as a jack stand, but haven't really done any work on it since.

So I decided to bite the bullet and use this weekend to get a majority of the rebuild done. The first thing I did was mount the motor on a temporary stand and put the boat on some blocks:

Here are some pictures of the winch set-up, rusty old coupler, etc. Notice the patches of rust throughout:

Here's another picture of the winch stand. I thought I might have to replace the whole thing, but I was able to grind the rust off and hammer it back into shape so I think I can squeak a few more years out of it:

Here are the parts after grinding and primer. I will be using new hardware as the old stuff is cooked. Those are the fenders in the back:

More to follow...

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

...Continued.

Here are some pictures of the trailer after disassembly, but before grinding and cleaning:

I flipped it on end using my custom made cradle (the fence, HA HA!!!) to grind and prime the underside:

Here she is after grinding all of the rusty areas and putting down 2 coats of Rustoleum primer:

Tomorrow I plan on putting 2 coats of gloss white on everything except the fenders which will be black. I don't know if the paint will be durable enough on it's own or if I need to spray some clear on too. Any suggestions??

Other than that I plan on a new coupler & safety chains, new LED lights and associated wiring and new hardware as needed. The bunks are still in good shape so I plan on reusing them. I'm also considering putting a larger wheel/tire combo w/ spare and will be inspecting & repacking the bearings as well.

I'll follow up tomorrow with my progress - BOB

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

Well, I didn't get as much done today as I was hoping, but still go a good chunk complete. I was worried that the paint wouldn't be durable enough with only 2 coats so I applied 3 heavy coats top and bottom. There are some runs in the paint, but who cares, It won't be in any car shows anytime soon - HAHA! Here are some pictures of the final coat of gloss white:

I also reassembled the winch tower using new hardware and painted it to match. It's much more solid and looks a lot better too when compared to the original:

I wanted to let the paint set overnight before reinstalling the bunks, winch, rollers, etc.

Continued...

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

...A little more.

I picked up all new hardware at HD in between paint coats (and football games):

I also put 3 coats of gloss black on the fenders. You can see where I ground off the rust through the paint, but I'll chock those up to character marks and be happy that the rust is gone!

That's it for today, after work tomorrow I'll install the new hitch and the rest of the stuff I already have. I still need to order the LED light set and a new jack stand and I think I'm going to go to Walmart tomorrow to see if they have the wheel/tire combos I need. I'll follow up as work progresses.

BOB

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

good work man..... looks very nice

 

[jiggastunts]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

Looks really good.
I just picked up my first boat w/trailer, and plan on doing the same.
However, I really don't have any means or space to take the boat off, so its on my back with a roller I go for paint and ridiculous low grit and elbow grease for rust spots.

Can't wait to see the 100% finished job.

Take it easy.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

Thanks guys, I appreciate the kind words!

Today I got to do what I consider to be the fun stuff - reassembly! I'll let the pictures do most of the talking here. First I mounted the fenders:

Then the winch and bow-stop:

Then the keel rollers and bunk supports:

I also put a new 1 7/8" coupler and safety chains up front:

More to follow...

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

Looks real nice..

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

...continued.

With the bunks on, I've done everything I can today. I think she looks pretty sweet! The only thing she needs (besides lights and jack) is a boat on her!:

Well, well, well...here's the boat! It was sitting a little too far back at first:

I moved the winch tower forward 8 1/2". Now she sits right and the back of the bunks come right to the base of the transom.:

That's it for now. I still have to do the lights, jack, tires and spare as well as the bearings. I'll follow-up once I have all of that stuff done.

BOB

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

I found myself with some extra time on my hands while I was out checking job sites today and there just so happened to be a Tractor Supply Co. nearby so I went in to see if they had anything I needed for the trailer. They didn't have the jack I was looking for, but they did have a submersible set of L.E.D. lights. They are made (or distributed) by a company called Blazer which I have never heard of, but their packaging sold me on 'em. The lights were temporarily wired to a 9 volt battery with a button you could push to see how they work. It's the same way they sell kids toys and I gotta say, it worked on me!

Here's the light set. I'm going to return the connector set on the right as it turns out I don't need it.

When I disassembled the trailer prior to painting I intentionally left the old wires in so I could use them to pull the new ones through as seen here:

Once I had the length I wanted left at the front I attached the ground. I painted the grounded area white after I took this picture:

The lights are connected to the harness with twist nuts. You can't see it in the pictures, but these L.E.D. lights each have to be ground to the mounting posts in addition to the ground at the front of the trailer. I've never used L.E.D.s before and don't know if this is normal or not.

Here's the LH and RH lights installed with wiring tucked away inside the frame:

Just a little more to follow...

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

...here we go.

The light set didn't contain any side markers so I picked up a couple of self adhesive amber reflectors for $1.49 a piece while I was at TSC. Here's a picture of it on the side of the trailer:

Here's one with flash on to show how it reflects - HA!

I backed up the truck and hooked up the electric, here's what they look like with running lights on:

And with the brake petal depressed - These things are BRIGHT!!

Still need to do the wheels and jack, but now that the trailer's street legal I may just go fishing! HA HA!

BOB

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

Looks great.

How much were the lights, if you don't mind me asking...

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

looks great! dpmt worry about the durability of the Rustoleum, it will give you a few years of dependable service. its just 2 afternoons worth of work and about $5 in paint to redo it anyways. I did the same thing with my trailer under my tinny as well. It sure felt good to know everything was tip top since you put the work in yourself. For around $100 you have a new trailer.

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

great job on all of your repairs!! I think that rustoleum will hold up great......

but...now ya hafta polish the aluminum boat up...the hull looks a bit tarnished against that blast white trailer in the pics !

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

Thanks everyone!

Knightgang - The lights were listed for $49.99 at Tractor Supply Co. but they were 15% off so I picked 'em up for about $43. About the same as I found online, but without the shipping.

BOB

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

but...now ya hafta polish the aluminum boat up...the hull looks a bit tarnished against that blast white trailer in the pics !

Ha Ha! Nah, I'm just going to let the white paint on the trailer get a little dirty, that should even out the finishes - HA!

BOB

 

[J JACKSON]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

your trailer looks good but may i suggest getting some waterproof butt connectors to replace those wire nuts they will get moisture in them and corrode

 

[NYBo]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

Also put some grommets in the holes where the wiring goes through the frame while you have the connections apart to put on those butt connectors.

 

[TojosMojo]

Re: Another Trailer Rebuild (w/ pictures)

Turned out real nice, I am getting that same set of led taillights for my trailer. I loved the packaging because they have a battery that allows you to turn em on in the store... Blazer makes a lot of off road lighting.