Galvanized trailer rusted?

[ozenine]

Hi guys! Here is the dumb question - why would galvanized trailer rust?
I have got the boat with galvanized trailer and some parts of it are rusted - sports where fenders are connected to the frame, some other seams. Thsi is wiers cause I thought of the galvanized trailer as of non rustable, but here it looks like the top part of the "galvanization" is gone and the exposed metal is corroding.

Question 2 - what do I do with it?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Galvanized trailer rusted?

A galvanized trailer is just plain steel with a heavy zinc coating/plating on it, anywhere you drill a hole or disturb the zinc then it exposes the steel underneath to water/rust. If you can get to the rusty areas with a wire brush or sandpaper to remove and clean it then you can prime and paint it with a silver Rustoleum paint or the spray on galvanizing paint from a place like Autozone. Good Luck!

 

[ozenine]

Re: Galvanized trailer rusted?

Excellent, I will do that. Do you know if I can put galvanization pain on the rusty spots (cleaned obviously), or there should be zero rust there?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Galvanized trailer rusted?

If you paint on top of rust then it's just going to come back, need to clean very good and use a primer for first coat. If there are holes drilled in the trailer, through the galvanizing, then it's most likely going to rust there again anyway. If you're launching in salt water, rust is almost a given, especially on axles, springs, shackles, nuts, bolts. My trailer is galvanized, fresh water only and almost no rust at all. After you clean and paint your rusty areas you may want to spray those areas with a thick white lithium grease to keep out the water. Good Luck!

 

[JimMH]

Re: Galvanized trailer rusted?

anywhere the galvanizing coating is scratched or drilled through it will rust. Galvanized doesn't necessarily mean rust proof but more like rust resistant.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Galvanized trailer rusted?

Ive used cold galvanize in a spray can to protect metal outdoors. Works very well. Much better than paint, imo. Can be found where spray paints are sold.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Galvanized trailer rusted?

Keep in mind that galvanization is a sacrificial coating, with age and time it will wear down to the point where it's no longer able to protect the steel.
Galvanizing is a zinc coating on steel, it corrodes or erodes away with time leaving the underlying steel unprotected. Drilling through this coating exposes bare steel as well, and such a spot will always be a point of concern.
Also keep in mind that the hardware is not galvanized on most trailers, they are built this way for strength and safety, as most galvanized hardware tends to be soft and not rated high enough to handle most loads.

For years I've always painted my hardware each year to prevent it from rusting away, as well as painting my galvanized trailers which are used in saltwater. I've been using one trailer now for over 25 years in saltwater and other than a few sets of safety chains and some hardware, the frame is good as new. Springs, axles, and hardware will always be wear items on boat trailers, in saltwater its even worse. The same goes for steel fenders, which seem to be the first thing to rust out on a saltwater used trailer.