Painted trailer & salt water ?

[zagger]

I have a beautiful painted trailer with all the bling on it and only used it in fresh water. All my previous trailers have been galvanized and living in San Diego were mostly used in salt. Is there any way I could rust proof my new trailer? I'm mostly concerned about the welds inside the tubes. I thought of using expansion foam to plug the tubes but if there were air pockets water condensation might make it rust even faster. Second thought was to spray something like Linex coating. I know I'm reaching way out there with my ideas and was wondering if anyone out there has a better was of providing some protection. I know nothing will be 100% but even little is better than nothing. Thanks for any input, Zig.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

Maybe find a freshwater ramp up the river leading to the ocean? You can spray the exposed springs, shackles, hubs, lug nuts, with white lithium grease for some protection. You can rinse off your trailer after every use. Probably not a whole lot you can really do other than just slow down the salt water corrosion problem on the painted areas. Good Luck!

 

[blifsey]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

A friend bought a used boat on painted steel trailer that had been occasionally used in salt (3 - 5 times per year he was told) and other time in fresh water. The frame on the trailer looked really nice like it had been kept up, washed, waxed, etc. No major rust could be seen. One trip to lake, he stepped on tongue to cross behind tow vehicle in parking lot and the tongue collapsed. The inside of the box framing had been rusting away while outside was kept in decent condition. Desire to start boating in coastal areas was one of our reasons for trading out 10 yr old Glastron last summer. I kept hearing/reading..."it can be done, but"

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

Does it have a box steel frame? What is the make and model?

 

[zagger]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

Box frame, dual axle - torsion bars. All LED with swing tong. Purchased new under a new Regal BR2000. It is a custom EZ-Loader.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

O.K. nice rig ... look at it this way ... what you've sacrificed in longevity you've made up for with good looks ... not my deal, but here's what I would do to get around it. Forget about trying to keep the water out, it's going to find its way in. I'd help it find its way out (easier than it already is). Drill any number of additional "weep" holes along the bottom edge of the box frame ... the more the better. Create a few larger holes in various locations on top (perhaps with a small diameter "quick disconnect" fitting screwed in) where you can hose it out. I think with a little imagination, you could make a very trick freshwater washdown system that would be quick and easy. I made something similar for my trailer brakes at one time, fitting the backing plates with plastic "pop up" lawn sprinklers, rigged with some clear vinyl hose and a "quick disconnect" fitting. Just takes a little imagination.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

OIL....... yup oil coat the inside of the frame........ you can fabricate a sprayer head and use Bar and Chain oil for chainsaws. It is sticky and has great rust proofing properties. I do not live in a salt water environment however, I live in an area where the roads were salted almost daily in the winter........ it is what is done to our cars, trucks and winter toy trailer's.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

saltwater immersion absolutely WILL destroy your trailer..... You can slow it down but you can't stop it.... We used to rinse ours by backing it in and pulling out at a freshwater ramp several times after each outing

 

[rrhodes]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

I had a painted trailer that I bought from a guy on the coast. He actually fitted the frame with several hose adapters, they allowed him to flush the frame and tongue and it was 10 years old when I bought it. Of couse U bolts and other hardware on the trailer needed to be replaced due to rust but the frame was solid.

The trailer I have now is galvanized....

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

Take a look at Fluid Film, it's been around for 60 years or better. They invented it for ships during WW2 to protect metal from the salt. Still around today.

http://www.fluid-film.com

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

mix gasoline and old motor oil and put it in a hose-end sprayer. That's what they used to do with beach cars.

Nothing is watertight; nothing is rust free.

Consider not dunking your trailer in the first place--the preferred method to launch and retrieve on salt water

 

[zagger]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

Thanks for all input, when I bought the rig I did not have a choice on the trailer, so it is what it is. I had a galvanized trailer under my old boat and that lasted 11 years till I sold it and still was in great shape. I think I'm going to open up all drainage holes, then install some tubing with spray heads. This way I can flush it with Salt Away solution. I know it will rust no mater what I do but would prefer it to be much later than sooner. Not sure how you guys manage to lunch and retrieve without "dunking" the trailer, for me that is not an option since the boat has a stepped hull and has to float off/on. Thanks again for all the insight.

P/S I will check into fluid-film also.

 

[krakatoa]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

I cant explain myself :facepalm: why you guys are "SO AFRAID" for salt water before your trailer get rusted will take years, just soak it with lots of fresh water when get home thats it! Salt Water will not hurt your boat, engine or trailer, just wash it!

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

You cant wash out the raw steel insides of a tubular trailer.
If it was an open channel style painted steel trailer, then yes washing it off will prolong the inevitable.

I would not be drilling holes in it to drain better.
I would plug what drain holes there are and add a fill port where needed.
Then fill the tubes with used cooking oil.

I would have said used motor oil but we gotta be green nowadays.

 

[krakatoa]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

.
Then fill the tubes with used cooking oil.

I would have said used motor oil but we gotta be green nowadays.

what about the environment??

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Painted trailer & salt water ?

A drip or two will be dinner for whatever.