When is it time to replace my Boatmate trailer?

[Dave S]

I know, wrong section, but I looked in the trailer talk section and it seems not many people visit that section to often, thought I may get most responses here.

I have an 09 Z1 with an 09 (I think) Boatmate Trailer. There is signs of random rust spots on the side of the trailer beam about under the bow lights. My guess is that if these rust spots are coming through from the inside out, the inside is rusting more then I can see. Most of the trailer looks real good. Am I on borrowed time? I am pretty sure it is a matter of time and less then more before replacement. I am starting a "new trailer" fund shortly anyway. How long is everyone getting out of their trailers?

I emailed Boatmate twice asking for any thoughts on this and prices on a new trailer but never heard back so I thought my fellow Tige friends could give me their thoughts? I did use the trailer for one summer in brackish water back in 2011, I am sure this is due to my premature rust. I was very anal about washing boat and flushing engine, never thought about rinsing inside of trailer. I realized the inner tubes of the trailer are raw metal. Any idea how much a new trailer costs?

Now that I think further about this, why would they design a closed tube trailer that has raw metal on the inside, knowing the trailer will be dipped in water frequently? Could they have circle openings (speed holes) along the bottom of the rails so water can drain out easier and then inside of trailer could be painted, rinsed and maybe last longer? I have a friend with a c-channel trailer, 10+ years old and minimal rust.

I know longer live in that area and am in strictly fresh water now, so thinking about going with a boatmate again as opposed to an aluminum trailer.

[boardman74]

Some surface rust is no reason to replace it. We live in Minnesota and here trailers last the lifetime of the boat. You would have to have some serious rust thru the beams to warrant replacement.

[WakerideN]

I guess my take would be to measure what you truly have lost before you just buy a new one assuming its all bad. the cost of this might be worth looking into if you just have minor metal \ paint issues and not full blown failure of the metal. most trailers have some cut outs in the bottom as well for water to drain. I know my boat mate does.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-GM-1...-/131117125136

[talltigeguy]

Give us a few pictures. I would like to see what you mean by 'rust coming through'.

[Dave S]

image.jpg

[Dave S]

My brake line rusted out and I lost trailer brakes fall of 2012. Winter of 2013 I redid my brake tubing inside trailer.

[c_hotshot]

Dave - I'm glad that you brought this to light. My 08 is showing rust on the back steps near the guide posts. I was wondering if I would need to replace in a few years too! Might be a stupid question, but how did you know that you lost your brakes?

[Iwndr]

My 2008 boat mate does have drain holes front and back and in the low spots on the cross braces

[rwdavis1]

My 06 trailer was used in brackish water for 6 years and showed significant rust on the steps, the insides of the beams, and fenders. I took it to a trailer shop to have repairs done and that could not happen . My beams were rusted to a point under the paint that a few taps with a sounding hammer and there were chunks of metal gone. I purchased a new one and went with c-channel, custom wheels, all LEDS and it cost 4500.00. A good trailer shop should be able to repair or check to see how much deterioration you have. Had mine been repairable he was going to charge 2200.00 to replace fenders, steps, lights, sandblast and repaint.trailer.jpgimage - 2.jpg

[Dave S]

rwdavis1 - what brand is that trailer? I would seriously consider C-channel over closed tube in the future. Sounds very justified in your situation to just replaced trailer.

Iwndr - I have one opening back at the taillight on each side an one opening up front where the "Y" comes together to make the tongue. I have no drain holes in low cross members or anywhere else. I am thinking if I had drain holes, and could've rinsed the inside of the trailer from these holes, then it may have last longer.

c_hotshot - Well, I know that with 4-wheel disc brakes on the truck and 4-wheel disk on the boat trailer, the whole rig stops very well, especially when idiots cut you off on Houston highways. I was rolling south on 45 near the Woodlands from the Trinity and got cut-off, slammed on the brakes, knowing my setup well, should've been fine to stop - and lets just say thank god for a center shoulder that I could swerve to or I would've hit them. It took me a while to figure out the tubing rusted out. I thought, at first, that the back-up solenoid failed or I lost a seal in one of the calipers. A rusted brake tube never even crossed my mind.

When I redid my brake lines, they were rusted through in the area where these rust spots are showing up on my trailer. When I pulled out the rusted lines, chucks of rust (from trailer) came with it.

Is it to little, to late, to drill holes at the bottom and make drain holes?

[rwdavis1]

Roadrunner. They build all the TIGE trailers for Eagle Marine in Ft Worth

[boatwakes]

Replace them all now, they look horrible!!!

[boatwakes]

Sorry, couldn't resist. Working on the ocean I see a lot of crap trailers and a lot of corroded boats. Replace your trailer if any of the following occur:
1) The frame is bent more than 4" in any direction.
Any other condition can easily be corrected.

[Obama4President2016]

The day to replace your BoatMate trailer is the second day after you bring it home.

It's just a nice looking trailer with so so quality.

The dealers love them because theres a decent profit margin to be found in the BoatMate brand.

We upgraded to a Rolls Axle trailer. http://www.rollsaxle.com/boat_trailers.htm

There is NO aluminium welding done to this trailer. Aluminum is made to flex, but welds eventually give way to fatigue cracks.

A good aluminum trailer is bolted together.

Also, the bunks are 6" center cut cypress.

The bunk carpet is heavy duty type, not the cheap stuff.

Glued and fastened with stainless nails.

Kodiac stainless hubs and rotors.

It's the way to go.

[Ewok]

Roadrunner. They build all the TIGE trailers for Eagle Marine in Ft Worth

I've got a RoadRunner trailer and comparing it next to a Boatmate, I'd take a Boatmate all day long. I've had several welds develop cracks that I've had to fix and the way they design the front Y to connect the frame to the tongue is not good, had cracks in the welds there too. The way the winch is welded to the tongue developed cracks in the welds and would have broken too.

But I'm going to go agree with Nobody on this one, I've already been saving up for a new trailer and I'm either going with a galvanized dipped trailer from Boatmate or I'm going to get a custom Al I-Beam construction trailer. I'm guessing it'll be 6-9K for the custom Al trailer but at least it'll give me peace of mind. I don't trust my RR trailer at all and I give it a good visual inspection every time I use it. It's not a fun way to trailer when you don't trust your trailer.