Trailer Rust

[jacques2727]

Hey guys. Once again I am in need of some advice. While re-packing my trailer bearings in the fall I noticed some significant rust spots on my trailer. They are very isolated, but the rusting is severe in these areas. The pictures are of the second to the rear crossbeam. This beam takes the load from the front of the rear bunk, and the rear of the middle bunk. A significant amount of weight I would imagine. Is it as simple as getting one of my welding buddies to put a patch on and rust coat it, or am I in so deep that I might need a new trailer? Also, does anyone know where I could take it to have a proper diagnosis (marine shop, trailer shop)? It is a road runner trailer from Texas and I am in northern Canada so a visit to the manufacturer is out of the question. As always, thanks for any advice. Safety while towing on public roads is of paramount importance to me.

[Razzman]

Jacques I'd say a hole qualifies as severe rust! I wouldn't even mess with that unless you know for a fact the rest of the trailer is sound. The thing about rust is that it hides under paint eating away.

Check the rest of your trailer completly looking for rust boils and bubbles if you find none or a few and determine the trailer can be saved then i'd take it to a qualified trailer repair facility and have the beam cut out and a new one welded in. Any good trailer facility can do this properly.

In fact just call a few local marine dealers and see who they recommend. It should be a lot cheaper than a new trailer as even a good used one can be around $2000.

[spharis]

The insides are going bro. You can get another year out of it, but it is going to get progressively worse. Even if you patch it, it is going to continue to go downhill from the inside out. Start saving for aluminum or painted galvanized.

FYI, tandem axle painted channel trailers like the one you have are in the neighborhood of 5-6k. Painted galvanized are about the same. An aluminum tandem that holds more load is about 3-3.5k. Pricey, but so is what's riding on it.

You can sell what you have for about $800 if the other parts still work and the axle is good. I got $600 for mine and I could poke holes in it with an ink pen.

[yllw20]

take it to a trailer shop, have them cut out that cross bar and weld in another if the rest of the trailer is still okay. if it is all like that you might be needing a new one

[talltigeguy]

Jacques I'd say a hole qualifies as severe rust! I wouldn't even mess with that unless you know for a fact the rest of the trailer is sound. The thing about rust is that it hides under paint eating away.

Check the rest of your trailer completly looking for rust boils and bubbles if you find none or a few and determine the trailer can be saved then i'd take it to a qualified trailer repair facility and have the beam cut out and a new one welded in. Any good trailer facility can do this properly.

I agree, that picture sure seems to be the tip of a very big iceberg.

[mneal]

It is done, the downside of painted trailers is they rust from inside out and if they look badly on the outside they are really bad internally. No way I would trust it, if it breaks (and it will judging from the structural degradation) I can't even image how ugly it could get, totaled boat, liability from accident, etc.. It needs replaced right away.

[bsnook212]

That trailer has some serious rust cancer. Prognosis ---------- not good

[wannabewakeboarder]

take it to a trailer shop, have them cut out that cross bar and weld in another if the rest of the trailer is still okay. if it is all like that you might be needing a new one

I'll second this idea.

[spharis]

Fish plating it will buy you some time.

[buffman]

I second the idea of start looking for a new trailer....$40k+ boat on top I wouldn't gamble for much longer...

[jacques2727]

Thanks for all the info guys. I was hoping for the "simple fix, all you have to do is..." type of reply, but I agree with whats been said and I am already looking for a new trailer, or at least a shop to take it for them to and confirm that I need a new trailer. Just when I thought I had a few dollars in hand. Oh well, I don't mind spending a few bucks in the name of safety and protecting my investment. Thanks again.

[jacques2727]

So what should be my first course of action in getting an new trailer. I live in northern Canada, so I think resources are going to be somewhat limited. I contacted Road Runner (my current "rust bucket" trailer) in Texas but they have no affordable way to get a trailer to Canada. Do the new Tige's still use this brand? Should I be able to go to any manufacture and they can build me the trailer to custom fit my boat. At this point I am totally lost. Not to mention a little dissaponted in that the trailer that held my old 1978 deltacraft was all original and I don't think I could spot any rust on it to this day, and this thing has disintegrated in 8 years. New motor one year, new trailer the next, this boating thing is rather costly. Thanks again fo the help.

[dogbert]

I'd get an aluminum trailer.

[Razzman]

I agree with Dog, an aluminum trailer would last in your environment without issues. Any marine trailer mfgr can make a trailer for your boat. Talk to SPharis he just got one for his Tigé.

[sse01]

I just ordered a fully welded aluminum trailer for our new boat for around $3,600. I have seen ads for aluminum trailers that appear to be bolted together in the $2,300-$2,800 range for your size boat, but did not pursue them.