Help with type of steel for trailer repair
Submitted by Paul N on Sun, 2019-04-07 17:57
Have to replace a lot of beams on my tandem boat trailer due to rust . I can do the welding but not sure about using painted or galvanised RHS . Replacing sections with what is on there at the moment 75x50x4mm . If I use galvanised steel will it hold up to dunking in salt water . If I use painted steel what can I coat it with or is it a waste of time . I assume I should use painted if I were to get it hot dipped galvanised after welding it all up . If I go down the hot dip path does anyone know the cost of galvansing . Steel section would way 100 kilo and effectively would be 10 mtrs of the mentioned RHS .
Thanks for any help
Cheers Paul
Billcollector
Posts: 2006
Date Joined: 16/05/09
If you don't galvanise it use
If you don't galvanise it use duragal and treat it with good quality paint, and lanoguard the internals heavily but if galvanising painted steel will do the job better. Galvanising is better.Have done well on dinghy trailers up here using duragal as trailer doesn't get wet often.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
better to gal the whole thing if you can afford it.
Using gal section only means that you have gal where it hasn't been welded, obviously. Any rust on internal surfaces of existing trailer that have not been replaced will not take new gal if you decide to used primed and get it re-gal'd. Also, any tiny slag inclusions on the new welds will not take gal. If you decide to use gal section , and weld, you won't be able to paint inside the hollow section of the welded area, so it will rust very quickly from there.
sea-kem
Posts: 14853
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Paul, buy painted RHS and
Paul, buy painted RHS and get it hot dip galved then cut and weld in where needed. Then touch up with cold galv. Pre galv sections won't hold up to salt water. If you want I can help with sourcing material and glavanising. Also give you some good quality cold galv for touch ups.
Ideally you could do all the repairs with painted SHS and then get the whole trailer regalved, not sure how far you want to go. Depending on how bad the existing galv is they may want to blast before acid dip to remove the existing galv then hot dipping. Could be pricy, but peace of mind at the end of it.
Love the West!
Paul N
Posts: 480
Date Joined: 09/11/06
Thanks Mate
Thanks mate , appreciate the offer and the advice . I’ll send you a text message in the morning .
Its not as big a job as it sounds. Virtually a 2mtr square with another RHS in the middle.
scottnofish
Posts: 1617
Date Joined: 28/08/07
built a new trailer out of dura galv
then painted with galv paint and had to get it acid bathed and dipped 2 years later as it was starting to rust everywhere except where I hot galved the welds .dura galv is shit in salt water.only cost me 1000 bucks for a 6 meter cat trailer to be dipped
holth
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/10/06
If your trailer is a dunbier
If your trailer is a dunbier they sell cross members that are galved ready to be welded in. Fitted afew when working for freo trailers. Then just zinc stick welds.
sea-kem
Posts: 14853
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Ahh yeah forgot about the
Ahh yeah forgot about the old zinc sticks, I guess fine if the trailer galv is still sound.
Love the West!