Trailcraft Trailer Restoration - Advice Needed
Submitted by Simo_ on Sun, 2017-10-08 13:45
Hi Guys, my trailcraft trailer is 10 years old and has corroded in a number of areas (pics below). I was wanting to fix it up before something breaks.
Looking for some advice on what I should do.
Cheers
Simon
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Bring on April
Silver Fox
Posts: 1111
Date Joined: 19/06/14
There's far worse on the road
Hit up martins trailer parts for some new roller support bits n pieces. Springs n rotors look to be ok
My wife understands why I clean my rods n reels in the shower....
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Square one
My trailer was in a bad way and needed some parts replace and other areas needed patches welded over rusted out areas on frame.
I found the best money I spent on it was having the whole trailer sand blasted back so that the areas that needed attention could be clearly seen as well as some areas that I thought were ok showed up to be in dangerous condition as well.
Yep it cost a bit ($200) from memory but you start with a clean canvas.
holth
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/10/06
Go see Paul at Fremantle
Go see Paul at Fremantle trailers in oconner
Tell him Paul sent you.
EricBananaMan
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 18/08/13
Recommend Fremantle Trailers.
Recommend Fremantle Trailers. I live up north and bought a new trailer from them about 3 years ago. Everything was done over the phone and emails and the trailer was ready to be picked up without any hassles when it was time to drive to Perth to get it. They ran me through roller set up before I drove off as the boat was still on the old trailer back home. Good customer service.
surge
Posts: 212
Date Joined: 17/08/09
hi mate i can help you out
hi mate i can help you out with a sandblast if need shop located in rockingham can also paint it too if you like jlm bodyworks is my buisness cheers0418660354
Rob H
Posts: 5796
Date Joined: 18/01/12
They are a pretty good
They are a pretty good trailer, first of the channel type.
Blast and get it galvanised again, it'll look like new again
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
SpotHound
Posts: 439
Date Joined: 06/02/14
Tezzas Trailers
Terry made all of the trailcraft trailers, he would have nearly all of those parts in stock ready to go.
He has a website and is loacted in Port Kennedy.
gruntre69
Posts: 533
Date Joined: 15/10/16
I just did a blast and
I just did a blast and re-gal on my 9 year old which wasn't quite as bad as that. Yours doesn't look to far gone though. Mine is like new now with new wiring and lights and breaks overhauled and it cost me about $1000. Should easily go another 10 years now.
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Mrlickalotopus
Posts: 109
Date Joined: 27/07/16
I plan to do the same shortly
I plan to do the same shortly on a Trailit triaxle, re-glav, new springs, brakes, rollers & lights, I plan to galv the axles also. I'll post some before & after pictures.
gruntre69
Posts: 533
Date Joined: 15/10/16
The axles are harder to do.
The axles are harder to do. You need to mask the machined surfaces. I towed the trailer down to the gal yard and took off the springs with axles attached. It's a a lot more stuffing around to do the axles but not impossible. The trailer mobs machine the axles after they gal them. I didn't want to play around with the springs and risk lossing temper so I just cold gal treated them.
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Rob H
Posts: 5796
Date Joined: 18/01/12
to do the axles smear the
to do the axles smear the machined surfaces in silicone (degrease first)
Similar with any threaded holes you dont want galvanised.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
holth
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/10/06
As Rob said use silicon. Put
As Rob said use silicon. Put it on nice and thick. You still will have to add some heat after galved and use a wire brush to clean up.
EricBananaMan
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 18/08/13
Would Denso-Tape survive the
Would Denso-Tape survive the galvanising process?
Rob H
Posts: 5796
Date Joined: 18/01/12
short answer
short answer-definitely not.
If youve ever tried to burn silicon off with an oxy you will know how it is!
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Jackalchub
Posts: 599
Date Joined: 10/03/12
Plenty of bolt on options
Plenty of bolt on options mate, All trailer parts in mandurah were helpful to me.. although i’d say martins would be cheaper and have a bigger range
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Hi Simo
That Looks like my Traily trailer. Im keeping an eye on this post. LOL.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Simo_
Posts: 1843
Date Joined: 13/11/06
Thanks for all the advice.
Thanks for all the advice. Looks like sand blasting and re-galvanizing is the go.
Surge I'll give you a call to get sand blasting done.
Bring on April
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
The beauty of channel section trailers
I''ll never buy another RHS construction.
gruntre69
Posts: 533
Date Joined: 15/10/16
Simo, You only need to
Simo, You only need to sandblast the flakey stuff, Don't waste money blasting if it's not flakey. The acid bath will remove all existing zinc, white corroded zink and surface rust.
I only got the worst bits sandblasted and mine came up really good. You can save heaps by regalling all the ubolts too (I would put new ones on the spring hangers though) They can acid dip and galv these through the centrofuge. My trailer had these holding everything on and it saved a fortune reusing them all. The Galv cost on these is insignificant because they will quote you a meter rate for the trailer and everything is included.
Good luck with it!
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Simo_
Posts: 1843
Date Joined: 13/11/06
Anyone know of a galv place
Anyone know of a galv place in Rockingham area?
Bring on April
gruntre69
Posts: 533
Date Joined: 15/10/16
I used Hartways.I think they
I used Hartways.
I think they have a branch down in Henderson
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Simo_
Posts: 1843
Date Joined: 13/11/06
Thanks mate, I'll check them
Thanks mate, I'll check them out.
Bring on April
Simo_
Posts: 1843
Date Joined: 13/11/06
Any tips on what cold-gal to
Any tips on what cold-gal to use on the springs?
Bring on April
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Would you bother?
gold gal on the springs will be purely cosmetic, as you are only painting the top pf the upper spring, the bottom of the lower, and the edges. None of the rubbing surfaces will obviously take paint. Just make sure you hose them thoroughly with fresh water after each use along with your brakes, not just the quick splash with the hose that most get because people can't be bothered getting down and looking at what they are doing, properly.
Simo_
Posts: 1843
Date Joined: 13/11/06
Mines a single spring.
Mines a single spring.
Bring on April
gruntre69
Posts: 533
Date Joined: 15/10/16
I clean my outboard, trailer
I clean my outboard, trailer and anchor winch as a way higher priority than the GRP hull. Especially the brake rotors and calapers and under the gaurds... as well as a big flush of inside the RHS from the rear.
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gruntre69
Posts: 533
Date Joined: 15/10/16
Mine is a spring pack and
Mine is a spring pack and agree the paint was mostly cosmetic. I thought it was worth it since 95% of my trailer was brand new dipped zinc, Makes the whole thing look good. If you can be bothered blasting the single spring, then a gold gal treatment will be more than just cosmetic, it will give it a degree of protection. I used the silverzinc which is a bit brighter finish than cold gal and is still around 97% zinc.
The thing with the paint is it only seems to hang in there for about a year. It not that hard to spray a bit more on the springs and axles once a year to keep it looking good...
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