Protecting a trailer

[ontheplane]

I am going to have to buy a trailer.

Given that GOOD (as opposed to shot to b**gery) used trailers are like rocking horse do do, I think I am going to be forced into buying new.

Given that, I want / need the trailer to last as long as possible.

When I've bought new previously, the galvanise looks lovely and shiny when I collect, and slowly over the next 6 months or so it dulls to a grey, which is fine - that's what it does.

However even on brand new trailers, you start to get rust on various little bits of it - essentially the non-galvanised bits.

My thoughts are to spray these with either black or clear Waxoyl (depending on the colour of the item) to try and protect them long before it goes anywhere near the water.

However I heard (and it may be myth) that waxoyl attacks galvanise and will reduce it's effectiveness.

Is this correct? If it isn't, is there any reason I couldn't spray pretty much the whole trailer in the stuff, and would it protect it any better than the galvanise itself?

Thanks

Grant

 

[michaelh]

When I had the opportunity to do this I just smeared grease over all the exposed threads and other bits. Stops the rust, but perhaps there is an neater way to do it

 

[jfm]

I'd be amazed if waxoyl attacks galv. It's just oil in a wax; harmless to metal. It even comes in a metal can! I think that is just duff information you've been given

Problem with waxoyl is stickiness which attacts dirt. I wouldn't do a whole trailer in it because it would become a right mess. I'd just leave the galv as is, and let it go a bit dull. For the little bits that might rust imemdiately, localised Waxoyl sounds a good idea, or that paint-on "galvanising" (ie silver paint with lots of zinc suspended in it)

BTW, re-galvanising is cheap as chips. Just find local galvnasier and do a saturday morting cash job. Years ago i used to make trailers in RHS mild steel and after taking them for professional galvanising they looked just like the things you buy for thousands of pounds. I think a full galvanise, (hot dip in molten zinc tank - proper job) is in the order of £100

 

[ontheplane]

Good idea, but I'd like to do the whole thing if possible.

Also, if anyone has a GOOD trailer to carry a 21' boat which weighs 1700kg dry (so a carry capacity of 2000 + kilos - multi-roller that they can't think what to do with, PM me by all means...!

 

[Firefly625]

Good idea, but I'd like to do the whole thing if possible.

Also, if anyone has a GOOD trailer to carry a 21' boat which weighs 1700kg dry (so a carry capacity of 2000 + kilos - multi-roller that they can't think what to do with, PM me by all means...!

I have bought a couple of trailers for boats in the past, and sold a couple. Amazingly I have always got close to new price for used trailers.

We bought a 4 wheel single vehicle car transporter 7 years ago for work, ex display at £1600 and sold it last year for £2150... go figure!?

However just a recommendation of where to go for your trailer, De Graaff trailers (who are very local to us) are excellent, small company, low overheads & therefore great prices for the really high quality you get. They will make you anything if you can't find anything in there range to exactly suit. They also have some great extras like side steps that make using their trailers really helpful...... & can be up for a deal... Speak to Arthur!

.. last trailer I had from them was a swing beam model which was just brilliant..

http://www.degraafftrailers.co.uk/

 

[ontheplane]

Thanks - I have had trailers from Arthur in the past, and yes he is excellent I will second that.

I also got my last trailer from what were Parrymore (now Becktons) and also was very impressed.

I am starting to think that unless the good peeps of the forum can find me something good (see new post), it's not the end of the world to go for a new trailer at a good price, because yes I think I would get pretty much what I paid for it back when it's time to sell.

Re the Waxoyl thing - if it's agreed that it won't harm galvanise, what I'll do is just spray everything that ISN'T galvanised with it, and if the odd splot ends up on the main frame, not worry about it.

Any other votes for "no it won't harm the galvanise?"

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

I am going to have to buy a trailer.

Given that GOOD (as opposed to shot to b**gery) used trailers are like rocking horse do do, I think I am going to be forced into buying new.

Given that, I want / need the trailer to last as long as possible.

When I've bought new previously, the galvanise looks lovely and shiny when I collect, and slowly over the next 6 months or so it dulls to a grey, which is fine - that's what it does.

However even on brand new trailers, you start to get rust on various little bits of it - essentially the non-galvanised bits.

My thoughts are to spray these with either black or clear Waxoyl (depending on the colour of the item) to try and protect them long before it goes anywhere near the water.

However I heard (and it may be myth) that waxoyl attacks galvanise and will reduce it's effectiveness.

Is this correct? If it isn't, is there any reason I couldn't spray pretty much the whole trailer in the stuff, and would it protect it any better than the galvanise itself?

Thanks

Grant

hi grant........this is my trailer..its 11yrs old this year, came with the boat as a "package"..its had it FIRST new set of brakes shoes at xmas 2010 although it has had about 3 complete sets of bearings ! BUT that all said it has, AND STILL DOES, zillions of miles, only to get dunked in salty water "when we arrive" ..... if you want ANY detailed info just PM me...(I have no connection to the company other than satisfied owner).. https://sites.google.com/site/thanksmums24/home/the-trailer

 

[ontheplane]

Thanks.

Nice trailers RM but way over my budget - I am finding all the major ones, Snipe, Hallmark, SBS, etc are charging a LOT more than some of the less well known companies.

SBS wanted £3000 + VAT for a trailer someone else was quoting me £2000 Including VAT for!

As I see it, these trailers are all much of a muchness anyhow, the axles, hitches, brakes etc are all bought in anyhow, it's just the frame these guys make themselves, and they are all pretty standard stuff.

I am currently veering towards a Becktons, lots of rollers, now made to the new wider dimensions allowed making the boat sit a little lower and will make it more stable, good price, and plenty of extras thrown in - plus have dealt with before and they are good people to do business with.

Still hoping someone will PM me with a nearly new one for £1000 though - that WOULD be a result!

 

[neale]

I am currently veering towards a Becktons, lots of rollers, now made to the new wider dimensions allowed making the boat sit a little lower and will make it more stable, good price, and plenty of extras thrown in - plus have dealt with before and they are good people to do business with.

Becktons are the old Parrymore trailers IIRC. I have a Parrymore and it's been a good trailer.

 

[ontheplane]

Yes - I've had a Becktons before and it was superb - probably the most stable trailer I've ever towed with - so I'd go there again without a problem.

Nice also as they will tailor any build you like - I'm going to ask them to add another 1.5m to the back end of the trailer and fit a couple of extra rollers to give me a "runway" to launch the boat from - idea being that I may then (on steep slipways) be able to only put the tyres (not the hubs) in the water and still have the end of the trailer just dunked in...

Anyone else able to confirm if Waxoyl is safe to get on galvanised metal?

 

[gjgm]

Not much isnt galvanised surely? The brakes-well they are totally disposable. The roller nuts and bolts.. so what... front whell.. £15? Thats about it,isnt it?
Re JFM and galvanising.. only what I heard but it isnt so easy these days as there are now a zillion H+S rules putting the bloke and his the shed out of business?

 

[ontheplane]

To some extent you're right.

But on my last one, things like the backs of the hubs, the ends of the roller posts, the brake cables etc etc....

I know it's not a lot to replace that kind of thing, but it's hassle - if they don't rust in the first place - well that's got to be better I'd think.

 

[JKay]

Good enough for Boeing

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ACF50-ACF-5...C8UO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327511189&sr=8-1

this is the stuff you need

 

[gjgm]

To some extent you're right.

But on my last one, things like the backs of the hubs, the ends of the roller posts, the brake cables etc etc....

I know it's not a lot to replace that kind of thing, but it's hassle - if they don't rust in the first place - well that's got to be better I'd think.

Dont put it in water is the best tip

 

[Momac]

Can't imagine waxoyl would harm galvanizing. I have used waxoyl on various bits of bright plated stuff like zinc plate on bolts, pipes and engine mounts for years. It's certainly had no detrimental affect. It has preserved them like new in fact.

On the galvanized chassis I would say waxoyl applied inside the chassis members (presuming them to be hollow sections) and perhaps any rough bits at welds would be a good idea. Do they sill make the waxoyl pump/spray kits for doing inside chassis sections ?

 

[longjohnsilver]

Read somewhere that spraying with WD40 and then rubbing with wire wool brought galvanised bits back nice and shiny. I did spray mine with duck oil just a few days ago, doesn't make it sticky but does help protect it.

 

[ontheplane]

gjgm

That is the plan actually.

I want to set it up so I only have to get the tyres (not the rims or hubs) in the water.

I intend to have it set up so that the trailer is a bit too long for the boat, the axles are set further forward so that when it sits on the trailer there is about 1.5m of trailer and rollers behind the boat.

Once in place on the slip, I want to have it set up so that the rear roller is near the surface of the water, but nothing else is in - then let the boat "roll" off (controlled by winch of course).

Hopefully this will save the brakes and hubs, which are the most expensive to replace.

 

[Momac]

Read somewhere that spraying with WD40 and then rubbing with wire wool brought galvanised bits back nice and shiny. I did spray mine with duck oil just a few days ago, doesn't make it sticky but does help protect it.

Galvanizing is zinc. It does weather/corrode and therfore protects the steel , like the anodes on the boat.
Wire wool or anything abrasive may well polish the galvanizing. But it will erode the galvanized coating and reduce its life.

 

[Tremlett 15]

have used Galvafroid for touching up.......

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...6tTVBw&usg=AFQjCNH0V60Ade_d9yvxy8EpEj11uuzwDw


.

 

[Red]

I have had several trailers from new and the only trailer I would recommend is built by RM Trailers. The bearings are sealed for life, the water flushing kit offered works well - flushes the saltwater out of the brakes, the brake cables are the open type and do not seize up. But like anything it has to well looked after - washed down immediately after every immersion.