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Learn More. If your trailer is past its prime, it may be time for refurbishment. You may be able to do most of the work yourself and save money in the process. If you're like many BoatUS Members, you like DIY projects, especially those where the rewards are satisfying to look at � not to mention the savings.

Boat trailers are excellent candidates for DIY refurbishment, made all the more attractive after you recover from the sticker shock of a comparable new model.

Is your trailer a candidate Aluminum Boat Trailer Bunks Years for refurbishing? Not if the frame is nearly rusted out, for sure. But if, after looking at it closely, the aluminum boat trailer repair year is still solid, then you have "good bones" from which to start. Just about everything else springs and axle, hubs, fenders, wheels and tires, bunk supports and bunks, wiring, rollers, winch, jack and coupler, and safety chains can be effectively replaced as my wife Laura and I discovered when we looked over our vintage trailer that carried an aluminum skiff.

If structural repairs or changes are required that you don't have the skill, confidence, or time to complete yourself, consult an expert. Be especially careful in your inspection if your trailer's seen saltwater in its lifetime or if you've used acidic hull cleaners. Trailers subjected to these elements typically have significant rust-through and the frame can aluminum boat trailer repair year very weak.

If in doubt, bring it to a trailer shop to have an expert give it the once-over. It's worth the hassle aluminum boat trailer repair year expense because it just might save you from a catastrophic failure while towing, or at the very least, save you from wasting money and aluminum boat trailer repair year on a basket case. For this article, we refurbished a generic galvanized skiff trailer. The old winch was rusty, the frame was showing some minor signs of surface corrosion, the wooden bunks were rotting, and the lights didn't work consistently.

Note: This job will differ with each trailer and its good and bad parts. The size, weight, and type of boat will have a bearing on how easy � aluminum boat trailer repair year difficult � it is to remove it from the trailer.

In my case, the boat was small and lightweight so I was able to pick a good spot in our yard, tilt the boat nose-high, and secure the boat while I pulled the trailer out from under it. On a previous occasion with a larger and heavier boat, I built a temporary cradle from treated pine to hold the boat while I rerigged the boat and rebuilt the trailer. With the trailer free of the boat, strip all components from it and make a list of what you'll replace.

In addition aluminum boat trailer repair year taking photos, take measurements aluminum boat trailer repair year where things like the axle, winch, bunks, or rollers, and any spare tire may go. For this project, I wanted to get the trailer back to just the frame and start from.

I removed the old rotten wooden bunks, the very rusty winch, the lights, and safety chains. The added benefit was that with these components removed, the bare trailer frame was much lighter and easier to handle. I was able to singlehandedly flip the trailer to check the underside, something that would have been impossible with the wheels, springs, and axle in place.

Much of the galvanized coating was in good condition, and the main structural members, I was pleased to note, Aluminum Boat Trailer Repair 60 were all in sound condition. A thorough wire brushing to remove surface rust and scale was pretty easy, though messy and time-consuming.

I followed this with a good acetone wipe to clean the surface and prepare it for me to spray cold galvanize paint on all the exposed areas. Some components, especially around the bunk mounts and light brackets, were pretty corroded and required cutting off with an angle grinder.

Reassembly of the trailer was straightforward and quick. I measured for the new bunks using the old ones as templates. Then I cut them from treated pine 2-by-6 boards and covered them with new carpet, which I aluminum boat trailer repair year with contact cement and stapled with stainless steel staples on the underside.

To reattach bunks and other components, I used Grade 5 galvanized steel bolts and washers and Nylock locking nuts to eliminate rusting and rattling loose. With the new bunks aluminum boat trailer repair year winch in place, I wired the trailer with new LED lights and wiring kit, taking care to use grommets and other insulating material where the wiring insulation might chafe.

After reinstalling the fiberglass aluminum boat trailer repair year with new stainless bolts, we were ready to winch the boat back onto its trailer. With a couple of helpers to ensure it goes steadily, the process is much easier than it sounds.

Many lighting kits come with these squeeze Scotch-Lok type of wiring connectors that don't stand up to regular dunking. Use waterproof Aluminum Boat Trailer Repair You crimp connections instead:. The old trailer was in a sorry state. One of the first jobs was removing the Aluminum Boat Trailer Repair Failed old trailer bunks:.

The dirtiest part of the job was removing the old rust prior to refinishing:. To protect the light wiring from chafe and keep everything neat, I used these clips, which require no drilling or alterations to the trailer:.

In addition to the bunks themselves I replaced the severely corroded support brackets:. I attached waterproof carpet to the bunks using contact cement and stainless steel staples:. Before hitting the road, double check all your work, make sure all bolts are tight, and bunks or rollers are well secured.

If there is any possible issue, have a professional shop check it. Your trailer will probably be seeing highway duty, so it must be in good condition. In some states you may need to have your trailer inspected, so check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles for regulations in your area. Often smaller trailers without brakes have less stringent requirements than larger twin- and triple-axle trailers capable of carrying heavy boats, but it always pays to check.

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Electronics Equipment Maintenance Techniques. Call For a Tow The finished result replete with new bunks, lights, wheels, and fenders.

Assessing Your Trailer Is your trailer a candidate for refurbishing? Tip If structural repairs or changes are required that you don't have the skill, aluminum boat trailer repair year, or time to complete yourself, consult an expert.

Getting Started "How do you get the boat off? Stripping The Trailer With the trailer free of the boat, strip all components from it and make a list of what you'll replace. Time For Paint Much of the galvanized coating was in good condition, and the main structural members, I was pleased to note, were all in sound condition.

Hit The Road Before hitting the road, double check all your work, make sure all bolts are tight, and bunks or rollers are well secured. Topics boats and tow vehicles trailers and trailering maintenance how to diy makeovers and refitting.

Published: October Join Today.

Update:

I adore this post. do we cite to go camping along with your associate as well as youngsters. All damaged components will be altered partially easy.

Propulsion comes from Newton's authorised discipline ?

Aluminum Trailers At Magic Tilt, we make the most complete line of Aluminum Trailers in the industry. This product line diversity reflects the many unique boating conditions that our dealers serve. Benefits of Aluminum Trailers include: Excellent corrosion resistance Lightweight � tempered I-beams Sharp looking We view trailer construction in three different parts: frame, boat support and. We take pride in providing our dealers and the end user with a trailer that enhances the boat investment in quality and performance. Since , Hi-Tech Marine trailers have carried a long standing reputation of outstanding quality and craftsmanship.

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