Trailer Rust Conversion Question

[Tsatzsue]

Hello, Once again I lean on the depth of the forum for information. I have the stock trailer for my V25. It is still in good shape and I want to keep it that way. I treated it with rust converter once and covered it with an industrial Rustolem primer. Well the "I'm going to finish with a top coat" never happened due to the fact that the urge to actually go sailing took over, two years ago.

At any rate I am looking at stripping it down the best I can, letting the light coat of rust form and then treat with Corroseal. Does anyone have a suggestion on a good top coat that will handle road wear and salt water immersion. Days can go by before it gets hit with a hose and rinsed off. Any input is appreciated. I did scour the forum and there is good information. just looking for some fresh input. Thanks.

 

[jjsbiggs]

Por15

When I did my rusty trailer three years ago I wire brushed and sanded the trailer as best I could. Brushed on a coat of POR15 and then sprayed on a top coat of Rustoleum and it has held up well and still looks fine three years later.

 

[finding41]

A good cleaning off of all the rust and then a good primer is ware to start. Rustolium works great and you can get the same colour for touch ups 10 years down the road.
I'd stay away from the rust "converting" products.
Since you sail in salt water I would be rinsing the trailer well after every splash.

 

[swampcreek]

You could go all the way by disassembling the trailer and having it hot dipped. I have had good luck with Rustoleum though, I prefer brush on and then chase where you missed with a spray can.

 

[Doc_holiday]

I had to have a little welding done on mine (i had to take it, I don't have the ability to weld myself) but prior to taking it, I had a very difficult time cutting the rust with an assortment of tools including wire brushes, wire brush attachment for the angle grinder, the angle grinder itself, files. It's very difficult ugly to get down to clean metal. I never had anything sandblasted but I imagine that would be very expensive (assuming it would be).

I've been tempted to just paint over it and let it look good from a distance for at least a week or two. Would rust oleum or the other conversion product really last longer than a partial season?

The one thing that concerns me is how the fenders are attached. It looks like a piece of all thread or a large bolt was welded to a piece of angle iron and then bolted to the frame. Those are looseish on the frame but so rusted I can't snug them up. I suppose I could just have a welder firm them up. My tail lights are mounted on the fenders now and the ground is so bad I had to run a ground back to the frame so the lights will work as a result because the fenders were no longer grounded.

 

[wufibugs]

Second JJs suggestion: Por 15. Follow the directions. It is far superior to Rustoleum for this purpose.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I've also had good luck with POR
-but be careful its an acid... bad on the hands and eyes.


are you sure there is no way to rise it after launch?


btw, I was thinking some epoxy paint..

 

[Tsatzsue]

Thanks Guys. Tough decision. Epoxy paint is best but the inevitable touch ups could be a problem. The manufacturer of corroseal has recommended a high temp epoxy coating. They gave me the specs so I can see if I can find a local rep(HD, Sherwin W.) can find a close match. I'll follow up with the results.

 

[caguy]

I took mine down to the metal and spent a fortune and used Zinc Chromate as a primer, I then finished with Rustoleum. I wash it down after each retrieval and after two years, IT LOOKS LIKE S**T.

If you can afford to get it hot dipped galvanized that the way to go. Those are the only trailers in mast-up storage that still look decent year after year.

 

[Tsatzsue]

Hahahaha. I figured that would be the result. I don't have the ching for a new trailer so I'll do the same as I did three years ago. Converter then primer. The difference is I will top coat this time. Still buried in snow!! 0 degrees this am. Think Spring!!

 

[Tsatzsue]

Por15. Growing down and two coats. New bunks carpet and wiring. Side markers and the three rear lights. Road ready and looking good.

 

[Tsatzsue]

Should say ground down.