Boat trailer worth repairing?

CUSAC · 17 July 2018, 10:06

After some advice on whether this trailer is worth repairing or destined for the scrap heap please.

Am looking at purchasing a RIB with a very tired looking trailer and am looking for some advice as to whether the trailer is worth spending time on or if the price of another trailer needs knocking off the purchase price. Am under no illusions it's gonna take a decent amount of time to get it right!

The trailer is around 20 years old and any galvanising seems to be flaking off. If you hit the metal with a mallet bits will flake off and the tubes are filled with flakes also. Does it look like a chemical dip and galvanise would fix it or is it too far gone?

The axles have been replaced more recently and look to be in fairly good condition. Would be replacing coupling and cables if I do decide to buy. Can hubs be cleaned up (shot blasted and painted)?

Happy to spend the time to rebuild and replace all the hardware as long as the price is right.

Many thanks in advance for any responses.

CUSAC · 17 July 2018, 10:06

Couple more pics

Phil M · 17 July 2018, 11:01

If the metal is flaking, it is probably shot. I'd imagine the galv is still stuck to the material, but the material is delaminating and fallen off. Even if you fully remove all the flaking material back to sound steel, how much thickness will be gone and thus how much strength will have been lost? I'd guess the cost of stripping, dipping and re-applying galv, then re-building will not be that far off the cost of a new trailer. You'll always be wondering how strong it still is if you do rebuild it.

The consequences of a trailer failing could range from very expensive to deadly. Not worth the risk IMO.

Phil M

charliee · 17 July 2018, 11:13

some of the parts look fine but the frame maybe shot, 2nd hand trailers pop up of Rib.net quite frequently if you didn't fancy shelling out a few grand for a new one.

CUSAC · 17 July 2018, 12:18

Echos my thoughts really. Axles and swing arms seem fine with a bit of tidying up so guess I need to look out for a good trailer with knackered axles. Or failing that price up for getting a new frame only made.

beamishken · 17 July 2018, 13:36

Depends on how badly wasted the material is blasting and galvanising isn't realy expensive
I recently got a qoute to blast and galvanize a landcruiser amazon chassis and it was £350 quid so not expensive the big question is how much thickness has been lost in critical areas

CUSAC · 17 July 2018, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamishken

Depends on how badly wasted the material is blasting and galvanising isn't realy expensive
I recently got a qoute to blast and galvanize a landcruiser amazon chassis and it was £350 quid so not expensive the big question is how much thickness has been lost in critical areas

Would you not need to dip it rather than blast as it will be rusting from the inside out as well?

Orwell boy · 17 July 2018, 14:47

If you can do a bit of diy ,sourcing metal locally or have a mate that can do that welding thing ,i reckon 80x40 is about £50 for a 7.65m length ,re do all your x members with 60x40 rhs ,plus whatever size that top runner is ,make it all without welding using u bolts as many trailers are these days ,get the side arms bent ,my local blacksmith just sits them on the forks of a forklift at 1.5 metre high and just heats them up with the gas torch until they fall (bend ) to the ground ,ass to size ,probhably have to pay £50 min charge if you take them to galv (on the old boat trailer ) ,
i have done this a couple of times but whatever you do ,put the plate back on the sidearms so you have refurbed what you had

beamishken · 17 July 2018, 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by CUSAC

Would you not need to dip it rather than blast as it will be rusting from the inside out as well?

Galvanising will stick to rusted steel and prevent further corrosion
The galv actually sticks better to rusted steel than smooth steel
Brand new oiled steel needs roughed with a grinder to help adhesion where lightly rusted steel doesn't

goearth · 18 July 2018, 16:38

We are RIBNet trailer dealers, and we offer a discount to RIBNet members on new Indespension trailers.

If you want more info, contact me with RIB size, engine weight etc, and I'll advise on what might do the job.

Poly · 18 July 2018, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by goearth

We are RIBNet trailer dealers,

You what?

goearth · 18 July 2018, 20:33

To answer your question . . . (even though I am not quite sure what you are asking)

As you (should?) know, we are "registered trade members" (RIBNet's term, not mine); and advertise in your section:-

"Trade announcements and special offers
Offers and announcements from registered trade members. Please support them!
Threads: 823, Posts: 1,069";

and have one of our adverts (as the most recent thread) that says

"New Indespension Trailers -... by goearth"

We are authorised Indespension Trailer dealers (with a trade account with Indespension etc) , specialising in marine; and are members of British Marine; and I write every month for Boat Trader (as I have done for the past 12 months); and one of my articles was specifically on trailers.

We offer discounts to RIBNet members that are not generally available to the general public.

I know this is a long answer; but I wanted to answer fully.

If there are any concerns, please let me know.

Cheers

Poly · 18 July 2018, 20:50

Goearth - that seems a much more accurate description than Ribnet trailer dealers. Ribnet doesn’t make trailers, nor does it appoint dealers. The inference or implication from that statement is very different from being a trade member.

GuyC · 18 July 2018, 21:01

In picture 4 of your first post the wheels appear to be a long way up in the mudguards which doesn't look right. Whilst the hubs and brakes etc look to have been replaced, the rubber suspension in the axles could be suspect.

You could sell the existing trailer as a launching trailer and put the funds towards a new trailer from the Ribnet trailer dealer (other trailer dealers are available).

CUSAC · 18 July 2018, 21:08

As much as I would like a new trailer it isn't viable as a new trailer would well exceed the value of the boat.

Yes I thought the mudguards looked very low. Have since removed it from the field and they appear to have been set up that way with the mudguards intentionally lower to get the boat lower on the trailer. Suspension seems fine.