Trailer Rehab

My trailer has been been subjected to 30 years of rust and is no longer fit for the road. I spent a couple hundred bucks on a newer-used trailer, a bag of bolts, new rollers, and a new set of tires.

For the most part it's heavy surface rust and everything is structurally sound. I've already stripped the wiring and the axle, so I don't feel like reassembling it so I can tow it somewhere to be sand blasted. What's the best way to clean it up for primer and paint? I have a decent angle grinder. Wire brushes on it? Sanding disks? What grit? Flapper disk?

All of the above.

Seriously.

I chemical stripped the paint off two trailers before and I would not recommended that to anyone.What a huge mess!

Find someone with a flat bed trailer and take those disassemble parts to get sand blasted if you can afford it.Or....
If you want to sand and paint at home,than I do recommend a light sanding followed by Permatex Rust Treatment as a first coat over any rusted area.This paint is amazing,it will chemical turn rust to a harden surface.For this paint to work,it requires a rusty surface so don't remove all the rust but do a light sanding only.Now prime entire all surfaces with good primer from Rust-Oleum(gray topcoats easier).Paint inside of the steel tubing if possible.That is were rust starts.Just pour the paint into the tubing and chase that paint with a rag wired to a long 1/2" pvc pipe( kind of like a Qtip).Than repaint the outer surface with Rust-Oleum, high performance protective enamel.This oil based paint is reasonable price and dry to a tough finish.
Post photos and good luck.
Bill 404 21SE

_________________
Bill 404 21SE

POR15 is also very good, dries hard as a rock. I used on my jeep to cover up some rust and it shows no signs of wear even after dragging it over some rocks.

For stripping rust dont waste your money on sanding or flapper disks, they will clog up very fast. I would get the rapid stripper wheel they sell at home depot. It's basically a wire wheel with very stiff bristles.

if your taking the time to do it, you might as well do it right... get it blasted.

_________________
'73 hobie 16 restored 2011
'00 Seaswirl fishin boat

Well, I bought sanding disks and flapper disks at Harbor Freight, on my lunch break, and did a "test" section on the trailer. I don't think it's bad enough for blasting. The crevices are going to be a PIA. It's also sitting on the axle again, with the bolts on the spring hangers hand tight, so I can roll it around the driveway.



I hit it with some krylon rusted metal primer and it looks pretty decent.



While I'm at it I'm modifying the rear mast stand to allow access to the sail tube. I'm going with a wishbone shape.

This one also lacks the extra cross members in the middle of the trailer, so I am going to have to get creative when it comes time to mount the sail tube / catbox. Anyone selling one of the old top loading cat boxes super cheap?