Overhauling the trailer

[Grouper Genius]

Now that my boat is off and in the capable hands of Carolina Skiff, it's time to redo the trailer. It's getting new axles, springs, and all Stainless U-bolts and regular bolts. It's great to work in a Stainless shop. All my shackles, plates, and bunk brackets are made out of 1/4" S/S. And I even replaced the tongue with 3" x 4" x 1/8" thick S/S.

I hate rust. I am also putting on a sprinkler system all throughout the trailer for easy, complete rinsing. I picked the sprinkler stuff up from Lowe's rather cheaply. http://misterlandscaper.com/

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j29/Surf-n-Turf/2010-11-11133828.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j29/Surf-n-Turf/2010-11-11133817.jpg

[Willie]

I am also putting on a sprinkler system all throughout the trailer for easy, complete rinsing.

Now that's an idea that would be interesting to a few on this board....Keep us posted...

[Grouper Genius]

All hardware done and will put on the sprinkler stuff this weekend with pics.

I now call this my million dollar trailer because it felt like I spent that much rebuilding it.

[Grouper Genius]

As promised...pics of the "sprinkler system". I will be adding a few more sprinkler heads tomorrow.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j29/Surf-n-Turf/IMG_3607.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j29/Surf-n-Turf/IMG_3608.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j29/Surf-n-Turf/IMG_3609.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j29/Surf-n-Turf/IMG_3610.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j29/Surf-n-Turf/IMG_3611.jpg

[CFISHN]

Your on to something their !

What's a ball park price on that ?

[Grouper Genius]

About 40-50 $$. A whole lot cheaper than new springs, axles, and brakes.

[Slim to None]

Neat idea about the sprinkler! I know a guy that parks his trailer over top of one of the lawn sprinklers that spray up in a back and forth motion. He would just let it run while he was cleaning his fish. Your idea takes that to a whole new level! *Cheers*

[Dave]

Pretty cool GG! Seems like a simple DIY project.

I've been thinking about making a 4' (or so) wand with 1/2" pvc - one end with a hose connection and the other end with a sprinkler head to shoot water out at degrees... might just cap the end and drill a series of holes that would shoot water out at 90 degrees. Was going to use this (wand) for easy access to hard-to-reach spots, like behind the wheels, when the boat is on the trailer. I'd like to add your system so I can get a really good "under and behind" wash-down when I do get done with a day's fishing.

Do you have a parts list to describe the parts so I can shop for them... main line, take-off lines, hose connection, sprinkler heads? How did you connect the sprinkler heads to the main lines? Use any adhesive?... what keeps them from leaking?

FWIW. I've been carrying a 1 gal, pump garden sprayer with me to the ramp. I have Salt-Away mixed in with it and I spray off the top of the tires, the wheels, brakes, etc., as soon as I park the trailer after launching... takes no more than 2 extra minutes, start to finish. I hate to leave the trailer set for 8+ hours with saltwater working on and into those critical or prone to rusting, metal parts, with the first opportunity to rinse them off only after I finally get the boat and trailer back home.

Salt-away... I used to write it off as unnecessary and it looked to be very expensive... Been using it on the trailer for several months now and realize it's actually very economical. The way I've been using it, (in a garden sprayer) a quart of concentrate will easily last me 60+ trips to the ramp, and seems to be working very well on the new trailer I purchased this past summer. I understand the product breaks down salt deposits and leaves a protective film on metal parts... I like that.

[Harry]

Cool idea. I bet if you add miracle grow you'll have the next size bigger skiff next springrotflmao

Seriously good idea!!

My trailer is a wesco (2008) I just pulled the frozen calipers and capped my brakelines. Had problems with them sticking and the wheel locked up with no boat on trailer. With the boat on, it was pulling hard and rim got hot. I rinse after every dunk !! These CALIPERS ARE JUNK imo. I also slip the boat so the trailers only seen the ramp about 12-20 times MAYBE.....

[Grouper Genius]

Pretty cool GG! Seems like a simple DIY project.

I've been thinking about making a 4' (or so) wand with 1/2" pvc - one end with a hose connection and the other end with a sprinkler head to shoot water out at degrees... might just cap the end and drill a series of holes that would shoot water out at 90 degrees. Was going to use this (wand) for easy access to hard-to-reach spots, like behind the wheels, when the boat is on the trailer. I'd like to add your system so I can get a really good "under and behind" wash-down when I do get done with a day's fishing.

Do you have a parts list to describe the parts so I can shop for them... main line, take-off lines, hose connection, sprinkler heads? How did you connect the sprinkler heads to the main lines? Use any adhesive?... what keeps them from leaking?

FWIW. I've been carrying a 1 gal, pump garden sprayer with me to the ramp. I have Salt-Away mixed in with it and I spray off the top of the tires, the wheels, brakes, etc., as soon as I park the trailer after launching... takes no more than 2 extra minutes, start to finish. I hate to leave the trailer set for 8+ hours with saltwater working on and into those critical or prone to rusting, metal parts, with the first opportunity to rinse them off only after I finally get the boat and trailer back home.

Salt-away... I used to write it off as unnecessary and it looked to be very expensive... Been using it on the trailer for several months now and realize it's actually very economical. The way I've been using it, (in a garden sprayer) a quart of concentrate will easily last me 60+ trips to the ramp, and seems to be working very well on the new trailer I purchased this past summer. I understand the product breaks down salt deposits and leaves a protective film on metal parts... I like that.

I got everything from Lowes. It's by the plumbing/sprinkler area. I had tried using a regular lawn sprinkler before, but it didn't get everything. This is a very cheap and effective way of rinsing everything you want.

Just wish every ramp had fresh water washdown areas to use it before the salt dries on the way home.

[Grouper Genius]

Cool idea. I bet if you add miracle grow you'll have the next size bigger skiff next springrotflmao

Seriously good idea!!

My trailer is a wesco (2008) I just pulled the frozen calipers and capped my brakelines. Had problems with them sticking and the wheel locked up with no boat on trailer. With the boat on, it was pulling hard and rim got hot. I rinse after every dunk !! These CALIPERS ARE JUNK imo. I also slip the boat so the trailers only seen the ramp about 12-20 times MAYBE.....

Not sure what Wesko uses for brakes, but I have gone thru 2 sets of Kodiak as well as what Magic Tilt put on my trailer. On this rebuild, I put on 1 Tie Down S/S rotor with Alumn. caliper on the port side as well as a new Tie Down actuator.

[Riverine1969]

[QUOTE=Harry;110176]Cool idea. I bet if you add miracle grow you'll have the next size bigger skiff next springrotflmao

Heh, heh, heh............rotflmaorotflmaorotflmaorotflmao

[Dave]

It's my understanding that most trailer manufactures (including Wesco) use "Tie Down" brand brakes and other components as standard equipment. I chose Kodiak SS brakes for my current Wesco trailer. I've had two previous trailers with brakes and can say (as you might expect) maintaining brakes on trailers that are dunked into salt water takes special recognition and considerable attention to have them remain functional ;D