Thread: Trailer restoration questions

Firstly, so sorry for your loss.

As for the trailer, it's hard to give a great deal of advice without seeing it. On a trailer, pretty much anything is fixable, repairable, or replaceable, so if it has that much sentimental value, then the cost to fix it over a period of time is really neglegible. Looking forward to seeing photos to help out with this one.

Thank Yonnee.

I've taken some pics with my phone. If anyone asked me if they should fix a rust box like that, I'd tell them to chuck it out. My aim is to fix it up so that it is capable for the odd tip run and when I need to transport big items but that doesn't happen too often.

I'm going to try to see if I can borrow a welder since it's not worth hiring but I'll buy a decent arc welder if required. So assuming I can get my hands on a welder, I can spend a bit more money on materials.

On closer inspection, I can straighten the rope ties and mud flaps rather than replace to bring the costs down. The springs look ok besides a bit of surface rust so they can probably wait. I did notice it's a bit warped so not sure how to go about straightening it up.

Thanks in advance.

G'day Pooran - I haven't done a lot of welding either, but managed to succesfully convert an old trailer to a kayak carrying trailer - meaning cutting and welding a new draw bar and rails etc. At the start I was doing a lot more grinding than welding, but eventually got my act together - see here:

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f184/k...railer-131126/

A lot of trial and error and a lot of satisfaction. So my suggestion is that you give it a start and see where it takes you......good luck!

Take it to the recycling joint and get a few dollars for it and so it can come back as a toyota or whatever.

I agree with Rod. Save the axle set and springs and start a fresh project. Trying to weld that rusted stuff will break your heart. It is all beyond its' use by date.

Regards,
WimmeraJack

Well for me, that's fixable. The major rust seems to be confind to the front corner, although it's hard to tell without seeing it in person. The biggest job would be replacing the LHS piece of angle iron they've used as a chassis rail. You'd have to pretty much dismantle 80% of the entire trailer.

But having said that, at what point do you replace the head and the handle of Grandpa's old axe for it not to still be Grandpa's old axe?

I agree with Yonnee, although I can well understand suggestions to start again.
Be prepared for a long term project that won't be completed in a weekend.
Nothing terribly difficult to do, just tedious.
But in the end, you'll have what you're looking for.
At the end of the day, maybe you should ask yourself what's the worst that can happen?
I'd suggest worse case scenario is you'll abandon the project, keep the running gear and start anew. But you will have learnt much about how a trailer should be built, you'll own a new welder and know how to use it.
Those are all positives.
So if the absolute worst thing that can happen is a bunch of positives, then what are you waiting for?
Get into it.
I'll be watching with great interest.

I'm with Yonnee and Granddad5. All fixable. May not be economically sensible but you've already said that was not the objective.
Have you got an angle grinder? If so, get some nice thin cutting disks and start dismantling. If not, go and buy a cheap 4-1/2" or 5" one first. Then get some a coarse plastic abrasive disks and get rid of the rust - and repaint with a zinc rich primer. Then start replacing the bits beyond repair (few by the looks of things) and straighten things out. You could get away with a borrowed welder or the help of a friendly welder owner.
When all is done, paint the whole thing in your dad's favorite trailer colour and it will still be your dad's old trailer - but useful and safe again.
Sorry about your loss and good luck with your project.
Joe

Thanks guys I really appreciate the feedback. I knew right from the beginning that restoring it would not be an economical but as Grandad mentioned, I'll walk away with plenty of experience and possible a new welder!

Re the angle grinder, I happen to buy dad one for father's day which he used a couple of times to finish off a paving job he had been undertaking for a few months so I guess it's only fitting that I use a tool he owned to fix his trailer. I'm sucker for keeping mementos but least this one would be useful.

This will definitely be a long term project because there is no room for the garage and Melbourne weather is the worst to be doing work like this outdoors but we're looking for a new place soon so hopefully we'll find one with a big enough garage!

What would be a good starting point? Remove the floor and get rid of all the rust before all the welding? I've never worked with metal before and to be honest it's quite daunting to be all geared up and welding! On the topic of welding, would a stick welder be up to the task and also easy to learn or should i just look for MIG options?

I would start by taking and recording as many measurements and photos as possible. Measure sizes of materials, spacings of cross rails, spring hangers, guard placement, everything. Once you got all that, then you start dismantling the trailer by unpicking the floor (grinding away the welds without cutting the floor up). From what I could see in the photos, the floor didn't look that badly eaten away, so you could save yourself some dollars by just patching those rusted sections. Then remove the tiedown rails and unpick the guards. Turn it over and remove the drawbar, axle, and springs. You could try and salvage the hangers too.

IMHO, a MIG welder is far easier to learn to weld with, as it's pretty much point and shoot. A stick welder requires a much more practiced technique. And really thin material, a stick welder is more prone to just blowing holes in it, rather than sticking it together.

i was in a similar situation many years ago, had my pops old 6*4 trailer after he passed away, spent all its life by the sea...(pop and the trailer ) similar shape to yours, but the floor was corrugated iron... it was a bugger with sand and soil!!!
Then one day when the tailgate fell off and nearly caused 3 cars off the road i realised it was time to get rid of it

went out and bought a brand spanker 7*5 18 inch sides LED's jockey wheel HD wizz banger - 4 years ago...(which incidently i'm still modifying)

still annoyed i took pops trailer to the tip

should've made a bbq trailer out of it

I know what you mean. I've put the trailer on hold atm due to the pending birth of baby #2 The trailer is just sitting there rusting away and I've recently bought another car which means funds are lower than what I'd like but that's life. Won't be getting rid of it any time soon tho! Structurally it's very solid and I dont think it will fall apart any time soon but the floor seems a bit thin altho the rust is just surface rust in most areas.

I'd say have a go at restoring it. But then again I am a 74 y.o. who still has stuff my Old Man had, kept for sentimental reasons.
Robbo37

Thats really no too bad to repair based on those pictures.

I have seen a lot lot worse!

We could debate the economics of repairing it until the cows come home but that is hardly the point.

Its a "project" and that the important bit.

I think there is great satisfaction is salvaging something from being thrown out and as other have said you will learn a lot in the process.

If you need the trailer in a hurry to earn a living from then it would be far better to buy one but its got sentimental value and thats good enough reason in my book.

I would spend a bit extra and buy a MIG welder. Once you start with a MIG you will never look back.

Cheers

Justin