My Trailer needs some work

[MrG]

Well my 2102 V/M trailer finally told me it’s time. I’m on my 2nd set of Bunks and in the middle of doing the Trailer Bunk project it became painfully obvious my trailer needs some work. So First step is get the boat off the trailer and some where I can dock it for a few days to take care of my “to do list”

We used the empty trailer to make a lumber store Run. I got 6 (20foot) pressure treated 2x4’s strapped them to the empty trailer and get to work. First step remove the old broken bunks.

Then lay down the new bunks in place and mark and drill my holes. I used carriage bolts that mount from the top of the bunk and go threw the 2x4 essentially giving you a stud or bolt sticking threw the bunk.

Then all I had to do was carpet the new bunks . 12 years of in and out of the water left some serious Hard water marks. Decided to call the local detailer and have him try and polish the trailer best he could. $200 later the trailer looked way better. Bolted the new bunks back on and test fitted the boat

 

[MrG]

Took the boat on the trailer for a Gas Run and the Torsion Bar Axel decided to Break. So now one or both of my axels needs replacing. I was able to limp the trailer back home and remove the wheel and take off the trailing arm and re set the trailing arm at a better ride height so now the tire is not burried in the fender and rubbing. It’s a temp fix. And now new Axels are on the “to do list”

 

[MrG]

So now that the trailer is looking good I wanted to investigate some ceramic coating for the trailer. Just something to help fight off or keep the water spots at bay. Option 1 do nothing and have the detail Guy out every 2 or so years or throw
$200 at a quality ceramic coating ?

 

[ILLINOIS AVE]

So now that the trailer is looking good I wanted to investigate some ceramic coating for the trailer. Just something to help fight off or keep the water spots at bay. Option 1 do nothing and have the detail Guy out every 2 or so years or throw
$200 at a quality ceramic coating ?

Do you have any Sharkhide? Use it on the Trailer.

 

[MrG]

Hey on a Side Note. If I was to do the bunks again I would only do 1 Carriage bolt per mount. Example each bunk mount on my trailer has 2 Bolts or lag bolts that hold a bunk on. The problem is the 2 holes per mount leave you very little wood (side to side) In my opinion the bunk mount holes are 2 close to the edge of the wood and it can cause and did on my boat the wood to split and break out pre maturely. The wood every where else on my bunks was fine and not rotten. The failure points were the mounts. Using 1 bolt straight threw the middle would leave ya plenty of side to side
Wood and support so as NOT to compromise the 2x4 later down the road

 

[Pbakk]

Looks like a new trailer. Good job! I thought using treated lumber could cause corrosion with metal, but maybe I am wrong? Maybe adding carpet provides enough separation.

 

[MrG]

Never heard or Worried about PT lumber causing a corrosive reaction

 

[Vikingstaff]

Never heard or Worried about PT lumber causing a corrosive reaction

I’ve always heard to avoid it due to its corrosive effects on aluminum pontoons. You might want to look into it before remaining committed to the current PT lumber.

My crude understanding is lumber is pressure treated with different chemicals, one of which is cooper. The copper in particular is chemically reactive with the aluminum. Hence the general rule of thumb to simply avoid pressure treated lumber for pontoon boat bunks.

That said, I have no personal experience. Just what I have read on the internet and a few people around our lake that echoed that sentiment. You really need to look into what chemicals the wood was treated with. I believe most (all?) newer pressure treated lumber has the copper compound in it. Apparently even if covered in carpet, those will eventually leach out slowly over time, and then chemically react and begin corroding or pitting the aluminum.

I would personally avoid it so as to not take on any needless risk over time.

 

[CLDave]

To get around the treated lumber issue I'd maybe recommend some sort of rubberized coating on the bunks. My YachtClub has metal bunks with a rubberized coating on top - maybe find a roll of rubber and staple on the sides?

 

[BulldogsCadillac]

Yes, I had heard the same thing about the PT wood, you could also look at the plastic "covers" that mount over the bunk boards. My last trailer had them, worked great.

 

[Ishoot308]

Use large nylon washers between PT wood and your trailer. The PT will eventually corrode your trailer prematurely…

Dan