Washing off trailer after submersion

[tomyoud]

Hi all,


This might have already been asked/answered.


Do people worry about not washing down a trailer at slipways which doesn't have wash down facilities? or do they try and find a place to wash it down after launching?



I only ask because I've done a lot of refurbing on the trailer and want to keep it in as best condition as I can and not let the corrosion set in too much.



What are peoples thoughts on leaving the trailer for the day then once home giving the trailer a wash off etc?

[ribber]

Yes, give it a good hose down whenever you can. Braked trailers are the worst, give wheels a flush as best you can and never leave the handbrake on. Keep wheels off the ground on blocks and spin the wheels by hand spraying water at the same time.

I've smothered all my u bolt nuts in grease and any other nut and bolt on the trailer, even smeared grease over the wheel rim/hubs and nuts. Doesn't look it's best covered in grease, but 15 years down the line, can still move and adjust bolts when required....

[Nasher]

I think you can worry too much

If I'm out for the day the trailer gets washed off when I get it back to the yard.

But if I'm away for the week or two it gets washed off at the end of the holiday, and could have been in the water twice a day over that time.

I will be installing a flushing kit to the new axles I've got on order this time though.

Nasher.

[lakelandterrier]

I try to wash it down as soon as I can after getting it wet. "As soon as I can" is a fit flexible.

Ideally hose down and flush the wheels on the slip before travelling any distance -but launch sites with these facilities are limited, and can be crowded.

I've pulled the boat out and driven 130 miles home before I've been able to wash the trailer or flush the engine. No adverse results so far

I've also launched the boat, left the trailer for week in Hamble whilst on hol on IoW before washing it down (very thoroughly) on return home 8 days later.

Same with flushing the engine - I'f I'm using the boat daily on holiday, and the boats's saying on the water I'm less inclined to flush after every single trip, than if I'm out once every 3 weeks or so.

As Nasher says, it is possible yo worry too much

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

I try to wash it down as soon as I can after getting it wet. "As soon as I can" is a fit flexible.



Ideally hose down and flush the wheels on the slip before travelling any distance -but launch sites with these facilities are limited, and can be crowded.



I've pulled the boat out and driven 130 miles home before I've been able to wash the trailer or flush the engine. No adverse results so far



I've also launched the boat, left the trailer for week in Hamble whilst on hol on IoW before washing it down (very thoroughly) on return home 8 days later.



Same with flushing the engine - I'f I'm using the boat daily on holiday, and the boats's saying on the water I'm less inclined to flush after every single trip, than if I'm out once every 3 weeks or so.



As Nasher says, it is possible yo worry too much

We do extended tours around Europe with the boat. It can be 8weeks between initial dunking & getting home and having a rinse.

[Maximus]

As previously said ....wash em soon as is practical
...lots of paid slips have Hoses you can use for de-salting -flushing the engine ect
I also often use "pay as you go wand washing" Service stations/services I know various routes on the way home...(if it's day time) Where you can choose Foam and Pressure options ect as you wish,and do the whole Boat .......AND Trailer inc Wheels Hubs ect and it works well
Switch Auto Bilge Pumps on and Go for it....kills Salt build up nicely and Once dry you can polish/fettle it up ect at you're convenience

[Ribtecer]

With this being discussed, I would also add it's a good idea to remove all those plastic bungs trailer manufacturers put in the end of the box sections, sea water seeps in to the sections thru the u-bolts holes and gets trapped in there, eventually the water dries out leaving the salt behind.

After my trailer has been dunked and is back home, I poke the hose up all the box sections and flood the tubes, I have no proof it's doing alot of good, but it can't do any harm.

I think they put those bungs in as "planned obsolescence"

[Salty Pete]

Originally Posted by Ribtecer

With this being discussed, I would also add it's a good idea to remove all those plastic bungs trailer manufacturers put in the end of the box sections, sea water seeps in to the sections thru the u-bolts holes and gets trapped in there, eventually the water dries out leaving the salt behind.

After my trailer has been dunked and is back home, I poke the hose up all the box sections and flood the tubes, I have no proof it's doing alot of good, but it can't do any harm.

I think they put those bungs in as "planned obsolescence"

Those bungs that manufacturers put in the box section may be to spray in an anti corrosion liquid. Some people spray Fish Oil in them.

By hosing it out you may be washing the anti corrosion out of the box section.

[Squid Boat]

Two words from me ...Pub Time. I'm 67 years young, and not washin the galvanized trailer at all.



Cheers, Don

[Wightdiver]

Originally Posted by Squid Boat

Two words from me ...Pub Time. I'm 67 years young, and not washin the galvanized trailer at all.



Cheers, Don

Well said that man, boating is supposed to be fun!!!

[Ribtecer]

Originally Posted by Wightdiver

Well said that man, boating is supposed to be fun!!!

Yes I get that.

But sat on the edge of the road with collapsed trailer is not my idea of fun!!!

Maintainace is all part of boating in my book.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Wightdiver

Well said that man, boating is supposed to be fun!!!

.....You'll Learn
Maintaining you're Rig properly helps avoid WASTING precious down time ....when you DO actually get the chance for some FUN!...
ALSO...for a Safer environment for everyone!... On the Road ...and on the Water.

Not to mention quite a few Quid in the long run!!

[gtflash]

Used to always wash my trailers everytime. Wheel still rotted, bearings failed, brakes fell apart.

I now have a trailer flushing kit and that’s all the trailer gets, the wheel bearings are on 5th season. Unfortunately the brakes still play up, despite never using handbrake and often need encouragement to move again.

My light board bars are getting tough to move now though. I’ll have to fix that soon.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by gtflash

Used to always wash my trailers everytime. Wheel still rotted, bearings failed, brakes fell apart.

I now have a trailer flushing kit and that’s all the trailer gets, the wheel bearings are on 5th season. Unfortunately the brakes still play up, despite never using handbrake and often need encouragement to move again.

My light board bars are getting tough to move now though. I’ll have to fix that soon.

Maybe a little waterproof grease earlier would/might have helped with the Light Board holders?...

Only yanking you're chain
All trailers are a PITHA but ....being stuck on a motorway hard shoulder or potentially far worse!...instead of being on the water!....is everyone's nightmare when you do a lot of Hours Towing

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Maybe a little waterproof grease earlier would/might have helped with the Light Board holders?...

Agreed, washing the trailer is just another layer, it isn’t the be all & end all. You have to combine washing with regular maintenance/waxoyl/grease/strip/rebuild etc.

[Salty Pete]

Originally Posted by Squid Boat

Two words from me ...Pub Time. I'm 67 years young, and not washin the galvanized trailer at all.



Cheers, Don

Multi tasking. Beer in one hand hose in the other.