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Author Topic:   Old Trailers

Jefecinco posted 09-15-2014 06:32 PM ET (US)
I don't know the age of the galvanized steel trailer under my 1981 Sport 13. I suspect it's 25 to 30 years old. I made a decision a few weeks ago to replace the trailer and selected a custom aluminum trailer builder in Bay St Louis, MS, Sport Trail, to make a replacement.
Last week I visited the shop, talked to the manager, Kevin, and looked at all the jobs in progress as well as the trailers under boats awaiting pick up. I was impressed and asked for a production slot. Today I delivered my Sport 13 and old trailer to Sport Trail so they could start work. About a quarter of a mile from the shop my wife told me the trailer was smoking. The drivers side hub was so hot that it was burning the grease in the hub. This on an axle that had received new bearings and seals less than six months ago and that had also had a fresh shot of grease through the Bearing Buddies this AM.
I poured a gallon jug of water given me by a roadside observer over the hub, waited a few minutes and proceeded to the Sport Trail shop.
I'm looking forward to having a new trailer. I've been doing a multitude of minor repairs to the old trailer for a couple of years and won't miss it.
Vent over.
Butch
Antrieb posted 09-15-2014 07:00 PM ET (US)
Wow! You timed that perfectly. I hope you enjoy the new trailer and make sure to post pictures when it is finished.
Tom Hemphill posted 09-15-2014 07:55 PM ET (US)
Like an old horse on its final trip to the glue factory, your old trailer knew something was up, and protested the best it could. A sad story.
hauptjm posted 09-17-2014 10:52 AM ET (US)
Jefecinco, you won't be sorry you bought from Sport Trail. I bought my aluminum trailer from them (via Breath's Marine) in June 2005. Three months later it sat in New Orleans, underwater for roughly 25-30 days in the aftermath of Katrina.
Fortunately, I had ordered the TurboLube hubs, Torsion Axles and LED lights. When the City drained, I hooked the trailer up to my Suburban and drove off. Lights worked, and trailer/hubs/axle were fine for an hour haul away. To this day, the only replacement I've done is the lights: and that was three years ago (six years after Katrina). I've never had to add a drop of oil to the hubs and I've driven the trailer to Florida, Alabama and Texas (from its home base of Bay St. Louis) since the storm several times for probably 5,000 miles.
Great purchase.
contender posted 09-17-2014 01:56 PM ET (US)
I have a 1975 16'7" Whaler with a 1975 galvanize trailer (original axle), Just have to take care of it.
jcdawg83 posted 09-17-2014 03:50 PM ET (US)
contender, I have had some old trailers that lasted a very long time. The biggest [problem] I have had is springs rusting from saltwater use. Hubs and axles will last a very long time if they are kept greased.
Jefecinco posted 09-17-2014 08:01 PM ET (US)
The trailer is for my Sport 13. The 13 was reportedly originally purchased as a yacht tender. It has gone through at least three owners before reaching me. I suspect the current trailer was purchased used and adapted to the 13. When I bought the 13 the trailer was pretty rough and had a lot of rust but was serviceable.
I noted that the bunk brackets were not original and it was clear that the owner just before me put some time, effort and money into the trailer. Unfortunately I later found some cracks in the frame and some rust holes where they were difficult to detect. I had some welding repairs accomplished but a couple of years later those welds were beginning to rust despite the cold galvanized paint I had liberally used.
Like most old trailers used in salt water for most of their lives this one was approaching the end of it's useful life without a large investment in parts and maintenance. The tires well well beyond their useful life and the springs and hanges were so rusty that I would have had to replace them, too.
Adding up the cost to put the trailer into the condition that I require for comfort when towing were more than economically feasible when compared to the cost of a state of the art fully equipped custom fabricated replacement. The wheel bearing failure en route to the trailer shop only reinforced the wisdom of my decision.
Butch
Jefecinco posted 09-27-2014 09:52 AM ET (US)
Picked up the new trailer yesterday. As soon as I get the boat in the water next week I'll take some photographs and share them with you. I'll also take a few with the boat on the trailer to provide some perspective.
This is a very unusual trailer to see under a classic 13 Sport. It's aluminum, has 14 inch wheels, and the boat sits between the fenders. The track is much wider than that of the old trailer. It certainly does not fit the classic mold but I believe it will get the job done. After driving it home the hubs were very close to the ambient temperature.
Butch

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Author	Topic: Old Trailers
Jefecinco	posted 09-15-2014 06:32 PM ET (US) I don't know the age of the galvanized steel trailer under my 1981 Sport 13. I suspect it's 25 to 30 years old. I made a decision a few weeks ago to replace the trailer and selected a custom aluminum trailer builder in Bay St Louis, MS, Sport Trail, to make a replacement. Last week I visited the shop, talked to the manager, Kevin, and looked at all the jobs in progress as well as the trailers under boats awaiting pick up. I was impressed and asked for a production slot. Today I delivered my Sport 13 and old trailer to Sport Trail so they could start work. About a quarter of a mile from the shop my wife told me the trailer was smoking. The drivers side hub was so hot that it was burning the grease in the hub. This on an axle that had received new bearings and seals less than six months ago and that had also had a fresh shot of grease through the Bearing Buddies this AM. I poured a gallon jug of water given me by a roadside observer over the hub, waited a few minutes and proceeded to the Sport Trail shop. I'm looking forward to having a new trailer. I've been doing a multitude of minor repairs to the old trailer for a couple of years and won't miss it. Vent over. Butch
Antrieb	posted 09-15-2014 07:00 PM ET (US) Wow! You timed that perfectly. I hope you enjoy the new trailer and make sure to post pictures when it is finished.
Tom Hemphill	posted 09-15-2014 07:55 PM ET (US) Like an old horse on its final trip to the glue factory, your old trailer knew something was up, and protested the best it could. A sad story.
hauptjm	posted 09-17-2014 10:52 AM ET (US) Jefecinco, you won't be sorry you bought from Sport Trail. I bought my aluminum trailer from them (via Breath's Marine) in June 2005. Three months later it sat in New Orleans, underwater for roughly 25-30 days in the aftermath of Katrina. Fortunately, I had ordered the TurboLube hubs, Torsion Axles and LED lights. When the City drained, I hooked the trailer up to my Suburban and drove off. Lights worked, and trailer/hubs/axle were fine for an hour haul away. To this day, the only replacement I've done is the lights: and that was three years ago (six years after Katrina). I've never had to add a drop of oil to the hubs and I've driven the trailer to Florida, Alabama and Texas (from its home base of Bay St. Louis) since the storm several times for probably 5,000 miles. Great purchase.
contender	posted 09-17-2014 01:56 PM ET (US) I have a 1975 16'7" Whaler with a 1975 galvanize trailer (original axle), Just have to take care of it.
jcdawg83	posted 09-17-2014 03:50 PM ET (US) contender, I have had some old trailers that lasted a very long time. The biggest [problem] I have had is springs rusting from saltwater use. Hubs and axles will last a very long time if they are kept greased.
Jefecinco	posted 09-17-2014 08:01 PM ET (US) The trailer is for my Sport 13. The 13 was reportedly originally purchased as a yacht tender. It has gone through at least three owners before reaching me. I suspect the current trailer was purchased used and adapted to the 13. When I bought the 13 the trailer was pretty rough and had a lot of rust but was serviceable. I noted that the bunk brackets were not original and it was clear that the owner just before me put some time, effort and money into the trailer. Unfortunately I later found some cracks in the frame and some rust holes where they were difficult to detect. I had some welding repairs accomplished but a couple of years later those welds were beginning to rust despite the cold galvanized paint I had liberally used. Like most old trailers used in salt water for most of their lives this one was approaching the end of it's useful life without a large investment in parts and maintenance. The tires well well beyond their useful life and the springs and hanges were so rusty that I would have had to replace them, too. Adding up the cost to put the trailer into the condition that I require for comfort when towing were more than economically feasible when compared to the cost of a state of the art fully equipped custom fabricated replacement. The wheel bearing failure en route to the trailer shop only reinforced the wisdom of my decision. Butch
Jefecinco	posted 09-27-2014 09:52 AM ET (US) Picked up the new trailer yesterday. As soon as I get the boat in the water next week I'll take some photographs and share them with you. I'll also take a few with the boat on the trailer to provide some perspective. This is a very unusual trailer to see under a classic 13 Sport. It's aluminum, has 14 inch wheels, and the boat sits between the fenders. The track is much wider than that of the old trailer. It certainly does not fit the classic mold but I believe it will get the job done. After driving it home the hubs were very close to the ambient temperature. Butch