Cross beam replacement

[mike.kooser]

I bought a used 1988 shore line trailer. The rear beam is rusted out pretty bad so Im working on cutting the bolts off now and replacing it.
it is a 3x3 67 inch v shape beam.I can not find shoreline replacement parts any where. Do you have any advice?

(Im new to boating so Im not sure if the terminology I used is correct ) Thanks

 

[smokeonthewater]

Search for "boat trailer crossmember" and you will have better results .... Look CLOSE... It is VERY likely that there is a lot more rust.... Tubular trailers rust from the inside out... Take a hammer to all parts of the trailer frame looking for anything that is thin... Could save you from disaster i the future

 

[robert graham]

Maybe drag the trailer to the welding shop and get a price on him welding in a new angle or channel iron section there....he'll have the materials, expertise and good advice on other possible corrosion elsewhere on the trailer....he might cross-brace any potentially weak areas...

 

[jayhanig]

Maybe drag the trailer to the welding shop and get a price on him welding in a new angle or channel iron section there....he'll have the materials, expertise and good advice on other possible corrosion elsewhere on the trailer....he might cross-brace any potentially weak areas...

I'm curious now... how do you prevent rust from reoccurring on a galvanized trailer used in salt water? It seems to me that anything welded in reinforcement would not be protected.

 

[oldjeep]

I'm curious now... how do you prevent rust from reoccurring on a galvanized trailer used in salt water? It seems to me that anything welded in reinforcement would not be protected.

There are some spray on/ brush on products that you can use on the welds and effected areas. And you should typically fog the inside of the tubes through the drain holes with some sort of protection, even in freshwater.

 

[oldjeep]

This is one example.
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/stops-rust/cold-galvanizing-compound-spray

 

[robert graham]

I'm curious now... how do you prevent rust from reoccurring on a galvanized trailer used in salt water? It seems to me that anything welded in reinforcement would not be protected.

No way to prevent saltwater corrosion....but good primer and paint job can keep it at a tolerable rate....

 

[mike.kooser]

Thanks guys! Do you recommend a specific website that you order parts from?

 

[smokeonthewater]

I've ordered from trailerpartsdepot and been very happy.

 

[oldjeep]

Etrailer is where I buy most of my parts from.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Rust never sleeps

 

[bruceb58]

My brothers tube trailer is rusting from the inside out. As a band aid on one of his channels(allow it to be used one more year), I bought some 1/4" plate, cut pieces to size with my plasma cutter and then welded the pieces together to the contours of the cross member and we bolted it on. Put the plates on both sides. His cross member was only rusted out at the low point in the center of the cross member.

If you have rust in one cross member, you have rust in all of them.Start looking for a new trailer.

I would never buy a tube trailer. Don't buy another one.