Aluminum or Galvanized?

[RABBITFISH]

What is, in your opinion, the best type of trailer, aluminum or galvinized? I just had a response in another thread that stated that Aluminum trailers were prone to flexing, causing premature wear. What do you guys think? I am in the process of buying another trailer now, so I would welcome any input!!

Thanks,

Tommy:nice:

[nipper]

I have only owned galvanized and regular painted steel. Definitely do not go with painted if you are even thinking of coming within 220 yards of the briny deep. I dunked my painted trailer in just a couple times and even after hosing it down and even washing it it blistered and rusted out badly. I would think the aluminum trailers would be a lot lighter than the galvy's.

[phatdaddy]

my v had a galvanized roller trailer under it when i bought it. it was ok, but i wanted a float on for the ramps we have here. i removed the rollers and put bunks on it. it was better, then it bent at the angles where the frame turns to meet at the tongue.(NOT the trailers fault, but thats another story). when i replaced it i got an aluminum with torsion axels. i love it. my usual ramp trip is about 7 miles roundtrip, so i don't pull that much, but i have pulled it to the keys 4 times , 1500 miles roundtrip. i launch about 60 times a year so i use my trailer a lot. my advice would be whatever you get, get torsion axels, so i guess that means aluminum. i also got one for a 23 ft boat & 7500 lbs. it was only about $200 more than 20 ft 5000 lbs.

[spareparts]

you can't give a galvinized trailer away down here, its aluminum or nothing, we do see a lot of people rebuild aluminum traierls when various parts break, but at least you can see what needs to be repaired, where as a tubular galvinized ususally rots where you can't see it. I have a c channel galvinized under my V, if I had the money, there would be an aluminum trailer under it.

[Skools Out]

if you want to see just watch an aluminum trailer with a boat going down the highway, watch it flex and then watch a steel one. 1 thing i didn't like about the aluminum ones i've had they will float without a boat at the ramps due to the tires an air under the fenders, then you run the keel into the trailer and hope the trailer goes down without hurting the boat. both will rot just wash the trailer after being in salt as you do the boat. the aluminum trailer will corrode away around the stainless bolts then they pull threw the trailer frame. one reason you see alot of aluminum trailers with hugh fender washers fixing where they have either cracked or corroded away around the bolts. and remember no matter what you buy the axles all have steel spindles and hubs, and steel springs unless torsion then it has spring steel inside the torsion axle, so really no difference in the axle area. plus don't forget what happens to your lower units after salt use they get brittle as so will that trailer even faster since they aren't painted.

[phatdaddy]

skools is correct about the floating issue. i ended up filling 2 6' pieces of 3"pvc with sakrete and tie wrapping them to the inside if the al I-beam. i also put a "sprinkler system" under my trailer in the boat shed and have it on a timer. when ever i back the boat in i turn it on for 10 minutes while i clean up the inside. it helps ,but i still have to replace hubs & rims every 4/5 years. if you dip it in salt water and set it in a hot parking lot for6 to 8 hours, it will rot.

[nipper]

I have torsion axles on my galvanized trailer.

[phatdaddy]

nipper, i've wondered why you couldn't do that.
rabbit fish, if you need rollers, i think you will be going with galvanized, but if bunks are ok, then al would be my vote.

[woodbutcher]

The last time I had to replace an axle. Dicky Fields told me to keep a spray bottle of (sugar water) and spray down the trailer after I put the boat in the water. He said that will neutralize the salt thus reducing the rust. I must confess I have never done it So I can not confirm this statment. I traded that boat for my V shortly after replacing the axle.

[bradford]

I've had both and aluminum wins with me. Saltwater will rust tupperware.

[spareparts]

I asked this question at the local trailer shop yesterday. He told me he'll replace a rusted axle on an aluminum trailer, but will not on a tubular galvinized. His point being, the axle is made out of the same stuff the rest of the trailer is made out of, its not worth putting an axle under a trailer that is probably in the same shape as the axle. Glavinized trailers are disposable. However, he did say c channel galvinized to tend to last much longer than tubular

[RABBITFISH]

It's not the axle, its the rear cross member...The axle is new, well about a year old and the rest of the trailer is in excellent shape, it's just that the rear center crossmember has a rust hole in it. If I could get a replacement crossmember I would be happy to just replace this piece, but EZ Loader doesn't make the replacement parts for my model any more......Thus my dilemma....:hi:

[spareparts]

you're not going to belive this, but I happen to have a couple of cross memebrs from an ez loader trailer(long story), take a pic and some measurements and we'll see if these will fit

[RABBITFISH]

WOW! Awsome...I'll try to get them to you in a day or two. got to get the camera back from the teenagers.........It's a single axle, 3M 2900 roller trailer, two crossmembers slightly v'd in the middle. I have to measure it again, Thanks.......:nice:
Tommy

[spareparts]

do the cross memembers pivot on the frame?

[Skools Out]

I asked this question at the local trailer shop yesterday. He told me he'll replace a rusted axle on an aluminum trailer, but will not on a tubular galvinized. His point being, the axle is made out of the same stuff the rest of the trailer is made out of, its not worth putting an axle under a trailer that is probably in the same shape as the axle. Glavinized trailers are disposable. However, he did say c channel galvinized to tend to last much longer than tubular


well that guy i will tell is full of it ask Randle as well, i just bought his old galv trailer axles springs shot rest of the trailer you would think is brand new and it's an 88 model. i've seen alot of trailers that were steel and the axles be the only thing shot, it does depend on the brand as some brands cut corners and do crappy galv jobs and others do extremely good jobs and those will out last aluminum.

[RABBITFISH]

do the cross memembers pivot on the frame?

Yes they do! There is a plastic washer between the crossmember and frame, with a through bolt holding it together....

[spareparts]

Thats what I have, I'll dig them out and measure the length

[RABBITFISH]

Sorry I'm late, I actually lost the thread........What are the lengths you have??

Tommy

[spareparts]

I didn't dig them all the way out so its not an exact measurement, but its close to 68". They are approx 3" square tubing, with a slight v. The measure ment istn't their linear length, but rather the total width they occupy

[RABBITFISH]

106368 inches is the right length, here are some pic I just took do they look like this? 106410651066

I suspect that these are what I need. How close are they in design?:sun:Tommy

[shaneburris74]

I've had both and aluminum wins with me. Saltwater will rust tupperware.


SO funny and SO true. You gotta fight the battle..but just know your never gonna win it. My father-in-law told me about an old shrimper he knew down here. He ran galvanized trailers. He would take waterproof wheel bearing grease and paint it all over this trailer. It made the trailer messy as hell.....but it NEVER rusted. Not a bad thought really, if you can stand the mess...just stay off the trailer.

[RABBITFISH]

Spareparts do the ones you have look like the ones I pictured above? If so I'll probably get them from you...

[spareparts]

heres a couple of pics, there are a little dirty, but in good shape

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n175/spareparts_photos/P8011136.jpg


http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n175/spareparts_photos/P8011135.jpg

[RABBITFISH]

Well my friend it looks like you have a deal! We will have to work on arrangements for me to get them from you. I think I'll take a road trip to pick them up. Where in SC are you? Sounds like a great excuse to take a ride to somewhere new! Thanks in advance!!

Tommy :news::sand:

[spareparts]

Goose Creek is just outside Charleston, if its too far, I'll see if i can come up with a plan. I'll go ahead and warn you, if you drive all the way here, you just might like it. I just did a map quest, looks close to 800 miles. Any one up for a relay?

[phatdaddy]

spare how far are you from edgefield SC( by augusta ga) i have a friend who is moving down to panama city fl in a coupla weeks.

rabbit, that would get em to the gulf coast....

[RABBITFISH]

WOW! Who ever would have thought about a relay!! Anyway, I was trying to come up with a reason for a road trip and somewhere to go, this seems like a good destination to explore, it's close to the coast, and I might get to visit for a little while....Any large towns & hotels nearby? I'll work on a mapsearch and plan out a trip. Spareparts, I'll send you a PM later with contact info and we can plan a meet! Thanks so much guys!!!
:sand: Yay! Road trip!! Road trip!! Sights to see! People to meet! Things to do!!!

Tommy...