Horse trailer restoration/rebuild

[jjmarotz]

Gary--- will get you pics of corrals if this snow will ever melt. Still have 2' in them. We cut 200 trees down for the 2 corrals to create the 3 rail post and rail setup we made. Seems to work so far, all 4 horses stayed in all winter.

Riptide-- If you do tackle the trailer, take it somewhere someone can sanblast the entire thing!!! Would be $$ well spent and your arms and back will appreciate it Shooting paint, floor, lights, trim, etc. is easy, but the prep work to get there consumes more time than one would think!!!

Got the new mats installed yesterday and the 2 inside divider gates. Will do wire hookup and test this week. Hope to have this thing buttoned up by weekend!!!!!!

 

[jjmarotz]

I've got a corral project coming up this year, so post so pictures of the final outcome.

Will do!!!!! But now that snow has FINALLY melted I will get pics after I clean up the mess I am currently relocating gates, posts, rails, sink holes from water line install last fall, etc. as I learned where the horses tend to walk and where the snow lands. After 1 storm we had 2 horses in one corral and 2 others in the other corral. They got into the normal feeding corral before the snow set up and then couldn't get back to the other which leads into the barn Took couple weeks and some serious shovel work to let them get back to the barn!!!!!

1st yr learning curve I guess

 

[Rbahler]

Thought I would share this project with the rest of you fellas. Trailer is a 1990 WW 4 horse trailer, started out I needed a new floor, (I fell thru couple times), the top was rusty from faulty factory paint, and lights were .....well worked when they wanted too. The trailer steel was still perfect shape so figured lets save it.

Anyhow, this started as most my projects.. as in I can do that vs. paying someone else Well I soon learned that sanding and prep for paint is something best left for the pros!!!!!!!! Not sure of how many hrs sanding, wire wheeling, etc went into this but then again I probly don't wanna know!!!!

Sanded all flat areas that I could, then took it to a sandblaster place and had all corners, edges, etc blasted. Sorry forgot pics before teardown and sanding began

In keeping with "tractor" projects... I did use my tractor to move trailer around in the shop during the 1.5yrs it took to finish this Didn't have horses at time of project, then got busy last yr building fence, corrals, barns setup, etc. so I do have an excuse for being slow HAHAHA

Wondering where you got your diamond plate and chrome trim? Looks Awesome by the way!!! Doing a little 3 horse trailer myself.

 

[jayste]

Good looking job. I'd send a pic to WW and show them how good one of their 1990 models can look. They're in Madill, Ok.

Rbahler, I don't know where he got his but trailer supply houses will have all the trim and accessories that you'll need...for a price.

 

[Rbahler]

Final things left to do now is spray Hurculiner bed liner on inner fender wells, (undercoat gun is on backorder),and paint wheel rims. Also have to hook up and test the lights, before wraping them in loom and securing them.

Love what you did!! Wondering where you got your diamond plate and chrome trim?
Rod

 

[BryanM]

I was wondering if you did have any rusted threw metal at the bottom of the trailer? And if so what did you use or how did you go about fixing it.! I ask because in my area no used trailer is without rust all the way threw! Or they want a ton of money for it!

 

[jjmarotz]

Sorry for not responding sooner... forgot about this thread.

Rbahler... the diamond plate I got from my local steel/fab shop, I called in with measures and they sheared it to size for me. Word of advice... get the thinnest they have or it will not curve and follow the trailer well. The other trim I was able to salvage from the original trailer. Just had to clean it up a bit.

BryanM... I lucked out and all the steel was still solid and good. I did spray some of this.. Rust Encapsulator Paint - Stop Rust and Corrosion paint on all the crossmembers and edges inside the trailer before I installed the floor.

I must say after almost a yr since I did this... the paint, floor, lights, undercoatings, etc. are holding up great!!!!! Was a ton of work, but the end result was cheaper than buying a new trailer. Thanks for the compliments.