I need the great Grady great brain trust input. In years past I would dunk the trailer and rinse with water. I have read some folks use WD40 and spray axles and brakes with it to displace the Saltwater. Others have said to use salt away or vinegar with dawn and water in a pump sprayer. Next Friday or Saturday my brand new Owens trailer with substandard winch stand is going to see saltwater for the very first time. so, I am looking to kick up my wash down game here. What say you?
Salt Away or Water Displacement 40
- Thread starter SmokyMtnGrady
- Start date
I'd probably be wary of using WD40 around the brakes. Even though it would probably burn off since it's such a light-grade oil, I'd always be concnerned that it's contaminating the pads and losing braking performance. Salt Away or Salt Terminator would of course work. That's interesting about mixing it with soap - I'm not sure that step would be needed, though? Vinegar would be good, too. If you want, you can buy stronger vinegar at HD - regular vinegar is about 5% vinegar. HD sells 30% vinegar - that is VERY strong and I can attes to how well it eats away salt deposits as I just cleaned the heads and heads covers on my parent's "new to them" Grady (150HP OX66). However, using that is overkill, in my opinion - the other options would be more than sufficient.
Now... I have been known to use cheap spray paint on the discs - just a light coat - helps to keep the rust away if the trailer sits for a while. The paint is quickly scrubbed away by braking action - less worrisome than a layer of rust.
What's up with the winch stand?
Now... I have been known to use cheap spray paint on the discs - just a light coat - helps to keep the rust away if the trailer sits for a while. The paint is quickly scrubbed away by braking action - less worrisome than a layer of rust.
What's up with the winch stand?
The best advice I can give is that you should rinse with fresh water as soon a possible after exposure to corrosive waters ( salt water/ brackish water) The next trick is to try and make sure that the rinse water dries at least on the brakes and that means that after rinsing, it is beneficial to haul the trailer around for a while to heat up the brakes. I don't care what you use to rinse but saltaway can be expensive and I am not sure it is any better than vinegar. The reality is that parts that contain iron will rust over time.
Keep an eye out for rust and when you see it, clean it as best you can and if on galvanized parts, spray with cold galvanizing paint.
Don't forget to check hubs and grease religiously since any water that gets in the hub can lead to internal bearing rust.
Get a cap for the electrical connector and use a bit of dielectric grease to seal out moisture. ( apply some grease on the vehicle connector also)
Keep an eye out for rust and when you see it, clean it as best you can and if on galvanized parts, spray with cold galvanizing paint.
Don't forget to check hubs and grease religiously since any water that gets in the hub can lead to internal bearing rust.
Get a cap for the electrical connector and use a bit of dielectric grease to seal out moisture. ( apply some grease on the vehicle connector also)
I forgot to mention that the corrosion that occurs on the inside of parts like axles and cross members is the stuff that can eat the trailer form the inside out and it is hard to get to salt deposits in those parts. The longer the trailer sits after dunking, the more likely it is that salt will crystallize and stick to the metal surfaces. Most of those areas are virtually impossible to get to with a sprayer.
I have an Owens trailer, launch in saltwater only, and use saltaway in a pump sprayer. I spray the whole trailer (and truck rear axle/brakes/bumper if they get wet) after launching but concentrate on the surge brake assembly/tongue and the brakes themselves.
Thankfully the Owens trailer uses aluminum I-beams so the only part that needs to be sprayed internally is the tongue.
I also coated the axles, jack, and pretty much any exposed metal that isn’t stainless or aluminum with Corrosion Block HD or any other sticky spray grease that doesn’t wash off. In the past I’ve done the same with marine grease though it’s a bit messier. This gets reapplied as needed. It’s not the prettiest but trailers are really expensive here so I want this one to last as long as possible.
Thankfully the Owens trailer uses aluminum I-beams so the only part that needs to be sprayed internally is the tongue.
I also coated the axles, jack, and pretty much any exposed metal that isn’t stainless or aluminum with Corrosion Block HD or any other sticky spray grease that doesn’t wash off. In the past I’ve done the same with marine grease though it’s a bit messier. This gets reapplied as needed. It’s not the prettiest but trailers are really expensive here so I want this one to last as long as possible.
Thanks guys. it's my understanding salt away is vinegar and soap..I figured I would make my own.. funny ,I picked up that super vinegar today. I want to get the water spots off the windshield glass with it.
I coated all the galvanized stuff ( axels and mounting brackets) with fluid film the other day. I am going to make my own salt away mixture with vinegar,dawn soap and water . I will liberally spray all the hubs,brakes and such with it. I will give the tongue a splash too.
winch stand, that's a joke. A few folks here and at THT and even on a Facebook Grady page commented on how light or flimsy the stand is on that new trailer. So, I am using a bit self deprecating humor about it. It seems sturdy enough . I don't know. we will see.
I coated all the galvanized stuff ( axels and mounting brackets) with fluid film the other day. I am going to make my own salt away mixture with vinegar,dawn soap and water . I will liberally spray all the hubs,brakes and such with it. I will give the tongue a splash too.
winch stand, that's a joke. A few folks here and at THT and even on a Facebook Grady page commented on how light or flimsy the stand is on that new trailer. So, I am using a bit self deprecating humor about it. It seems sturdy enough . I don't know. we will see.