aluminum trailer upkeep? - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

ncorrieri · 10-30-2006, 10:20 PM

Hey all - just got done putting my new shiny alum salt sheild on the new shiney alum trailer.. i know it wont be so shiney after a few runs through mn's saltine roads.

but, the question is, is there any treatment you guys recommend for helping prevent corrosion? any polishes, etc, that i could use - at least on the salt shield?

**smallengineguy** · 10-31-2006, 06:41 AM

I've seen them sprayed with a clear lacquer finish before. Keeps them new looking almost indefinitely.

brown435 · 10-31-2006, 11:40 AM

Aluminum is subject to Galvanic corrossion and [ptting corrossin.
Galvanic is from dissimilar metals and pitting is typically from NaCl.

It depends how much $$$$ you want to spend to prevent it.

brown435 · 10-31-2006, 11:44 AM

To ensure that galvanic corrosion will not occur - even if there is an imperfection in the aluminum - you should place a metal less noble than both than aluminum to sacrifice electrons to the aluminum and endure the corrosive reaction created in the process.

Screw a zinc bolt / nut onto the aluminum structure.

brown435 · 10-31-2006, 11:51 AM

For pitting corrosion, get a protective layer. most $$$ is a paint with cromates in it. Chromium ... or the slang term Chrome.

You need a barrier between the salt and the aluninum. For places you don't need traction try a polymer resin ot lacquer. (Cheap $20 gallon .. best $100 gallon.)

You could do the same for the bed .... when you apply it get silicon sand and put it on the bed will be absorbed by the paint and will have a non skid deck when dries.

PolarisINDY500 · 10-31-2006, 12:20 PM

imo, the only parts of the alum trailer are the rails and frame. the top is wood, and its not enclosed. for what everyone can "see" w/o getting on their hands and knees is minimal. i wouldnt worry about doing anything to the trailer.

what we always do is on the way home, or when we get home, is take the trailer (ours is enclosed) to the wishy washy (aka do it yourself car wash) and spray the mo-fo down and get the excess snow/salt off. looks good afterward.

as for the salt shield..its up to you but, i would have gotten a plastic one which requires almost no maintenance. of course the aluminum one looks good but it dents easily and imo more up keep to "look" nicer.

JEFFH · 10-31-2006, 12:34 PM

Car wash after every trip, I stop at a carwash on the way home and spray all the heavy salt off of everything. Trailer top and bottom sleds and all, and it only costs about 5 bucks.

rgoers · 10-31-2006, 07:21 PM

I've had my alum shield a couple years. Still looks new! I do the car wash thing on my way home *most* of the time.

I know there is some sort of wash that people use on aluminum horse trailers to keep them looking good. I'm not sure what it's called, but it seems to be pretty well known among the horse community.

gradd · 11-12-2006, 02:18 AM

i would do what brown 435..i work with aluminum industrial boats in the salt water and the zinc works awsome so that would prob be the best...mabe put them where the salt gets flung up from the tired in that area

ncorrieri · 11-12-2006, 02:27 AM

so zinc bolts will attract the corrosion to that?

the chromium paints - are those virtually clear?

i was told to wash it, but theres about a 2 mile stretch of highway between my storage and the wash :/

all things said and done, i shouldve got the plastic shield. It would have been a lot easier to throw on there im sure as well. One nice thing about the alum was it was solid, and it didnt curl back over the top of the sled, so in summer i can park the motorcycles all the way up in the front where they need to be w/o having to remove the shield

gradd · 11-12-2006, 02:30 AM

the zinc bolts should help because they slow down the process of corrosion alot or fully and ever season look at the zinc bolts and see if they need replacing but they should attract it the salt.