Fix current trailer or order a new one?

[Arick]

Would It it be comparable in price to have a body shop repaint my trailer versus buying a new one?

Its a 94 Malibu Echelon and I don't have any pictures of the trailer because the boats in storage. However the trailer is looking a bit weathered and has multiple rust spots(I'd say 5-6 separate locations). One of the bunks over by the wheel well needs to be fixed and one of the lights doesn't work (will have to investigate when it gets warmer).

I know I can grind the rust spots down, seal and repaint. However its not going to match the sun faded trailer and will stick out like a sore thumb. So then I thought having a body shop sandblast the whole thing and repaint it. Which then lead to me thinking about just ordering a new one. Can you see my thought process here???

Or I could just leave it.... Which I really don't want to do.

[oldjeep]

New trailer about $5K. You should be able to get a sandblast and paint job for a lot less than that.

[kstateskierMO]

several years back I refurb'ed my mastercraft trailer. I fixed the fiberglass fenders and painted those myself, also redid the pinstripe and graphics myself. However I spent $425 to have the entire trailer sandblasted and powdercoated gloss black.

You won't regret powdercoating. Good time to make any metal modifications like swing away tongue before pcoating.

[BlknYlwT22]

I agree. Powder coating is cheap and durable. Should be no comparison between buying a new one and fixing up your existing trailer.

[Arick]

several years back I refurb'ed my mastercraft trailer. I fixed the fiberglass fenders and painted those myself, also redid the pinstripe and graphics myself. However I spent $425 to have the entire trailer sandblasted and powdercoated gloss black.

You won't regret powdercoating. Good time to make any metal modifications like swing away tongue before pcoating.

$425 sounds like a steal!

[kstateskierMO]

$425 sounds like a steal!

Well before you get too excited know that I prepped the trailer by basically stripping everything off of it (fenders, lights, wiring, nuts, bolts, winch straps, guide poles) before I took it to the powdercoater. All they had to do was wheel it into the booth after sand blasting and remove the tires/wheels. I think a more realistic price would be $600-$800 for anything but a stripped down single axle trailer.

That being said, its still a whole lot more affordable than $5K for a new trailer from boatmate.

[Bill_AirJunky]

It cost me $200 to have my tower re-powdercoated..... after I spent 4 or 5 hrs stripping it. So I imagine 4 or 5 times that to do the trailer would be realistic. It will also depend on what color you do it. Black or common colors are typically less expensive.

[Arick]

Hmm, so how could I get the boat off the trailer in the middle of winter, in my garage?

[kstateskierMO]

Or

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?/topic/23609-removing-boat-from-trailer-in-garage/