HF trailer resto

[pfarber]

It was time to repaint and upgrade my HF trailer. I got the 1100lb 4-lug version a few years ago and it was showing its age... so time for a resto.

First tip... the paint on the frame varied from peeling off rusted to almost a .5mm thick. If you have the option to pay to get it sandblasted DO IT. My sandblasting setup is not that bad and it took me, on average, over an hour to get to bare metal. Its not that the frame was rusty... but the paint was just so thick. I'd happily pay $100 to have someone sandblast the frame. Its not a lot of metal.. but the inside channels and thick paint made it pretty miserable.

Next the rust. There were two significant rust patches. Both were on the 'A' arms, near the quick fold pins. Not sure why this was the most rusted spot.

This is after sandblasting and priming (I was doing this on the cheap.. I had a half gallon of red oxide left so that's what I used). Note how pitted the metal is. Definitely needs repaired.
I used an propane/O2 torch to burn the paint off, then a wire wheel and then mineral spirits to clean the metal.

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MiG'd over the pits.

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Ground down

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Side shot showing flange back to original thickness. Also you can see part of the other A frame repair. Same spot.

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First of many coats of Rustoleum Enamel in Red. I really hated this paint. It was a bitch to spray and took forever to dry.

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There were a few other minor rust areas.. the A frames had the worst. I think the frame will be good for a while as the frame was sandblasted clean, phosphated, primed, then painted.

I also upgraded to LED lights and made some light covers.. will add that in a few days.

[pfarber]

Sere here are my side marker LEDs. Bought them off Amazon, 5 lights for $8

To protect them (they always seem to be the first to break) I make a U channel from some tube steel I had laying around.

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Cut off the top, bevel the sides, and phosphate/prime/paint

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The new marker lights had the exact same mounting holes as the original trailer lights... so they fit right into the same holes

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[pfarber]

Brake lights were a bigger challenge. Bought flush mount LED lights to replace the shitty side mount lights you get in the $20 kits. They are easily damaged and the lights always seem to need fiddeled with to make a good ground. New LEDs from Amazon ($22 for a set of 2) had a ground lead.. no more frame grounds!

This is my U housing. I made it from L channel welded together. The flanges were 3in x 2in so I welded them together, phosphated/primed/painted. I only had flat black in a rattle can, so that's that color they got.

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Mark the mounting holes and hole for the wires

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Use bracket as a template for mounting holes

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Drilling out the wire hole... drilled 2 1/2in circles and filed them into an oval

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Test fit and enlarge as needed

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Final light mounted

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All that's left now is the license plate holder. That will be centered on rear end.