how much longer on my tube trailer?

[catfish621]

Rust bubbling up on the bottom of cross members. Back cross member the worse. At what point do I start worrying about this thing breaking?

[hammerhead]

The original trailer that was under my Nitro lasted about a year after I got it (it was a 96 and I got it in 2003). I would check it next time you put the boat in the water by standing on the cross member and having someone see if it is flexing any (or let someone else stand on it while you check for flexing). If you have access to a welding machine (or know someone that does) you can cut a small piece out of the cross member to check and see how bad the rust is and then weld another, stronger piece of steel back in its place.

The day I got my new trailer, I took the boat to the ramp and put it in the water. I left my wife there with the boat, and took the old trailer home. Hooked up to the new trailer and took it back to the ramp and loaded the boat up. When I got back home, I stepped on the rear cross member of the old trailer and it broke completely through. I got the boat off of it just in time. I would have hated to see what would have happened if it would have broken with the boat on it, while going down the road!

[TGravo]

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I'd say you don't have a whole lot more time. Once it's bubbling, that means it's rusting from the inside out. You can't stop that. I'd say as soon as that bubbling turns into any kind of hole or opening in the trailer, it's pretty serious. Every time you put it in the water, that tube is filling up with water.

I think everyone should at least get a channel iron trailer if you want a painted trailer but galvanized or aluminum is best.