Ever Line-X a trailer?

[56FordGuy]

I've got an 18' trailer that I bought used, and the paint is in bad shape. Trailer works well, floor is solid, etc, but needs the frame painted. I'm planning to do the prep work myself, remove the floor and lights/ wiring, strip it down to just a rolling frame, then take it to a body shop and have them sand and paint it, along with fixing some fender rust.

I had the thought this morning, and was wondering about having the frame done with a truck bedliner instead of paint. The trailer sits outside, and the finish will have a rough life with chains and straps being hooked to it, pulled over it, loading the trailer with forklifts and tractors, etc. It seems like the bedliner would hold up to that better than paint.

Has anyone here ever had it done? How hard is it to clean the bedliner? Will washing it with liquid soap and a rag actually get it clean? What should I expect it to cost? Any pitfalls or things to be aware of before doing it?

Thanks!

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have not done it but have seen it done.

First thing, do not fix the fenders, replace them. You can get new ones that you can bolt for easy future replacement or weld on for a quick fix for $25 each.

Second is if you have it sprayed with Line-X or Rhino Line have them take care not to get too much build up in the areas where you have to put the boards back. Especially if it has pockets for the board ends on it.

Third and last thing is when you re wire it run a ground to each light. It will be next to impossible to get a decent ground though the trailer frame with that stuff on it.

Chris

 

[RandyT]

I was always having ground problems with my 12' utility trailer even cause some backfeed through the truck electrical system and would blow the fuse to my abs system. installed a new wiring system with the led lights this spring before getting my new truck and then ran a separate ground wire to each light and wired directly to the ground terminal on the trailer plug that hooks to the truck.

 

[56FordGuy]

My plan is to completely rewire the trailer when I put it back together, and convert all the lights to LEDs. You make a good point about being careful about build up. What about the area around the hitch? Seems like it might be best to have them just avoid that area and paint it.

I thought about replacement fenders, and I still need to do some research on that. The ones on it now are welded on, and made of a heavier gauge steel than any of the replacements I've found yet. I'd like to convert it to a bolted on fender, but I also want to keep the same style. The ones on it are angled down instead of round. Good point, still working on that part.

I'll try to make some phone calls tomorrow for rough price quotes. I'm sure it will cost more than paint would, simply because anybody can do paint. If it holds up better, for a longer time it might be worth it.

 

[Dmace]

I have thought about this as well but got to thinking just how much weight that would add to the trailer plus I think it would be tough on a dump trailer without the smooth floor. I would bet you could take 100-200lbs off your trailers capacity with it fully lined. While it's not a lot of weight, most small trailers are operated at near capacity.

Some resources online say line-x is about 3/4 lb per square foot at 1/4" thick. An 18 ft trailer at about 7 ft wide is 126 sq.ft. on the deck only so that's about 95 lbs of extra weight not including the frame.

 

[56FordGuy]

I hadn't thought about the weight. I know the liner in my work truck is only about 1/8" thick, and I know that because it's peeling out. It looks like the shop that put it in didn't do any prep work at all, just sprayed. The paint is nice and smooth and shiny in the peeled areas, but that's a story for another time. Suffice to say, if I do have my trailer coated I'll be using a different shop.

I don't intend to have the floor sprayed with liner. I plan on removing the floor and having only the frame done. If it changes the weight 100 pounds or so I'm not terribly worried about it.

 

[radman1]

Get a quote from Line-X for cost to do the trailer. It think that will stop this idea immediately. I had Line-x done on my F250 2-3 years ago for about $400. I wanted to Line-x my Teryx dump box on the inside. About 3'x4'x1'. They wanted about $350. Rediculous. I think the price maybe prohibitive. You could just do the front tongue, which is the spot for most of the wear/damage. I love the Line-x product.

 

[Fixemall]

I have 2 JBJ dump trailers and a car hauler that were all coated with the Rustoleum bed liner roll on stuff you buy at Autozone, they have held up great under daily use and can be touched up with a roller or brush.

 

[schmism]

were all coated with the Rustoleum bed liner roll on stuff you buy at Autozone,

If you do decide to do it yourself... mind you dont get any on your hootus

 

[2manyrocks]

:laughing: