Dmax wrote:This site rocks! So does this thread. First time posting. I've enjoyed lurking.
Welcome to the website! I speak from experience when I say "You can learn a lot here."
Dmax wrote:I have a galvanized jet ski trailer I want to start to convert. I have a few questions:
I want to put a spot for a cooler and other gear. The cooler will usually be the heaviest.
Should this be placed as far forward as possible. Does a trailer sway or try to tip over if placed in the rear?
You can Google some pretty good info on this, but ideally the tongue weight is about 10% of the total weight. Long story short, you are going to want the cooler in front of the axle, but maybe not at the very front (above the hitch). This website has some pretty good info to read:
http://howto.curtmfg.com/Pages/index.cfm.25.htmlDmax wrote:How hard is it to weld? Or, Should I bolt a homemade rack onto it? I was thinking of using 1" square tubing.
I'll add a pic of possible frame.....
I wouldn't suggest having a trailer as your first welding project. If you weld on the metal and not in the metal, your trailer will fall apart on the first trip you take. It isn't hard to do, but some practice is needed before taking on a project like a trailer. I don't do much stick welding as I am not that good with it, but if you use a wire welder you will get the hang of it pretty quick. You are only talking about welding 1/4" thick (at most) metal and a wire welder can do that all day long. Also, if you don't get everything welded square, you are going to go through tires quicker than normal.
Dmax wrote:Any preferences for a brand of paint to use on the galzinized?
I might just use primer and then maybe the spray on truck bed liner for the whole thing. .. Still undecided.
Don't be worried about the brand of paint too much. Actually, if it is all galvanize then you don't really have to worry about paint either. If you do want to paint it, you can use any basic primer on the galvanize and it will hold. I would highly recommend primer on top of galvanize, then you can paint on top of the primer. Don't buy an all in one as they aren't as good. I imagine bed liner would be alright, but I don't have any personal experience with that. My only concern with something thick like bed liner is how it can create spots for cathodic corrosion.
I have no comments on the sliding axle as I don't know anything about them.