Wanted Enclosed Car Trailer

I've been polishing some of the aluminum on my trailer, which does entirely no good unless you are
going to spend the rest of your waking hours keeping up with maintaining it or coating it with some
kind of clear. I bought a quart of Cerakote MC-5100 for polished aluminum. This is an Air dry
coating to the touch in 15-30 minutes (it was 15 minutes for me), so minimal dirt to collect on the
surface, total cure in 24 hours.

There is no thinning required, just pour into your spray gun thru a number 325 mesh (equal to 44 micron)
and go. I used the Preval system, so there was very little clean-up with some acetone. But don't let this
stuff dry, acetone will NOT touch it after it starts to cure. I found out the hard way. I tried to go back over
the fender cause I didn't like how it looked and thought I could smooth it out by putting another kinda
heavy coat on, it didn't work. Within 20 minutes I sprayed straight acetone on it, then I started wiping it
with a rag soaked in acetone. Nothing worked, just made everything worse. Jumped on Google, damn
the only way to get it off was to blast it off and that was not an option for me. I had to spend a couple of
hours sanding it off.

Preval - Refillable spray system - Spray any paint!



I bought this mesh to use instead of Cerakotes mesh that fits a spray gun, I can use this to pour coolant thru
when I want to reuse it. It always seems to get trash in it before I can get it off the ground.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09B1SD92H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1



I found with the Perval sprayer and the MC-5100, I could not spray it on without it running. It was running
so bad that it was dripping from several places and pooling on the driveway. BUT, it flows out and looks
great if you just leave it alone. It has great self-leveling properties.



Prior to using the 3M Aluminum Polish, I wet sanded with 600 grit (some places) and then followed up
with 1000 grit. I tried some 2500 grit that I have, but I really think I needed something in between that
and the 1000 grit, something like 1500 grit.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RZPNNW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1



To apply the aluminum polish I used my drill and some of these buffs. To clean them occasionally I used a
file card.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VHQBKJ8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1




By far the worse thing to polish was the diamond plate, can't sand that obviously. The polish would
collect and dry out around all the diamonds and would require wiping almost every diamond with a
micro-fiber towel to remove the polish. What a pain, but it's all done now on the nose.

I think what we all want to see is what this looks like a Year from now, that will tell me if all this
work was worth the trouble.

I've polished all the [trim along the bottom, the fender] both sides, the vent and the diamond plate on the nose.

 

Looks beautiful, Rick!

 

Thanks, I just hope it lasts !

 

Had anyone used the self-adjusting drum brakes. They work in a forward stop direction and made by Lippert in my case for a 3500 lb axle ???
How well did they work ?

The cost makes is hard to justify buying only the brake shoes when the difference is only $7.37 and you get back plate, springs, electric coil, screw adjuster, self-adjusting hardware ..... everything you see in the photo.

www.amazon.com/Lippert-Components-Forward-Self-Adjusting-Brakes/dp/B00C3ZUR8U/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1NHRBO74MOZGR&keywords=Brake+Hub+Assembly+%23122460&qid=1652998714&sprefix=brake+hub+assembly+122460%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-6



www.amazon.com/Lippert-Components-136451-Electric-Lining/dp/B0777VTMC6/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3MMU8Y427ESZR&keywords=lippert+10%22+brake+shoes&qid=1653001315&sprefix=lippert+10+brake+shoes%2Caps%2C239&sr=8-3


.

 

Sounds like the brake shoe people need to fond a better supplier! They are getting shafted by theirs now!

 

Went to get my trailer out of Gated Storage and found it had been broken into. They tried cutting thru my Abus 20/70 disk lock on the side door and gave up. Went to the back door, where I have a cheap Master Lock and another Abus 20/70 disk Lock. They cut right thru the Master, then when they came to the Abus this time they cut thru the latch and then twisted the latch enough to get the lock out. I had the trailer in covered storage and it was far enough in that they could not open the ramp door all the way, but they did enter.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009S5Y6ZS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Funny they didn't seem to take much of anything, the tool box was open and the spare parts were still there, all of my tools seemed to be there, I don't have an inventory, so I can't say for sure. They left my two spare tires and all the tow straps. They didn't vandalize anything just for the hell of it thankfully !






At the end of this last summer I was working on a wiring problem and found that none of the fasteners had nuts on the inside and the threads were in 1/8" metal. Some of which were stripped out. So I bought SS button head screws, they had tamper-proof..... sure like nobody can buy that tool. Then I double nutted on the inside so they could NOT just unscrew the latch and go right around the lock.




Next I have ordered some SS shackles from eTrailer, but they won't be here until about January 20th. Hopefully these will be tougher to cut thru. It very expensive to make the whole latch system SS, but maybe someday. Three latches below cost me $92.

https://www.etrailer.com/s.aspx?qry=PLR158‐102‐+SS

 

So sorry to hear that, Rick. Anyone who has something stolen can sympathize - you feel violated and enraged that you can't strangle the perp(s)!

 

Talked to the site manager at Devon storage. She said they had three trailer stolen in November and they identified the person. He had rented a space but never moved in, so it was only for getting access. So the police have have all his info. They recovered one trailer, thankfully I had the Proven Industries tongue lock that covers the tongue and also locks up the chains so they can't drag it out on them either. This video shows how the chains get locked.





I'm think about installing a car alarm so that it makes a whole lot of noise when someone monkeys with the trailer. The trailer is in a cover storage space, therefore two trailer are back in together with back doors facing each other, creating a very secluded space to work in. I'm also going to back it in further so that there is not chance of getting the ramp door open. If they can't get it open, then maybe they won't even try. But then that leaves the side door, if I lock the regular door latch, they will tear up the door getting in. So I might leave that unlocked, but it will have a Abus disk lock on the bigger latch like in the pics.
.

 

There's some low lifes out there! It's really annoying when you go to the trouble of putting your gear in "secure" storage. Hope you get it sorted very soon. Excellent that the storage people were able to furnish details of the miscreants!

 

Yes, I was kinda surprised that she was so forth coming with the info, she even gave me the dates. The break-in was back in November, so it's been awhile before I discovered the problem.

 

I hate a f-n thief! They often do more damage than the value of what they take. Catalytic converter theft is a big issue locally. I would likely end up in jail if I caught them in the act. We had repeated gas theft going on for an extended time until I caught them red handed at three am with my 12 g 2a item in hand. That ended it, but when I reported it to the police, they threatened me for doing anything other than reporting it... (and the 2a item wasn’t mentioned) lesson learned. I will no longer call them! Glad they didn’t do worse damage to yours. Sucks that your new trailer was targeted!

 

Yes, I will be beefing up security on the trailer! It has GPS and if it moves I get an email immediately.

 

Indycars - Which GPS did you go with?

Thanks!

 

Have you thought about a trail cam inside the trailer? At least you will have pictures of the assholes to give to the cops.

 

No, but I am considering a car alarm that would make alot of noise. Hoping that would scare them off before they tear-up anything on the trailer trying to get in.

 

There used to be an alarm that would warn people close to the car to stay away. Wonder if those are still available.

 

I remember those John. Some of the GoldWing folks had those on their bikes. I know some of the recordings would say "step back, you are to close to my motorcycle." You could record whatever you wanted the alarm to say.

 

LOL, it's alot further around an 18 trailer than a motorcycle ! hehehe !!!

 

They just need to protect door. Pick the most likely to break into.

 

My SS door shackles were not suppose to be here until January 20th, but luckily they got here way early. The trailer is a pain to have in the driveway when it's just sitting there, I didn't want to take it back to storage until I could lock it up properly.

This of course just moves the weak point, but at least they will have spend time figuring out where the weak point is !

I've said it before, my mission in life seems to be to rid the world of sharp edges, and I might as well polish while I'm there. Hey SS begs me to do it ! At least these won't rust like the last ones.

I've got 2 done, just one more to do now. I'm going to go inside the side door this time and double nut the shackles there also, so I need 3 total.





I already have 3 Abus 20/70 here, this time they are all keyed the same.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GAN03O?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

I'm wanting to upgrade my tongue lock from the aluminum one I have now to one of the SS locks below. The cone shape makes it hard to drill since it's not flat, also SS should make it much tougher to drill.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2SWKM...colid=2WII6E57MI2OK&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LP1K82...colid=2WII6E57MI2OK&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1