- 1). Clean the trailer thoroughly with soap and water both inside and out before attempting to refurbish it. This will remove dirt and debris, as well as loose paint, that would otherwise obscure the parts of the trailer that have to be repaired. Hose off the undercarriage of the trailer, as well. Allow the trailer to dry completely before proceeding.
- 2). Open the cargo area of the trailer after it has dried and sandblast all areas that exhibit any trace of rusting. When you have finished with the interior of the trailer, proceed to the exterior. There may be only minimal rust damage on the top side of the trailer, but chances are good that there will be a lot of rust on the underside and the axle. Sandblast the underside of the trailer until you can't see any trace of rust left behind.
- 3). Inspect the undercarriage of the trailer to identify any parts that may require replacement. The axle and suspension assembly are particularly susceptible. Replace any damaged parts before proceeding. You can purchase suspension components, tires and axles from trailer retailers or sometimes farm supply stores.
- 4). Spray the underside of the utility trailer with several coats of zinc-based spray primer. Allow this to dry, and then spray the underside with a rubberized undercoating. These sprays are available from automotive parts stores. To help prevent future rust problems, coat the undercarriage of the utility trailer with not less than three full coats of undercoating.
- 5). Apply zinc-based primer to the spots that you sandblasted on the sides and inside the trailer. Allow this to dry for two to three hours, and then spray the same areas with zinc-based rust preventative paint that matches the color of the trailer. Once these areas have dried completely, the refurbishing project is complete.
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