Trailer nuts and bolts

[nightvision]

Hi all,<br />When replacing rusted bolts and nuts, would you recommend using galvanized or steel zinc hardware? which would be stronger? Does it matter? Are there other option I need to look in to?<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[boater4life]

Re: Trailer nuts and bolts

Why not stainless steel? They won't rust.

 

[gewf631]

Re: Trailer nuts and bolts

Just make sure the the stainless steel fasteners are the same grade as those coming-off the trailer - hate to have a critical bolt fail.<br />I'm no metallurgist, but I did look into this before using stainless steel screws in my aluminum boat. Stainless fasteners have an increased tendency to gall (basically weld to the bolts), so be sure to use Locktite or anti-seize.<br /> Galling: Thread galling seems to be the most prevalent with fasteners made of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, and other alloys which self-generate an oxide surface film for corrosion protection. <br /><br /> There's some great information at this site. <br /> Everything you ever wanted to know about Stainless Steel Fasteners

 

[jlshields]

Re: Trailer nuts and bolts

Ed, stainless steel in an aluminum boat? What you've got now is a battery. The electrolysis will eat up your boat. Had a friend who used steel rivets in alum guttering and in 2 years the alum around the rivets was gone and the rivets were falling out.

 

[BillP]

Re: Trailer nuts and bolts

Get hot dipped galvanized. Strength is the same as zinc plated and will not rust nearly as fast.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Trailer nuts and bolts

I replaced all of the nuts and bolts on my trailer with stainless last year. It cost me just over $100 to do it. Virtually every one of the old bolts and nuts needed to be replaced. They won't be needing replacing again.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Realgun]

Re: Trailer nuts and bolts

I just went to home Depot and picked up the grade 5 bolts. <br />The grade 5 have three lines |<br />They look kinda like this...... / \

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Trailer nuts and bolts

The grade just refers to the strength of the bolt, they'll still rust like a sonofa....<br /><br />I've never seen a trailer that had any part of it take the stress the cheapest of bolts wasn't capable of providing. The things are way over built fastner-wise, so if you loose a little strength going to stainless its not going to structurly hurt anything but you'll gain having replaced the bolt for the last time. At least that's how I looked at it. The only ones I wasn't able to replace were the ones on each outboard end of my springs and then that very large bolt that holds the equalizer between the two sets of springs. All the rest of mine are stainless and use the ny-lock nuts, which are also stainless, U-bolts and all. I got them all from Champion Trailers a good place if you can't get the stuff locally.<br /><br />Thom