You’ve seen them. Those rusty holes and spots that grow on trailers and their components over time. You’ve heard what people say about them.

“Rust is inevitable.”

“You can’t stop it.”

However, we beg to differ. Rust happens because we let it happen.The only reason trailers and other vehicles rust out is that the rust is allowed to grow and accumulate. Once the rust starts it will continue to grow and take hold with every rain shower, trip down a wet highway, or even those dewy mornings. Throw in fishing trips to the beach or coastal holidays, and the rust grows much more quickly.

We’ve got good news for  you though - rust can be stopped.

1. Clean the trailer. This is a dirty job. Don’t wear your best clothes. Wash the outside well. If you’re doing it by hand use a good brush to wash off dirt and road film. Underneath it is usually easier to clean off the big lumps of dirt when they’re dry and then wash off the rest. Pay particular attention to those hidden nooks and crannies that trap dirt and water. If you have a painted trailer and paint is peeling under there, scrape off the peeled sections of paint. Let it dry well. If you’ve been to the beach or any environment where your trailer has been exposed to salt (water or otherwise), then it’s very important that this step is taken as soon as possible to prevent rust setting in. You'll need to thoroughly flush out the insides of axles and wash any sand off using clean fresh water. Pay attention to areas such as brake pads and ensure they are as clean as possible, as any rust on essential parts like this can compromise their performance and lead to failure.
2. Inspect the trailer. Check out the rust damage and look for any cracks in the steel panels or frame. This is a sign of structural weakness. If the cracks are small, you can likely weld them up yourself if you’re a good welder. 
3. Decide on a plan of action. This is when you say, “What have I got myself into?” If this is more than you can handle, call someone to do the job for you. If there is damage that you think could cause a safety problem and you can’t repair it properly, get professional help. If the damage is not serious and you’ve still got some energy, you can do it yourself. As in any job of this type, wear the correct protective clothing, masks and goggles as needed. 
4. Apply rust preventative to the inside. Once any dirt and crud is cleaned out inside you can see all the dirt and moisture traps. If you can keep the dirt and moisture out of these places it will help but in a lot of cases it’s not practical. 
5. After a few days, wash the outside. You’ll have dribbles of the rust preventative mentioned in the previous step running down here and there, so get an old car wash brush and wash them off. Don’t get carried away with a water blaster and wash off all the rust preventative on the inside or get too aggressive on any paint touch ups. 
6. Do this every year or two, depending on usage and climate. If you keep ahead of the rust spots on the outside and keep up with the rust preventative on the inside, your trailer’s lifespan will be increased quite a bit. Any componentry whose performance could be affected by rust (couplings, hubs, suspensions, latches etc) should be replaced to prevent the product from failing when in use and causing damage or injury.