My Journey, bought a step deck

So while I purchased the step deck a few weeks ago I am still in the plating process.

I am also gathering up my securement, I have a ton of straps, but no chains or load levelers.

I am starting to work on the rust, sanding off the loose rust, and priming and painting.

I am not experienced at all, but so far no issues. Its mostly cosmetic, but I do enjoy having good looking equipment, and I feel as though it makes me less likely to be inspected. This has worked with my truck, because in 2.5 years of owning my own truck I have had 0 roadside inspections.

I also want to put bedliner on top of the steel frame on the deck, to hopefully get 10 years out of this trailer, and keep it until I retire.

There is a repeat load by me of stone slabs, and I am planning on doing this load first, as my first load.

Will update my progress here for anyone interested.

 

Did a bit more and ran out of paint, it doesn't seem to go very far.

 

Looks like a nice trailer.

I would reconsider using bedliner. I have seen it used on trailers before and it ends up getting torn up with freight loading and offloading, doesn't seem to last long. Ends up being better in the long run to just paint it in my opinion.

 

I agree wire brush and tape and a couple coats of paint every couple of years.

 

A bit unloved by the last owner, but not bad overall. Nothing 40 hours of flappy disk can't fix.

 

I used a lot of those cans of paint you have got sitting in that picture.
I found after years of putting lip stick on the pig its looked good but did not last.
I got a bottle of rust inhibitor and some frame paint at Tractor Supply and brushed it on.
Worked well for me and saved a few dollars .
I have seen a few trailers where they did the bed liner looked great. But it kept the moisture underneath it and rusted from the inside out.

 

Fresh tape makes this back side look really good! Like a new trailer!

 

Now to polish out the aluminum ....
Looks good.

 

Any ideas how to keep these from being stolen while still leaving them in the pockets? I don't have toolbox room for everything.

 

I have seen a trailer where the pins are extended thru the pocket and a lock or bolt to secure it.
Short pins have a way of jumping out of pocket with these fine roads we run on.
How about a box on the frame down under behind the landing gear ?