How to Remove Rust From Your Trailer

Trailers are some of the most durable and long-lasting pieces of equipment on the market. However, rust and corrosion are common trailer maintenance issues and have the capacity to completely destroy a model in only a matter of years. To ensure your equipment is receiving the proper care to keep corrosion away, be sure to read our helpful article on how to remove and prevent rust on your trailer. 

Preventing Rust 

The best way to ensure rust doesn’t damage your trailer is to keep it from ever appearing! A great way to keep rust at bay is to wash your trailer regularly. After transporting cargo, you can give your model a quick rinse with the hose from top to bottom and sweep out the bed. However, every 6 months or so we recommend washing your trailer with soap and water, applying a gentle acid wash if it’s especially dirty, and following up with a protective wax. 

Removing Rust

If allowed to sit for too long, rust will quickly lead to corrosion and, eventually, some expensive repairs. To avoid this, you’ll want to try and catch the appearance of rust in its early stages.

To remove rust from your trailer, you’ll need to purchase a wire scrub brush and some rust remover spray—although vinegar and sandpaper can also be used if the area is only lightly rusted. To start, scrub away as much of the rust as possible before applying your rust remover spray for as long as the bottle requires. This amount of time may change depending on how badly the area has been affected, so be sure to read the instructions! 

Afterward, use a soft towel to remove the product and scrub away any rust residue that’s been left behind. If the rust has damaged your paint job, be sure to reapply a metal paint and primer to keep rust from appearing once again. 

If you’re having trouble removing heavy rust from your trailer, or corrosion has begun to eat away at your model’s metal surfaces, be sure to visit us here at Mountain West Trailers. Our location here in Heber City, UT proudly serves the nearby communities of Salt Lake City and Provo, UT, and offers an amazing on-site service center with experienced technicians ready to help with all of your trailer’s maintenance needs.