trailer as garage, surface rust?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 2
From: southeastern, ma
trailer as garage, surface rust?
i am contemplating a trailer this year for several resons. looking at both open and closed rigs. one advantage of an enclosed trailer would be that i could also stor the bikes in there and save valuable garage space.
when i keep my bikes in my new england garage now, i have not had issues with that little annoying surface rust on things like bolt heads. it is not heated. last summer as we took our 10 day trip to nova scotia, i noticed that keeping the bike outside overnight would cause these areas to get surface rust. i want to minimize that.
so. if i get an enclosed trailer and keep the bikes in it, will it be protected like in my garage are like being outside.
looking for advice from those who actually do this or have done it.
thx - tin
when i keep my bikes in my new england garage now, i have not had issues with that little annoying surface rust on things like bolt heads. it is not heated. last summer as we took our 10 day trip to nova scotia, i noticed that keeping the bike outside overnight would cause these areas to get surface rust. i want to minimize that.
so. if i get an enclosed trailer and keep the bikes in it, will it be protected like in my garage are like being outside.
looking for advice from those who actually do this or have done it.
thx - tin
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 604
Likes: 0
From: STATE OF JEFFERSON
I live on the coast salt air is everywhere .lots of fog / humidety . I'm allway on top of the cleaning game .but it's hell trying to beat rust inlanders don't have this prob or not as much .i've got mine in the garage . You for a trailer dehumidetfier mabe . Or invest in a bubble or a small space heater ? Hope you work it out .
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 415
From: Southern Maryland
so was I
I was thinking the same thing, and since MD has high humidity in the summer, not to mention that it would get hotter than blazes in the trailer, I thought one of those portable air conditioners would work with a drain tube through the floor to the outside, and a small space heater in the winter. Not sure if the AC has to have fresh air intake or not. Also haven't decided on a size of trailer yet. I keep wanting to over buy. I think a 6X10 would hold my bike, but a 7X12 would hold it better and allow me to walk around it better. Then a 7X14 would allow me to carry two bikes and it just keeps on going from there. Sad isn't it?
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 2
From: St. Augustine Florida
If you are going to keep your bike in a trailer for storage or as a garage, the air within the space will need to be circulated. I had to store my 01RKC in a trailer for a couple of months during a move...surface rust and stained or spotty chrome was evident. This took several, severa tedious hours to clean and remove.
Was due to lack of circulating air and high humidity. I would not do it unless it was for a brief period and even then I would find a way to protect all surfaces should you not be able to run a fan or something within the trailer.
Was due to lack of circulating air and high humidity. I would not do it unless it was for a brief period and even then I would find a way to protect all surfaces should you not be able to run a fan or something within the trailer.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 892
Likes: 11
From: Northern NY
Wouldn't a trailer be like putting your bike in a closed box and be more subseptable heat and humidity extremes? Also security experts point out the ease of stealing trailered items as opposed to having them under lock and key in a building.
I live on the coast salt air is everywhere .lots of fog / humidety . I'm allway on top of the cleaning game .but it's hell trying to beat rust inlanders don't have this prob or not as much .i've got mine in the garage . You for a trailer dehumidetfier mabe . Or invest in a bubble or a small space heater ? Hope you work it out .
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 2
From: southeastern, ma
I was thinking the same thing, and since MD has high humidity in the summer, not to mention that it would get hotter than blazes in the trailer, I thought one of those portable air conditioners would work with a drain tube through the floor to the outside, and a small space heater in the winter. Not sure if the AC has to have fresh air intake or not. Also haven't decided on a size of trailer yet. I keep wanting to over buy. I think a 6X10 would hold my bike, but a 7X12 would hold it better and allow me to walk around it better. Then a 7X14 would allow me to carry two bikes and it just keeps on going from there. Sad isn't it?
argh.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 5
From: Hudson Valley, NY
i stored mine in my "garage" which is really a shed with no heat, and i battled condensation, frost on the bike, surface rust all winter long.
anytime the temp would go from freezing to an afternoon thaw my bike was covered in a surface wetness i was drying it off daily kind of a pain. i got a little surface rust this winter, banged if off with some steel wool.
if i had a bike worth more than mine i would not be storing in a trailer or shed.
anytime the temp would go from freezing to an afternoon thaw my bike was covered in a surface wetness i was drying it off daily kind of a pain. i got a little surface rust this winter, banged if off with some steel wool.
if i had a bike worth more than mine i would not be storing in a trailer or shed.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Mount Airy, MD
I would think just a dehumidifier would do the trick whether it's summer or winter. Most if not all of the enclosed trailers have roof vents also, which could help with the air circulation.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,542
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From: In your head rent free
I use a 7X16 trailer for storage. 2 bikes.
I can't say that I have ever had any issues caused by storage. But, the trailer is opened and closed almost every day. During the day it is left open all day, because I ride every day. Rain or snow and it gets closed up.
Advantages of a trailer is that I have removable chocks and it converts back to an empty trailer in seconds. I can park the bikes temporarily in the workshop and use the trailer.
Another advantage is that prior to a trip I hook the trailer to the truck. Then if we have a mechanical issue one of us can head home, get the truck and make the pick up. It is also convenient when a bike needs to get dropped off at the shop, makes it a one person operation.
Security isn't a major issue because of the way the driveway is set up.I can block the trailer in with at least 2 trucks. Trailer would be harder to get in to than the workshop or house.
We don't ever trailer our bikes anywhere except to the shop, but it's nice knowing it's there if we need it. We just made the ride to Daytona on Monday with snow about to drop on us. Made it out in time.
I can't say that I have ever had any issues caused by storage. But, the trailer is opened and closed almost every day. During the day it is left open all day, because I ride every day. Rain or snow and it gets closed up.
Advantages of a trailer is that I have removable chocks and it converts back to an empty trailer in seconds. I can park the bikes temporarily in the workshop and use the trailer.
Another advantage is that prior to a trip I hook the trailer to the truck. Then if we have a mechanical issue one of us can head home, get the truck and make the pick up. It is also convenient when a bike needs to get dropped off at the shop, makes it a one person operation.
Security isn't a major issue because of the way the driveway is set up.I can block the trailer in with at least 2 trucks. Trailer would be harder to get in to than the workshop or house.
We don't ever trailer our bikes anywhere except to the shop, but it's nice knowing it's there if we need it. We just made the ride to Daytona on Monday with snow about to drop on us. Made it out in time.