Frozen Trailer Qs

[sanity]

I've had a couple ice issues this year with my trailer and wanted to know if there are some basic trailer hints others have to make things easier.

First, I had a situation where all the doors on my enclosed trailer froze shut. It's like it was rain driving up, then the trailer sits in the cold and eventually freezes. After some crazy physical work pulling and prying, we got a door unstuck and were able to get the others from there. Is there something easy people do to make this not happen? I noticed my weather stripping on the doors gets ripped off when the ice sticks to the other side when we rip it open. Surely there must be something easy to help prevent this. WD40?

Second issue is that I sometimes stick a hitch lock on my trailer and it seems to get iced up to where I can't turn the lock. I've had good luck just hitting it with a warm up from a lighter, but otherwise would be an issue. I do have another lock I'm going to try that has a rubber gasket over the lock.

Any tips on these?

 

[sunbather1969]

In the winter

I always have a propane torch in my truck. Been there done that. It's what we use to get mills going on monday after a cold weekend, bunch of millwrights running around with torches, haha. A couple quick swipes along the aluminum on the doors is all it takes same with locks.

 

[winter brew]

Yep, WD-40 on clean seals and lock de-icer on a regular basis. This has been an issue for me too, living down low where it's wet and then traveling to the hills.

 

[xpspenziv]

Tire dressing,belt dressing, on all rubber seals. antifreeze or wd in the locks.like brew said de icer.

 

[modsledr]

Ditto on the WD40.

For the Trailer Doors...spray all of the rubber seals and the face where the seal seats.

For the locks...Use the little red spray tube to fill the lock with WD40 through the key hole...I do it every couple of weeks in the winter. Works like a charm.

I also carry a MAPP Gas torch, just in case!!

 

[Wayniac]

Spray cans of windshield de-icer work well too. Just spray it on and give it a minute to work.

 

[Z-Man]

I Take locks off the doors before leaving town and stick carabiners on for safety then put the locks on after unloading so they don't get iced on the way. I have had the stuff they put on the road actually corrode the locks so I have to cut them off.

 

[H20SKE]

My .02

Use a silicone spray on your door seals and wipe off the excess or a silicone grease and wipe off the excess, should last the season. Even armour all will work well on the seals and not hurt them from chemicial deteriation. As for the locks--silicone spray a couple times a year--it will help keep the water out.

WD-40 will work for a couple trips, but remember it is 60% solvent and evaperates.

Always carry a mini torch for melting the locks just in case.

 

[ace59]

Spray silicone or Pam cooking non stick for years.

 

[mrquick68]

I Take locks off the doors before leaving town and stick carabiners on for safety then put the locks on after unloading so they don't get iced on the way. I have had the stuff they put on the road actually corrode the locks so I have to cut them off.

this is my new method. before i leave home i remove the looks. then i before i head out to ride i lock up the trailer. Pretty lame, but it seems to be working so far. I also carry a torch.