I bought this 1995 second hand gooseneck 3 horse float in 2004.
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It was a good deal, but had lots of superficial rust, and needed a make-over. Of course, I didn't do the work it needed when I bought it, and used it with my horses for 5 years, until the rust went beyond superficial. I started stripping the paint and rust in 2009, and two weeks later, I broke my leg in 8 places, and had a long recovery, while the gooseneck sat in the yard for years quietly rusting away...
By 2012, it was looking like this:
Neglected and unloved!The seam in the roof leaked, and the rear storm flap couldn't close, so water had been seeping in, running down the roof beams, and the into the tailgate and rusting it from the inside out.
While structurally it was still sound, the walls were rusted through, and crumbling.
Rubber had been sprayed onto the hardwood floor by the previous owner, and this trapped moisture as well.
They had also bolted rubber belting to the walls, and I regret not removing this as soon as I bought the trailer! Never, ever, ever use spray on rubber in your trailer, or bolt rubber to the walls so it can't air out!! You WILL regret it.
It felt like the rust just went on forever...
Oh yes, that IS my hand easily fitting through the rusted hole in the wall.... The line of bolts where the rubber was attached is where the rust started.
Three of the four hinges (below right) on the tailgate were completely gone, and the beam on the back needed replacing.
So it was brought back to life and moved to where I could start stripping it back to restore it.
Like an onion, it was layers of surprises... And MUCH harder work than I had anticipated....
