My bargain Rice trailer renovation

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zoon

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I bought a 1993 Rice europa trailer for £300 recently. It was covered in green slime and looked awful. A good clean coutesy of my OH and then it went off for a good once over on Tuesday. Had a call today to say that nothing needs doing at all :)

So plan is now to sort out the cosmetics. It needs a paint, but there is very little rust and what there is can just be rubbed down as it is jsut a little surface rust here and there. I need a new set of mudguards, a spare wheel cover and some rubber matting. It currently has the original cream coloured mudguards on them, but they have cracks in them. Any idea where I can get some Rice cream coloured ones and a cream coloured Rice spare wheel cover? Also, what is the best sort of matting for a trailer? If I use normal stable matting, how many sheets will I need? And how did everyone paint theirs?
 
What a bargain! So great you don't need structural work doing. You probably need something like hammerite to paint it with to protect it from further rust. With regards to wheel covers you could prob make one cheaper than buying one. Not sure on the mud guards Im afraid. Can we see pics of the transformation? :-)
 
I haven't got any of it when it was filthy, but will take some throughout its cosmetic work and post when done :) I am thinking of keeping it dark green, with cream roof - think that will look tacky? If not it will be green all over
 
Lucky you.:cool:
See if you can find a signwriter to do some custom graphics for you, My D has her name on the front of ours in foot high letters, not sure what it would cost now but 10 years ago it was £12. I think it puts the thieves off.;)
 
On the trailer? The Rice trailers have a "ribbed" sort of metal, so no where to put graphics except on the rear ramp.
 
Also, has anyone put rear doors on an old Rice - do they make them rather than the silly storm flap?
 
Lucky you! I have an old one and wouldnt trade it for anything!!!

Definatley invest in good paint, it takes an AGE to sand down due to the shape, but the job only needs doing every 8yrs or so!

Matting - we have a couple of big ones in the 'standing' section - But MOST ESSENTIAL - Is we Lift the mats EVERY time its stood, that floor must be the priority and soggy smells under matts = rot.

Enjoy! - Oh and DONT leave the handbrake on - ever! ;)

Localish to us is Vincent Horseboxes of Newbury - Very helpful
 
I'm about to post my renovation of the same trailer, paid £175 for mine, but I've literally re built it.

There are some true bargains.out there beyond the new expensive stuff.

I've made back doors for mine, two doors on hinges and the wierd clip things, made from half inch ply.

I'll get some pics up soon, try getting universal plastic mudguards, sooo much easier.
 
Happy Hunter said:
Lucky you! I have an old one and wouldnt trade it for anything!!!

Definatley invest in good paint, it takes an AGE to sand down due to the shape, but the job only needs doing every 8yrs or so!

Matting - we have a couple of big ones in the 'standing' section - But MOST ESSENTIAL - Is we Lift the mats EVERY time its stood, that floor must be the priority and soggy smells under matts = rot.

Enjoy! - Oh and DONT leave the handbrake on - ever! ;)

Localish to us is Vincent Horseboxes of Newbury - Very helpful
Click to expand...

Why can't I leave the handbrake on?
 
As I remember the Rice mudguards are metal and rust. I replaced mine with some plastic ones from our local trailer dealers, they were not specifically Rice but they were the same size and much more practical. You can still paint them to match the trailer colours. And they are cheap :D :D

My Rice trailers both came with the back doors, shame because when I sold the last one I forgot to sell it with them. Unfortunately I got rid of them. You might find some on ebay. Dreadful things though, I only used them when it was parked, when the trailer was moving they rattled, especially when it was windy and I was frightened the horses would get spooked.

Agree never to leave the handbrake on, it makes the brakes stick on and then you cant move it to hitch up.
 
Mine had sat for 18 years with the hand brake on and not moved until the day I picked it up - it hadn't got stuck, nor had the brakes - I must be lucky.

The mudguards I have on mine are the original ones and are cream plastic (may have once been white plastic!) I certainly want plastic ones, but don't want black - can I paint the plastic? If so, what would you use?
 
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