Hi all -

 

Long time lurker/reader, but this is my first time posting.

 

I am a kayak angler who does plenty of tournament trails. I have been on the market for a while now trying to find a trailer that I can customize to fit my needs (after using a bed extender for quite a few years).

 

The other day, my neighbor offered me an incredible deal on his old trailer (from a 1999 Ranger R83) after upgrading to an EZ Loader tandem-axle.

 

The only issue with the trailer is that the fenders are in desperate of replacing. I have looked at all the major websites but cannot find an exact match for the fenders.

 

The trailer is a single-axle and has 14-inch wheels. The measurements of the current fenders are:

 

30 3/4'' long

12 3/8'' tall

8 1/2'' wide

 

The closest match I can find are these fenders from etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Fenders/etrailer/HP22VR.html

 

It is listed as 31 inches long, 12 3/4" tall, and  9'' wide.

 

My question is this: are these fenders likely to fit without much problem since they are ALMOST identical in dimensions?

 

 

I can't say for sure, but if I were in your shoes, I'd buy them and make them work.  You might have to flex the metal a hair and drill some new holes, but I'd take the gamble.  They're not really structural pieces, so I'd assume you can get away with a less than perfect fit, if you're not too concerned with aesthetics.  

But I've also never messed with trailer fenders before, so there might be something I don't know that would come back to haunt me.  

 

What's wrong with the old fenders?  If they're just rusted a bit, it might be worth repairing them.  A wire brush, drill, and rattle can can go a long way.  Even if they've got some minor holes in them, they might still work.  And you can often fix minor holes with JB Weld and some scrap steel.  I mean, if you're not too concerned about the looks.  Or go without fenders, depending on your state's laws and any laws of the states you plan to travel to.  

Sounds like a pretty close match. I personally would go for it. A little massage here and there and I think you’d be good to go. 
Good luck and welcome aboard the forum.

Ranger would be the place to buy replacement fenders for their trailers,

but unfortunately they don’t make them for trailers that old. A friend had a fender damaged on a 2000 Ranger Trailer. He took the trailer to a fiberglass shop and had it repaired. Take it to a local fiberglass repair shop and get an estimate. It might be close in price compared to buying the new fender and doing modifications.