I am also interested in this. My M17, 1982 model, also has a trail rite trailer. The good things about the trailer is that It is not too rusty, but there are rust spots; the axle, rims, and bearings appear to be in good shape (I took it to Lake Superior last year and it didn't complain). I replaced the bunks last year and the new ones seem solid enough for a few years. The bad parts are that the springs are quite squeaky, and that's annoying, and there are no brakes which makes me nervous on long trips. My questions: a) how do you find a good place to blast away the old paint and repaint the trailer; what price should I expect to pay for this work? I tried a powder coating company in town (Madison, WI), and the price was ridiculous, in the 3k range. b) is there a recommended type of surge brakes (mechanical or electrical) to add to this type of trailer? How expensive is this? Thanks, Andrei.