Cargo trailers often carry important goods that need to be delivered without damage. Despite this, cargo trailers can be very difficult to keep entirely waterproofed. During the process of fastening loads to a cargo trailer, mechanical fasteners are often punched through the exterior. If these fasteners aren't appropriately dealt with, the trailer could experience leaking -- especially during severe weather or high speeds.

Waterproofing with Mechanical Fasteners

Mechanical fasteners can be punched and then covered with an adhesive or a film. By covering the entirety of the fastener, the area can be safely waterproofed. However, the waterproofing can still potentially fail at high enough speeds; the film or adhesive often cannot form a perfect seal because of the variable shape of the fastener itself. Further, if the fastener is moving, this may not be possible.

If a fastener is going to be moving with the load, it may be better to cover the area with an adhesive or film first, and then to punch the mechanical fastener through. By doing this, an elastic seal is created around the fastener that may provide better structural integrity than the surface alone. This adhesive or film may wear off in time but, until then, will be able to reduce the amount of water that can potentially leak in.

Waterproofing with Adhesive Fasteners

There's another alternative entirely to mechanical fasteners -- adhesive fasteners. Adhesive fasteners work like double-sided tape, forming a solid bond between multiple surfaces. Adhesive fasteners can be as strong as mechanical fasteners; each type of adhesive is rated for a specific type of strength. The strength will also depend on the amount of stress that the surface are going through, in addition to the temperature extremes that the load will be subjected to. For most loads, adhesive fasteners will be more than strong enough.

Because adhesive fasteners don't require penetration of the outside surface, a cargo trailer is able to remain entirely waterproof. However, adhesive fasteners can also have some downsides: they may not be as strong for dynamic, shifting loads, and they may give way under heat. They can also contract and expand if they are subject to heat followed by cold quickly.

Once a cargo trailer has been appropriately waterproofed, it should be able to handle a variety of environments -- even being kept outside for long periods of time before unloading. This will ensure the safe passage of all types of cargo.