Car Trailer prep and painting

Dave Westlund · Apr 5, 2017

I live in Minnesota so I have a rusty trailer that should get repainted. I'm looking for recommendations on how to go about getting the trailer prepped and what paint to use. I don't have access to a sand blaster and I do have a spray gun that I can use. With that said I have a hankering to get a deck over bumper pull trailer so I don't know if the trailer would stay in the stable.

Thanks you for any comments/experiences you would share.

Dave

David G · Apr 5, 2017

I really doubt that painting without blasting will do any good, especially if powder coated.

ztrmowers · Apr 5, 2017

if you not keeping it then why paint it.

Stephen Newell · Apr 5, 2017

There is a paint stripping wheel which will fit an angle grinder. This will get remove the rust and remove the places where paint may be pealing. Depending on the desired color and durability you might want to paint it with an automotive paint. With enamel paints colors containing red are very prone to fade where automotive paints would last. Also epoxy primers used with automotive paints are more likely to kill the rust where that problem won't come back.

showcrop · Apr 5, 2017

Flap wheel followed by rust converter. then primer and paint. Some rust converters will serve as primer.

Dave Westlund · Apr 5, 2017

ZTRmowers sir,

All I can say it needs paint.

Dave Westlund · Apr 5, 2017

David G sir,

Na, The trailer mfgr used cheap paint on the trailer but I kept it in a shed.

Dave Westlund · Apr 5, 2017

Steven Sir,

I have a 4" angle grinder and I have wire wheeled with it. If fact I would do that prior to painting. In regards to the paint stripping wheel, is this what you say I should use? https://www.zoro.com/3m-paintrust-strip-wheel-4-in-diax58-in-t-03172/i/G1030251/?gclid=CJayhKrWjtMCFYEZgQodSdcGHQ. Or something similar? I could give that a try. I think I will paint the trailer gloss black.

In regards to epoxy primer. Are car manufactures using epoxy primers? In Minnesota and all along the salt belt cars are in a salt bath for 5-6 months and they show it. I only buy used vehicles from the sun belt.

Dave

Stephen Newell · Apr 6, 2017

That paint stripping wheel is made to fit a drill but they make one for an angle grinder which is much more easy to control. It's basically the same thing.

I can't really answer your question as to what auto manufacturers are using for primer. I know most of us that do restoration work recommend it. With a regular primer if there is a scratch in the paint down to the metal, rust will creep out from the scratch under the paint getting bigger and bigger and all you see is the scratch. With an epoxy primer the rust will be confined to the scratch. Also once metal rusts the rust seems to have deep roots and tends to come back to haunt you. Epoxy primer tends to permanently stop it.

Car Trailer prep and painting

Dave Westlund

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David G

Well-known Member

ztrmowers

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Stephen Newell

Well-known Member

showcrop

Well-known Member

Dave Westlund

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Dave Westlund

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Dave Westlund

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Stephen Newell

Well-known Member

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