Posted 2007-02-26 9:05 PM (#56351 - in reply to #56250) Subject: RE: Painting a steel trailer?
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
For what it takes to do a good paint job you'd invest more in equipment than it's worth. Take it to a reputable paint shop and ask what it'd cost. Painting trailers is usually fast and cheap, not a lot of detail work in prep or tough spots...think long and flat. Get a good quality paint and it will last and last.
Posted 2007-02-27 10:55 AM (#56379 - in reply to #56250) Subject: RE: Painting a steel trailer?
Regular
Posts: 93 Location: Cherokee, Ia
You can touch it up, but living in SD, it won't last. We had our 91 steel 3 horse redone 3 years ago, still looks great. It was well worth the $$(cheaper than a new trailer!) Had the running boards and wheel wells coated with Rhino Liner, also the front of the trailer under the gooseneck. We had only surface rust and faded paint before, but it would have totally rusted through if we had not sandblasted, primed, painted and clear coated it.......professionally.........worth the 1500 bucks.(with Iowa salt and sand, also our nasty gravel roads) my trailer still looks good! And it sets out year round. Wax it 2-3 times a year, still shining!!!
Posted 2007-02-27 8:56 PM (#56451 - in reply to #56250) Subject: RE: Painting a steel trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 113 Location: Lyons Oregon
I'm a "Rattle Can" queen! Yes, you can do it yourself especially if all you are after is just to save your trailer from rust until you can have it professionally painted or you are ready to upgrade. Start on a hidden spot like in the tack area or underside until you get the hang of it. Grind and sand till you get to clean metal, use fine sand paper for the last bit, until it is smooth, then apply rust converter. Patch up any holes with bondo, then use a good quality rust preventative primer and the same brand paint (so the paint will be sure to stick). Do light thin coats and let them dry. I wouldn't try to do a whole trailer but I have done spots. Also, first try some rubbing compound, it will remove rust stains. Caulk everything you can find or think of to caulk, all around the windows, seems, the screws that hold down the roof and you may save your trailer from the rust demon!
Posted 2007-03-02 6:45 PM (#56639 - in reply to #56250) Subject: RE: Painting a steel trailer?
New User
Posts: 4
Location: Belvidere,SD
thanks very much, I don't want to put much more into this older trailer and I am planning on updating in a couple years so I just want to save what I can on it!
Posted 2007-03-10 6:54 PM (#56961 - in reply to #56250) Subject: RE: Painting a steel trailer?
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Maryland
Hi, just wanted to share what we (well, actually my husband) did with our steel trailer. Our 2 horse was purchased new 13 years ago, and came with a lousy paint job. After a few years the paint came off the roof in sheets. He wire-brushed the bare spots and used spray rusty-metal primer, then painted the entire trailer with a brush and Rustoleum paint. He was very careful, and the trailer looks pretty darn good. It has held up well, with only a few spots needing touch ups over the years. People cannot believe it was painted by hand with a brush! My brother did this with our old farm truck 20 years ago, it held up as well.
Painting a steel trailer?
And it sets out year round. Wax it 2-3 times a year, still shining!!!