Trailer coating/paint

[4x4fiend]

Hey guys,
First off thanks to all the great ideas and beauty builds on here.

Built my trailer almost two years ago now, originally as a dual purpose replacement for my truck bed and overland camper. Really happy worh how it's turned out, definitely a few things I'd do differently but it's still young.

In terms of coating, I used red oxide primer all over, and military paint on the body. The frame is done with red oxide and black enamel. The metal was prepped with ascetic acid to remove as much mill scale as I could by hand.

Within the first few trips, rock chips had obliterated the paint. So I buffed it down, and applied rocker guard under the body paint and raptor liner on the frame. On the first trip, that got beaten up pretty bad too. Lots of gravel roads where I head out.

I'm looking at upgrading my mud flaps to something bigger, but what are guys on here doing? I've seen guys saying they are getting ten years outta raptor liner!

Couple images attached of the paint process

 

[4lowdean]

Keep in mind if bedliner isn't applied correctly and doesn't bond properly it can create a void between the liner and metal that will wick in moisture. Seen a few truck beds rust out from the inside out. Bedliner side looked fine, but behind it was no metal. Kinda why I'm iffy on full-coverage bedliner. That said, I do have some spots on mine that have patches of bedliner. As it wears down I scuff and repaint as needed.

 

[old_CWO]

Honestly for these type of trailers I just prefer basically doing what you did originally. Oxide primer and good old fashioned single stage enamel with one change. Mix in some enamel hardener, the paint cures faster and seems to hold it's finish better. Rustoleum is a reasonable choice because many colors are available in both quarts and spray. Simplifies things a bit.

If you want to spend a little more try Interlux Brightside Marine paint. It's still a single stage but does a good job acting like a catalyzed product once it cures. It self levels well, is very glossy and hard as nails. As you might guess from my avatar picture I have some personal experience prepping rusty metal and laying out white Interlux! If you can master the tip and roll technique it will look like glass.

Something made from steel and used in rough service outdoors is going to require periodic maintenance no matter what coating you have, that's inevitable. I prefer to use easy to apply and affordable coatings and just keep up on it. Bed liners, powder coats, base/clear paints or anything else that normally requires professional application often look better but are usually expensive and difficult to properly fix when damaged.

 

[Hillbilly Heaven]

I thoughts on chassis protection is Chassis Saver Silver it contains aluminum and is tough as nails. One fault is that it is NOT UV resistant. It must be top coated. Pay attention to coat times. If you wait too long before top coating you will have to scuff the surface before top coating. I do like top coating with Monstaliner as it adds to the durability.

I do think your chipping problem is waiting too long before applying top coat.

Monstaliner do-it-yourself roll-on truck bed liner

www.monstaliner.com

Monstaliner do-it-yourself roll-on truck bed liner outperforms Herculiner Bed Liner, Duplicolor and Rustoleum Road Warrior

www.monstaliner.com

 

[4x4fiend]

Thanks for the responses, the chassis saver or the standard enamel with hardener sounds promising. I thought about having it professionally coated (either hot lined or powder coated) but I figured it was gonna take some abuse and end up getting beaten up anyways.

I use an industrial enamel (tremclad) and am very happy with it, but you may be right about application. The primer I use could also be better

 

[PCO6]

Thanks for the responses, the chassis saver or the standard enamel with hardener sounds promising. I thought about having it professionally coated (either hot lined or powder coated) but I figured it was gonna take some abuse and end up getting beaten up anyways.

I use an industrial enamel (tremclad) and am very happy with it, but you may be right about application. The primer I use could also be better

I'm in the process of painting my current trailer build and the bulk of it will be done with Tremclad. Like old_CWO said above, I like to keep things easy and affordable. My experience with past builds is that they're never finished and I'm constantly modifying them. If you built it in the first place you usually know what to do when it comes time to change it and yes, you need to keep at it. Last year I had the bed of my Jeep Comanche sprayed with Linex. It looks great but I know if I wreck anything I won't be the one fixing it ... because I can't!

 

[billiebob]

I use an industrial enamel (tremclad) and am very happy with it,

this ^^^ I use RustCoat, I think it is better than Tremclad but either one is affordable. I find RustCoat is also incredible on bare wood/plywood etc. Just do it every fall. I painted these rims 6 years ago with Rust Coat. Come in the gallon can too.



I think we want/expect a trailer finish to last like our truck but the fact is the truck is not a trailer. You spend a year tailgating a semi and you'll understand.

I recommend aluminium on all front facing surfaces.

 

[old_CWO]

My experience with past builds is that they're never finished and I'm constantly modifying them.

That's a really great point. I seem to be periodically welding something on or grinding something off. My current trailer is painted with Gillespie military vehicle restoration paint. After any new "surgery" it gets a quick prep and hose down from a matching rattle can. The Gillespie spray paint is pretty darn good and the semi-gloss OD doesn't really show the blend-ins much. Low drag finish but looks a lot better than boring old satin black (IMO).

 

[4x4fiend]

The rocker guard with the top coat has worked quite well actually. Another thing I hadn't done before this was the acetic acid prep ("krud kutter must for rust" from home depot) which I'm sold on.
Maybe I'll just toss a can of touch up in the bed and call er a day, then do a bi-yearly turnaround on the bad areas.

 

[4x4fiend]

For the record, anyone in Canada looking for a decent paint that is coded to military colour coding system (and that you won't pay an arm and a leg for), thought I'd share this link.
For reference the two colours on my trailer above are 987A (the more beige one) and 997A (the darker green)

Aervoe Industries Vehicle & Recreation Camouflage Paint

200+ tactical & outdoor brands, excellent customer service & multiple shipping options to Canada/USA. LEAF member discount & in-store pickup available!

www.dstactical.com