painting trailer - almost no prep

[2rz-fte]

so i just went down to my boat which is stored at the marina (dry and on a trailer, but near the ocean) and its amazing what the weather has done to it in the past couple weeks. so im seriously considering painting my trailer pronto.

since i dont have a ton of rust on it but rather a light coat of rust pretty much over everything, i think i have a solution. im planning on using this stuff for my primer to kill almost all my prep in one step. http://www.crcindustries.com/ei/content/prod_detail.aspx?PN=18418

i just want to rattle can the rest of it, i dont care that much i just need to get a coat of paint on it. But what kind of paint should i use? i hear alot of good stuff about rustoleum but which kind?

 

[bonz_d]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

I've seen CRC products before but not that one. If you use it post up a review and let us know how it works!

 

[2rz-fte]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

i definitely plan on using it for prep but im still stuck on what kind of paint to use.

im leaning towards rattle cans of rustoleum but i dont want to buy a case of them to cover half my trailer. the boat is only a 16 and the trailer isnt oversized.

 

[JimS123]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

Way back when, Paul Harvey used to advertise a product on his radio program. I can't remember the trade name but I do remember it was made by Wynns. A few years later Rustoleum came out with a similar product called rust reformer.

Anyway, it went on clear and you could watch it turn black over the rust.

I painted an old Gator trailer that was 100% rust. Then topcoated the black stuff with Rustoleum fish oil primer followed by a roll on coat of Regular Rustoleum. That trailer sat outside for 19 years and when i sold it the rust still had not penetrated thru.

I've used the rust reformer stuff recently and it goes on black right out of the can. I can't speak to the longevity of this new stuff, and I don't know if the CRC is similar chemistry or not. But Rustoleum and their primer certainly are good products.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

I'm not 100% sure but a couple of years or so ago I believe I used the CRC on my hitch. I did not top coat it and it lasted a couple of years before it started to rust again. Any decent enamel topcoat should work over it though.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

I repainted my old Gator last summer, used a flap wheel disc on an angle grinder to remove all the layers of built up paint and rust. Then used white industial Rustolium primer topped with brush on Rustolium paint. I already have spots that are starting to bleed through and rerust.

If I redo it I'll be using a different primer for sure.

 

[2rz-fte]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

i know a bunch of people say rustoleum works great but ill be dunking my trailer in the ocean about once a week. thats pretty hellish on paint.

 

[sasto]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

If your trailer is galvanized steel I was recommended a CRC product just for galvanized and it is working wonders. CRC 18412 Zinc-It Galvinized Paint is what I used. Rustoleum makes the same product too and a little less expensive.

 

[2rz-fte]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

my trailer is not galvanized, just painted. and it looks it

if i brush or roll on paint then what about the areas that i cant reach? like the nooks and crannies? do i get a couple rattle cans for the hard to reach areas?

 

[jeeperman]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

my trailer is not galvanized, just painted. and it looks it

if i brush or roll on paint then what about the areas that i cant reach? like the nooks and crannies? do i get a couple rattle cans for the hard to reach areas?

Not galvanized but steel.....

Is it a tubular frame or open channels frame?

If it is tubular, painting the outside surfaces might make it last twice(?) as long as not painting it at all.

 

[2rz-fte]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

its open c-channel.

the pic is the best i have of the trailer.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

Surface prep is everything when it comes to a paint job that looks good and will last. Rust cannot be "converted" to anything. Rust is not an object, it's a chemical reaction. The only way to stop rust is to stop the chemical reaction from taking place in the first place.

I've used another product similar to what you've posted, it turns rust black and I think what it IS good for is putting a hard coating over the top of rusted metal to seal it and prevent additional rusting. But it needs to be filled and smoothed before being painted if you want a smooth finish.

Personally, I'd remove anything on the trailer you don't want to paint (lights, brackets, winch, wheels, etc.) and give the whole trailer a light sanding. Then I'd treat any heavily rusted spots with a rust-stop like you linked to.

From there, I'd mask any fruther areas that needed to be protected and use a good quality spray primer on the whole trailer. Then I'd spray paint the whole thing with Rustoleum. Spray paint is actually pretty efficient, the amount of actual surface area on a trailer is very low, it's not like you're painting a car. It's easier to control spray paint for a thin coating.

Then, I'd top coat it with several coats of clear coat. I think this stuff goes a long way toward preventing more rust because it provides what I'd call a sacraficial barrier that slows the UV breakdown of the paint on the surface.

Grouse

 

[ajgraz]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

My 15 ft is on a non-galvanized c-channel trailer, also. About 5 yrs ago I wire-brushed it, hit it with naval jelly, power-washed, and painted with Rustoleum Professional gloss black (no, I did not use a primer).

The gloss was gone after probably only a few months. 5 years of dunking once or twice a month in the salt and it's ready for a total re-paint. Yes, I rinse religiously after each trip.

This time I am going to use one of those rust-converting primers; hopefully that will make the paint job last more than 5 years.

I am going to use the same paint again; I'm figuring, for two coats of each primer and paint, 2 qts of primer, 2 qts of paint, plus a rattle can or two of paint for the hard-to-brush or roll areas.

 

[matt1982]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

i work in an industrial paint shop where we produce some of the most massive solid tire forklifts in the world called versa lifts. you can research them online.. we use a two component epoxy primer and a high solids urethane topcoat supplied by a company called diamond vogel in orange city iowa, their products are VERY inexpensive and very effective, we recently had a machine come in that had been submerged by high tide and was not recovered for two weeks, it then sat in our shop for a month with the salt still clearly visible on the paint and the only places where it hurt anything paint wise was where it had been scratched to bare metal. Jay Jareke is our sales rep and his number is 1-402-690-1829

 

[2rz-fte]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

thanks for the info, that sounds like a plan for my next boat. this one isnt worth it. the paint would probably cost nearly what the boat is worth.

 

[rwidman]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

My 15 ft is on a non-galvanized c-channel trailer, also. About 5 yrs ago I wire-brushed it, hit it with naval jelly, power-washed, and painted with Rustoleum Professional gloss black (no, I did not use a primer).

The gloss was gone after probably only a few months. 5 years of dunking once or twice a month in the salt and it's ready for a total re-paint. Yes, I rinse religiously after each trip.

This time I am going to use one of those rust-converting primers; hopefully that will make the paint job last more than 5 years. .

If you are using a painted steel trailer to launch in salt water, you are fighting a losing battle. It's not only rusting on the outside where you can see, it's rusting inside any tubing (like the axle) and it's rusting wherever two parts are bolted together. Even with a fresh coat of paint, it might break in two at the worst time.

For salt water, galvanized steel or aluminum are the only way to go.

For the OP, your paint job will be no better than your preparation. And if you do a lousy job preparing the trailer, the next time you paint it, it will be that much harder to do a good job.

 

[2rz-fte]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

agreed, basically its goes with the saying "how many times can you do it wrong before you do it right?"

thing is, everything comes down to opportunity cost. With putting that much work/time/money into the trailer the payback will never be seen.

im talking in circles because its a boat. it never makes sense.

i need a beer

 

[199675hpforce]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

True lossing battle but look on bright side you can get galvanized trailer later on. Best way to get a good look for little money. Your going to have to prep and I mean prep. Wash the trailer dawn dish wash, then run some simple green over all metal parts and of course a brush. Let dry then start sanding lighty, maybe 400 grit. Clean trailer again dawn dish and brush. Or you could skip this step if everthing is super clean. Then find some primer. My local farmer supply cal ranch store has tractor paint in rattle can. Prime follow directions for cure. Paint with similar stuff maybe go flat paint finish. Stuff takes along time to dry FYI. Then hit it with same clear. For money it's very durable finish. Just dont cheap out on how much you need always take extra cans. Splaters so be aware maybe heat up cans in hot water and shake them for like five minutes straight and turn can upside down let it settle for awhile. Paint company is in Nebraska I think american made. Not typical walmart rattle can crap or rustoleum. If you could get boat off trailer and take all ply wood off, lights sand blast whole thing. Another item you might add anode on trailer to take abuse. Ok ran out in garage grabed can. Van Sickle super premium tracotor,equipment and industrial enamel, alkyd oil base formula. Your going to need full face mask 3m type $30. They have couple blue colors

 

[reelfishin]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

From experience I find that those rust converter products work better on old or more severe rust. They do little on light surface rust.
Since your in a saltwater environment, your no doubt sooner of later headed for a new trailer but there's nothing wrong with doing some quick maintenance to try to put off the inevitable.

I'd take a Scotchbrite pad and rub off what rust will come off that way, then treat the bad spots with the rust converter, and prime with some Rustoleum rusty metal primer and follow up with a good coat of Rustoleum enamel. You will have to knock off any loose paint, otherwise you won't be able to get at the hidden rust and it will just continue to progress.
Look very close at the tongue tubing on that trailer, I've seen quite a few painted trailers like yours with badly rusted tongue tubes. They rust from the inside which is unpainted and completely unprotected from rust. They often give no warning when the fail either since the rust from the inside out.
Take a hammer and test the integrity of the bottom of the tongue tube well before expending any energy on a repaint. If you see or can knock loose any scaly rust inside the tongue, cut your losses and replace the trailer,or at least the tongue now.

 

[rwidman]

Re: painting trailer - almost no prep

.....................Look very close at the tongue tubing on that trailer, I've seen quite a few painted trailers like yours with badly rusted tongue tubes. They rust from the inside which is unpainted and completely unprotected from rust. They often give no warning when the fail either since the rust from the inside out.

Take a hammer and test the integrity of the bottom of the tongue tube well before expending any energy on a repaint. If you see or can knock loose any scaly rust inside the tongue, cut your losses and replace the trailer,or at least the tongue now.

The axle(s) will also rust from the inside out and since they are actually in the water, I would expect them to be more affected by rust than the rest of the trailer.