What type of paint for my trailer

[ledzeppelin135]

Hello everybody, I have been searching over this forum for the past couple days trying to figure out what kind of paint to use on my trailer. I have heard rustoleum, Valspar, Por 15 and TSC paint (out of the option as I live in Arizona). Anyways I was reading that some of you guys had been mixing hardener in with valspar and rustoleum to make it more durable. I am wondering what the most durable kind of spray able rustoleum or valspar paint is and I am also wondering what kind of hardener I would mix with each. I know it wont be powdercoat hard but I would like to get something that is pretty durable and will hold up. Also, I am buffing all the paint down to raw steel and am wondering what the best type of primer would be to put down and prevent rust. I am only in freshwater lakes in arizona so the trailer dries up pretty quick! Anyways if someone could get me some insight I would appreciate it.

 

[ledzeppelin135]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

Anybody have any input?

 

[matt167]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

Valspar is a very good implement enamel, they do make there own Iso hardener. The problem you will have is the lack of UV protection, but generally it's not an issue. Any Iso hardener will work with Valspar, Majic or Rustoleum enamels. Majic has their own hardener also, but if you just want to get Rustoleum, get the professional version and you can get hardener for acrylic enamel paint at Napa or other auto body supply. Your best bet for primer would be a good Epoxy primer like SPI epoxy. SPI is Southern Polyurethanes, a smaller company but should be available where you are, and it is prefered by many.

 

[ledzeppelin135]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

i am going to be getting the regular rustoleum enamel as the professional only comes in a gallon and they saw the only difference is it dries in 15 minutes. i was going to combine this paint with the crossfire NAPA auto hardener if that would be ok to do? Also, how much hardener do you add to the paint? Thank you

 

[matt167]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

I would do a 2:1:1 ratio on the paint/ primer/ reducer, and I would mix quarts.. Professional is a bit different than the regular, almost on par with the Valspar, more pigmentation so you get more coverage per coat. You will need a gallon. You don't need the Crossfire hardener, IIRC Napa also carries a " 2A Auto " brand hardener which is cheaper and will do just fine, it's actually the hardener I use. It's a purple and black label

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

I had a trailer painted and they used an epoxy primer and polyurethane paint. A very durable finish.

POR15 would work well too. It's a rust encapsulator. Apply with a brush and it's self flowing. Looks like it was sprayed. Used a lot on car frames.

 

[gblackwood01]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

I repainted my trailer last fall. After removing the flaking rust and paint with a wire brush, I used a rust converter from Gemplers (Rust Converter). Afterward, I used Rustoleum Professional to finish it. Came out great and looks awesome. The Rustomeum Professional is very durable and worth the few extra dollars.

Hope this helps.

-George

 

[SWD]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

I just repainted my trailer last week. Used a urethane paint by Benjamin Moore. Its an industrial coating. Worked out real good.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

I have used the industrial coating by Benjamin Moore as well. Unfortunately where I live in CA, you can only buy it in quarts in oil based. Outside my area, you can still get gallons.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

When I get around to painting mine later this summer I am planning on using Rustoleum Professional with the tractor supply hardener. No point in reinventing the wheel.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

POR15 would work well too. It's a rust encapsulator. Apply with a brush and it's self flowing. Looks like it was sprayed. Used a lot on car frames.

POR-15 is a great product that's worth every penny for what it does, the only down side to it is most of the POR-15 products require a top-coat of regular paint, because long term exposure to UV will discolor the naked product.

 

[briangcc]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

FYI on POR15: It's NOT UV stable. You will need to topcoat it and it's expensive paint to begin with.

Here's a direct link to their website:

Stop Rust Permanently with POR15 coatings-POR-15 Inc.



I've used the paint before and I'm not impressed. I coated a set of steel running boards on my Pathfinder, topcoated, and then watched as rust reappeared a month or two down the road. Go through the net and you'll probably find equal number of testimonies as failures.


If you want UV Stable, you need to look at their ChassisCoat or Blackcote lines.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

FYI on POR15: It's NOT UV stable. You will need to topcoat it and it's expensive paint to begin with.

Here's a direct link to their website:

Stop Rust Permanently with POR15 coatings-POR-15 Inc.



I've used the paint before and I'm not impressed. I coated a set of steel running boards on my Pathfinder, topcoated, and then watched as rust reappeared a month or two down the road. Go through the net and you'll probably find equal number of testimonies as failures.


If you want UV Stable, you need to look at their ChassisCoat or Blackcote lines.

One of the secrets I've found to making it work (and any other primer/paint for that matter) is chasing the moisture out of the metal before you coat it. Since metal is porous (especially rusty metal), it will hold water, and the trapped moisture will foil your efforts.

I did the rocker panel and door tub on the drivers side of my truck in POR-15, and 6 years later it's still holding strong.

 

[briangcc]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

Glad its working for you...it didn't in my case.

A couple car forums have this question come up from time to time as well on POR15. It's about the same results - works for some, absolutely horrible for others.


I have a qt of Chassis Coat that I plan on doing my subframe with (1980 Firebird) but I plan on media blasting the subframe first to remove all rust, epoxy seal, and then use the POR product as a topcoat. But that may change as I may just have the whole thing powder coated as it seems much more durable (did it on my 1978 Trans Am).


Many choices out there...from the absolute cheapest to the most expensive.

Disclaimer: I recently did some touchup on my Four Winns trailer. All I used was Rustoleum Etching primer and then top coated with Krylon Forest Green (closest match to my trailer). It was cheap and if it lasts a couple years so be it. Cheap enough to redo. IF I had the need to do it again, I'd probably look at the Rustoleum or possibly House of Colors so I could HVLP it.

 

[sutor623]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

I used lowes Oil based Rustolem paint. Sanded the trailer down and brushed on navel jelly. Got 5-6 years out of her before rust started to surface again.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

Actually, a follow up to my post... My "secret" is procedure.

A couple of snips from the POR-15 directions;

"2. Make sure surface to be painted is
bone-dry. Use a hairdryer if necessary."

"7. If you are perspiring and a bead of sweat
drops into the POR-15 can, the paint is ruined
and should be thrown out. It won’t stick
properly."

There's nay-sayers for every product ever made.
Like any typical paint product, this requires strict observation to proper prep procedures if you want a lasting finish.

 

[ledzeppelin135]

Re: What type of paint for my trailer

Hello, I have been spraying the rustoleum with hardener as advised but it seems to come out very rough almost like spraying straight hardener. I am mixing it to the recommended parts, and if I thin it more it tends to spray better, but over time will begin to start spraying snot again. It self levels fairly well and becomes hard as nails but is there a way to enable better spraying of this hardened rustoleum?