Painting a camper trailer

Hi

I've just used Wattle Epoxy Gloss Enamel "Killrust" on the A frame that had been sand blasted during our journey across the Great Central Road.

I haven't been away again since so I can't yell you how efffective it is but if your A frame isn't galv it may be a product to have a look at.

R

Geo

Hi, We have been towing a trailer with bikes etc for years on dirt roads., I always have used paving paint applied with a brush , have found it to have excellent resistance to stone damage , it seems to have a rubbery touch,
Also you can touch up any damage with a quick coat, most are quick dry finish.
Cheers Des.

Hello Geoff.

It sounds like you may need to take it to a crash repairer. The issue is not that its aluminum, but that it is already painted.
The best result would be to have it finished in 2 pack polyurethane, (like a car).
If it were mine, i'd take it to a crash repairer for the best result. If money is an issue, i'd take it to a crash repairer for advice.

Good luck Geoff!

Geoff,

I don't know what paint you have on the trailer so here goes.

First you have to get rid of any polish on the surface. That is done by wiping it over with shellite or prepsol.

Second you have to key the surface by sanding. All you have to do is make sure you dull all the surface with a wet and dry sand paper 240 grit.

Then clean again with the above solvents.

Now this is the tricky bit. You have to talk with the paint people to work out what paint you should use. You may need a barrier undercoat between the existing paint and the new paint to make sure everything will mate up. This is where the paint supplier will help.

Geoff
We love our camper, it's 11 years old and has done heaps of outback and local work, and is starting to look a little tattered.
It is cosmetic only !.
And it will be a major job to give it a full repaint. (SCAREY !)

I did the frame on our camper, 2 years back, and all looked good till we went on a short trip up to Innaminka, Thargominda, and back to Gippsland, via various dirt roads.

Once home I cleaned everything up, and was amazed that I had just wasted my time.
Not too sure what to do next, so before Cape York trip, I did not do a thing, and peppered it a bit more.

Still not sure exactly what I have to so to get it looking good.

The one thing I do is, make sure that everything mechanical, is in tip top condition. Every year I replace, renew, or resurect something, as I do not want any failures in remote places.

Still pondering the idea !
Still not sure what paint will wuthstand the rigors we put it thru.

Cheers
Bucky