Inheriting a steel utility trailer that needs a paint job

[cantdrv55]

It's a 5X8 with 4' steel sides. I plan to use it to carry my kayaks and camping stuff, for dump runs and to haul my kid's junk back to college next month. Nice utility trailer but a little bit of an eye sore. What's the quick and cheap way to get rid of surface rust spots, rust proof then paint? I'm thinking gulf blue and brown scheme - love those colors.

[id10t]

Sand blast it, prime it, and paint it with something that will resist chips.

[fastfredracing]

We gave my old car hauler a quick wire wheel on the grinder treatment, and brushed on black rustoleum. 5 years later, it still looks pretty good. It far outlasted the paint job from when I sprayed it. If the metal is already rusty and somewhat pitted, this will be the best way to go if you dont want to spend a bunch of time on it.

[Laneco]

Sandblast it, throw down an epoxy seal coat, then a bedliner material. Bedliner can be tinted to any color you want. Go ahead and do your gulf scheme! Alot of the DIY kits come with the shutz gun included, alot of them allow you to roll on which is a little bit of a pain, but might be the ticket for getting your paint scheme down just right.

It's a trailer - have fun with it!

angela

[trekkor]

quick and cheap

Flap wheel sanding disc.
Rust inhibiting primer.
Rustoleum.

Keep an eye on it every couple years.


KT

[dad911]

Yep, Wire brush and/or wheel on a grinder. But I would get a cheap HVLP gun from Harbor Freight, and spray rustoleum primer and paint.

[vash]

no way!!!!???

i need to borrow your trailer!!

[cantdrv55]

Thanks for the tips, folks.

Anytime you want to borrow it Vash, just come on by. I'll introduce you to our nanny too.

[vash]

screeching tires................


just kidding..i need to get a motorcycle out of the garage ASAP..thanks bro.

[Jim Bremner]

If your time is valuable to you...Find a powder coater!

[EarlyPorsche]

Just keep it simple. Take a palm sander over the thing and get some rattle cans of gloss black Krylon. Done and done.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by trekkor

Flap wheel sanding disc.
Rust inhibiting primer.
Rustoleum.

Keep an eye on it every couple years.


KT

This!


Flap wheels are tops for removing old paint....

[Tim Hancock]

For a cheapo occsional use utility trailer, I would second the application of cheap oil based paint (like Rustoleum or "tractor" paint) either by brushing or spraying. Just knock off the loose stuff with a wire brush and paint it. It will stay relatively nice looking for quite awhile.

Of course this is not the "best" way to do it, but it is a utility trailer not a show car. I have restored/built many projects over the years that I have blasted, etched, epoxy primed, Imron painted.... That said, I have also painted a "used trailer" with black Rustoleum and after 7 years or so of occasional use and occasional sitting out in the weather, it still looks black and does not show any rust. Hate to see you waste huindreds of hours and dollars to put show car quality paint on an occasional use utility trailer you got for free.

[HelmetHead]

ospho!