Trailer painting

chopprjok · June 3rd, 2009

Hey Guys,

I need some advice, I am doing some maintenance on my old car hauler. A little background here the trailer is 15 yrs old, and has a wrinkle on the left fender where someone didn't look before backing up. I recently replaced the bed in the trailer, and now I am wanting to paint the trailer. Now as with most of you, the trailer has double duty, it carries the 22 Dodge around to local shows, but also spends an equal amount of time carrying the little John Deere around when I need to till or bushhog for my folks.

I started doing some research on paint, because I don't want to spend a $1,000 on a paint job for the trailer. I am considering painting it with POR 15 or a product similar to it. Do you guys have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Chop

msmazcol · June 6th, 2009

Por 15 is a great choice for protection from rust. It is a very tough finish. You must keep it in mind though it has NO UV protection in it. This only means that it will eventually turn grey or not nice and black like new. It has been said a cure for this is a light dusting of another product on top of it a few hours after you apply the POR. This from our POR rep. Do not use the POR without gloves. It will not come off without removing skin. It is a great product in my opinion.

Michael 12 · June 6th, 2009

I have gathered that POR 15 is a very good paint and can really protect from rust and premature car exterior deterioration.

Restorer32 · June 6th, 2009

Call your local automotive paint supply house and ask for Chassis Saver. As far as we can determine it is the same as POR 15 at much less cost. By the way, does anyone know where the POR 15 factory is?

keiser31 · June 6th, 2009

I always go with "Blitz Black" from our local John Deere dealer. It stands up to the weather as tractors sit outside in the sun a lot.

keiser31 · June 6th, 2009

Originally Posted By: Restorer32

Call your local automotive paint supply house and ask for Chassis Saver. As far as we can determine it is the same as POR 15 at much less cost. By the way, does anyone know where the POR 15 factory is?

It says "Morristown, New Jersey" on their website.

JZRIV · June 7th, 2009

Are you planning on brushing or spraying? Depending how picky you are with the finished result you could brush it on and it would look a whole lot better than it does now.
I am contemplating painting my trailer as well. To do it right would mean sanding or having it blasted, then epoxy primer then a quality automotive paint and as you said, suddenly the cost goes up as much as half what the trailer is worth depending how much you can do yourself.

Either way if you brush or spray a good option is to use an Implement paint typically sold at tractor supply stores. These paints are very durable and can be sprayed or brushed with nice results.Just prime any bare metal first. I know you aren't supposed to but I have used implement paint right over rust and it has held up surprisingly well.

Jim Bollman · June 7th, 2009

When I re did my open car trailer (maybe 8 years ago) I scraped the loose paint off and brushed/rolled on RustOleum on the steel parts and used pressure treated 5/4 for the decking. It sits out in the Summer but is under cover in the Winter, the paint has faded some but has held up well.

Was interesting that it cost me more to redo the trailer that the material costs when my Dad built it in 1972.

chopprjok · June 9th, 2009

Hey Guys

Thanks for the suggestions, I am sorry it took so long to reply, I have been out of town.

The chassis saver or implement paint might be the best option for me if I can get it in a spray can. I would like something that looks decent, so I would prefer to spray it over brushing on the stuff, I have never painted anything with a brush that turned out looking good. Not knocking the style of application, just my abilities to do it well.

I know that some of those will allow you to paint over rust and not have to do a lot of prep work on the metal, which appeals to me.

If anyone has any other comments please send them on.

msmazcol · June 9th, 2009

POR 15 will dry the same whether you brush it or spray it. Sometimes I think you actually get better coverage with the brush. Use a brush that is not loosing bristle and you should be happy.