Trailer Paint?

[Chad33]

Quick question for the masses. I purchased a new-to-me trailer that should be arriving tomorrow. This model is a galvanized steel like my previous model. However, it is coming from Arizona, so hopefully none of the rust issues. The seller stated he had the trailer sandblasted and repainted this past fall for the sale. Why he painted it a bright yellow instead of a neutral color is beyond me. So I am curious on a type of paint that is preferable for a boat trailer. Thanks!

 

[Henry Boyd]

That is not exactly what should have been done. Galvanizing is a process that deposits zinc on steel. The idea is for the galvanizing (zinc) to oxidize before the steel. It's the same process and theory behind using zincs to protect a boat's underwater metal.

This also means that the zinc will be converted to zinc oxide after some period of time. Once all the zinc is gone, the steel begins to rust. This can be surface area, or it may be a scratch in the galvanizing.

Painting can be done over zinc, but it requires a chemical pre treatment ("pickling") so the paint will stick. Did that happen? Next by blasting the surface metal (zinc) was potentially removed. I say potentially because we don't know how harsh a blast was used. Either way a pickling would have provided the adhesion. Unless the zinc was gone and he was removing rust.

Now to answer your question. There is no paint that will work because boat trailers are made with hollow sections meaning the interior gets no paint. That's why trailer parts are galvanized because either hot dipped, or electro plated, the part is immersed and the interior sections are coated.

Before sinking any more money into this I'd wait out the season and see what develops. If the paint does not fall off, or rust start to show through then you can think about painting. Otherwise you may need a plan B.

Henry

 

[Lazy Daze]

I'm kinda wondering if the trailer actually was not galvanized to start with. Maybe there was a mis-communication regarding this? Also, a good galvanized trailer should last decades in a fresh water environment like Illinois - heck, even in a salt water environment.

I agree with Henry - see how the current paint holds up. If you just want to quickly get rid of the yellow color (remember, to each his own - maybe it was under a yellow boat)... scuff it up and hit with a rattle can. A good paint job will need a good sanding job anyway, and a coat of cheap rattle can paint won't really add much labor.

 

[Chad33]

Would the age of manufacture help decide if its galvanized or not?
And I had a few guys at the firehouse recommend plastidip. This way I can change the color to blue as well as sealing the trailer from the elements.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Chad,

If the trailer is built with hollow sections, square/rectangular tube, the only way for a coating to work is by submerging the piece in the coating. But, that only works when the metal is new. Unless the trailer was galvanized to begin with, then any paint on the outside is purely cosmetic. And as Dennis points out spray bombs may be the cheapest way to go.

Henry

 

[Chad33]

That's what I will do. Thank you everyone.