Trailer Repaint On the Cheap?

[sklunk]

I'm repainting my 16' utility trailer right now. I also wanted to do it "on the cheap" since it's just a trailer and the paint will get scratched up the more I use it. All the steel on mine was good so I just spent time with a combination of drill/wire wheel/stripping wheel/wire brush/3M ScotchBrite pads/grinder with flapper wheel/etc. After I hit the bad spots and knocked off most of the loose paint and rust I coated the exposed areas with rattle-can primer (not the entire trailer surfaces, just exposed areas).

After that I went to Tractor Supply and bought the Valspar Implement paint in black. It was $35/gallon and 1 gallon should be enough to do my trailer. It is epoxy paint so it takes a little longer to dry but gets hard as a rock when it cures. I already have a compressor and was thinking about getting a sprayer for it but a local tool supply store (similar to Harbor Freight or Northern Tool) had a refurbished Wagner electric sprayer on sale for $20. I figured it was worth a try and if it broke or didn't do a good job I wasn't out much money. So far I have the underside, crossbeams, and inside the fenders done and it came out pretty good. This weekend I will do the "exposed" surfaces (the ones you see) and I'll spend a little more time making them look good. I also have some 3" rollers on hand if I need them to dress up the fenders and faces of the channels.

Counting paint, sprayer, primer, and all the sanding/scuffing tools I used I probably have just under $100 in the whole repaint.

 

[KY Gun Geek]

Trailers can be money pits. I bet you ended up after new tires and the paint job in about the same money to buy a new one.

Chris

Well, it is a Gatormade. Which means if you buy a new one you need to spend a couple a hundred re-wiring it. LOL

So here's the break down:

$2200 Trailer
$700 Brakes & Drums & Bearings
$300 Electrical Components (Wire, Lights, Boxes, etc)
$150 Welding & Repair

$3350 - Spent so far

A new one just like it (except sucky wiring!) is $6500 (maybe you can deal a little)

I figure if i cherried it out (i.e. new deck and a pro paint job), I'd be looking at $1500 (total $4950) so I'd be left with $1550 over a new one. I haven't looked, but I think tires could be done for $500, so I'd be at $5450. I think a primo used trailer would go for about $5500 (if you could find one) so I'm right at that figure.

But, that's not where i'm trying to go. This is for hauling hay and occasionally a 5000# tractor to move the hay (nothing showy about it)

If I can get the paint done for $500, and right now, the tires seem to be very serviceable. Then the thing will be very functional, and I'll have just under $4000 in it.

 

[danceswithdirt]

Ky Gun Geek, I'm with you on the trailer restoration. My old trailer as posted in (which trailer thread) will need extensive restoration that will add up in cost. I can get a new comparable trailer locally by clays trailers for $5100. And still sale my old one. So now I'm considering a new one. Also gave Kaufman a thought. I frequent that area and may look into them. Current trailer is between the fenders and giving a flat deck thought.

 

[Tomtint]

My unexpected trailer restoration started because I could not get my L3700 SU loaded on with out dragging the BH on the ground driving up the ramps. Nag it was impossible to go up backwards because the BH frame hit the trailer. I ended up with a tilt trailer that solves this issue and while I was there I noticed a trailer they just finished restoring that looked great. Sooooo the rest is history.

 

[94BULLITT]

I recently painted a car trailer. I just used a angle grinder with a wire wheel to clean it up. I painted it with rustoleum from lowes. It was $10 a quart.

 

[F250DSLPWR]

I have three trailers that need repainting. My 20' low boy gooseneck, my 12ft utility, and my 16ft utility. All the paint on them is badly deteriorated... Funny timing, I just looked on craigslist last night and found two different people that sand blast and paint in my area. I emailed them last night.
I used to do sandblasting and painting 25 years ago (a lot of horse trailers), but do not have a place where I can blast and paint anymore. 25 years ago I used PPG DP40 two part epoxy primer. It has a metal etching chemical built into the paint. I am not sure if this is still the best epoxy primer? of if there is now a better primer? Anyway, I intend to have the trailers blasted and epoxy primed then painted with a nice single stage automotive acrylic enamel with hardner in it to match my truck.

I am not impressed with Valspar.. so far the spray can Valspar- new kubota orange fades very quickly to a pink color...I am not sure about their implement paint, is it really epoxy? I will have to check next time I am in Tractor Supply.

 

[rsewill]

For a down and dirty paint job, I used to paint my belly dumps with a parts washer with the suction hose stuck in gallon cans of Rustoleum. Looked good from 30 feet and going down the road. I'd pressure wash the dirt off, mask off anything I didn't want painted (the hardest, most time consuming part) and paint away. Lasted for years. Probably took four hours a trailer.

 

[Randyr3554]

I repainted my trailer 4 years ago. After wire brushing it down with a wire brush on my grinder, I primed with Devoe 4360 Structural Steel primer. It's tough stuff. The brushes and roller can't be cleaned with paint thinner, it takes Xylene to do it. And the fumes are strong, use good ventilation or wear a respirator.
Then I top coated with a standard oil based enamel.
This is a universal primer, can be top coated with any paint, and will cover old paints too.
I used it on rust spots on my car, held up well.

 

[triplemoutdoors]

You really need to try one of these (picture for visual reference, diff.types available)spray handles. They're not very expensive, IMO, they take rattle cans to a better level.

I agree...I have several different styles. It allows you to do a better paint job.

 

[jejeosborne]

I have painted three trailers in the past two years. I used a paint from my local rural king made by majic. They sell hardener and reducer to work with it. The hardener adds to the gloss value as well. An automotive painter turned on to the paint and I have been very happy. Sprayed with a HVLP gun from harbor freight which worked great.