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Old 05-02-2020, 07:54 PM   #1
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Frame reconditioning

After many years of use our frames start to show signs of age from gravel dings, road salt and just general wear and tear. You find more wear on the forward facing surfaces inline with tow vehicle wheels especially the front of the step. Decided to take on a full reconditioning. Prepped the frame by wire brushing. Found superficial rust only. The frame overall is in great shape. Was glad to see “USA” stamped on the steel in a few places. Used an industrial product called Corroseal rust converter/primer. This is a great product and is water based. Goes on milky white but dries black where the rust is converted and dries clear everywhere else.
Corroseal Rust Converter | Metal Primer | Rust Paint

Those looking close will likely see some differences from their trailers. This has the 3” frame with the Escape front reinforcement package (aka recall). We also have true scissors jacks which were put on some early trailers.

This is best top coated within 30 days. Does anyone have any recommendations for a top coat paint beyond a basic Rustoleum?

Before pics attached....after pics to follow in 2nd and 3rd posts

By the way...the high lift (~2-5/8” add) would have been great to have during this work!
Attached Thumbnails
CC77BFCB-0ECC-45AE-B75A-B9CE30A564F3.jpg   AB24A06D-204F-45FC-BDE2-734383696F3C.jpg   0239BB1A-1083-4E82-AC05-8685A634BCD5.jpg   16F4EB63-B68E-48C1-ABD7-7022D27A17B3.jpg  
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Old 05-02-2020, 07:56 PM   #2
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After pics....
Attached Thumbnails
104275A7-318D-40F2-ABF3-A78AF4C1A1C3.jpg   A78203EC-B295-482D-B23B-584F3E5F8B9D.jpg   1C32EB2A-64B4-494F-8E2B-D91FB102BF9C.jpg   F2A567CC-4B46-448D-A649-0B578C1FA807.jpg   C9F220D1-7D32-40A5-A895-F2E5E7EB7527.jpg  

47E8EF96-C81D-4C72-A049-EF6B7D2D2E9F.jpg   A34E3CFE-FCF7-45CB-861D-D93D216E3E32.jpg   7F1C2070-4B47-4A09-8B94-DF75F9C871C1.jpg  
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Old 05-02-2020, 07:58 PM   #3
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A couple more pics...
Attached Thumbnails
C89F49C7-E73A-4404-8E4D-40A5996766BE.jpg   D08F6CE0-DFFC-47D3-ABDD-F7A1E0018940.jpg  
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Old 05-02-2020, 08:33 PM   #4
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Whole Lotta Rust

Have done some rust remediation yet not to that degree- thankfully. Gotta do what it takes though. POR-15 out of the can is great for places you don't need a uniform coating. They also have a spray called Topcoat for where you need that even look- like on the rear bumper and front A-frame area and step.
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Old 05-02-2020, 08:58 PM   #5
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I never had any success using hard paint on coatings over frame rust on our previous Scamp. I do most of my camping in winter where road salt does a nasty job on trailer frames. Since getting the Escape I am now using Woolwax Undercoating with great results. This is a lanolin coating that stays tacky. It comes in black to match the original paint. It can be brushed on over rust and light dirt preventing penetration of water. In locations prone to abrasion I recoat each fall. Other areas hold up well. Washes off hands with dish soap. I purchased a gallon can on amazon. Only used about a quart for the entire frame. Stores well for annual touch up.

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Old 05-02-2020, 11:29 PM   #6
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After pics....
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Old 05-03-2020, 12:46 AM   #7
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Looks good, not a fancy upgrade but necessary.
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Old 05-03-2020, 06:31 AM   #8
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So Dave, what product did you use, Rustoleum?
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Old 05-03-2020, 06:55 AM   #9
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So Dave, what product did you use, Rustoleum?
Hi Jim..see post #1. Used a product called Corroseal. Still deciding on a top coat.
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Old 05-03-2020, 07:05 AM   #10
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Hi Jim..see post #1. Used a product called Corroseal. Still deciding on a top coat.
Missed that, still drinking my first cup of coffee. Thanks and it looks nice....
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Old 05-03-2020, 07:06 AM   #11
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Have done some rust remediation yet not to that degree- thankfully. Gotta do what it takes though.
I think being on the east coast and subjected to road salt is a huge difference. The only area that was really bad was where all the welding was done post production to address the recall which makes sense. Hard to match the integrity of a factory powdercoat. The rest of the frame was in a condition I’d consider reasonable for a 10 year old trailer stored outside and used year round on the east coast.
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Old 05-03-2020, 09:59 PM   #12
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I personally like Ospho for turning rust into iron phosphate but the Corroseal seems to have a lot of followers. Corroseal sure appears to be a lot safer to use. You really don’t want to apply Ospho with any sort of sprayer and be downwind don’t ask me how I know. I always recommend using a needle scaler on heavy rust first.. I think I would topcoat Corroseal or Ospho with derusto paint on areas like the trailer tongue and brake drums, but that woolwax looks appealing for the frame. I don’t like hard undercoating products either.
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Old 07-05-2020, 06:53 PM   #13
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Frame maintenance

Can anyone who has a new Escape tell whether the frame is a glossy black or flat black when it is fresh from the factory? Ours is 2013 and is in need of some attention. We have some minor rust issues and fading. Thanks!
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Old 07-05-2020, 06:58 PM   #14
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Can anyone who has a new Escape tell whether the frame is a glossy black or flat black when it is fresh from the factory? Ours is 2013 and is in need of some attention. We have some minor rust issues and fading. Thanks!
It's more of a satin instead of glossy or flat. At least on mine. But you did ask about new. Mine is a 2014.
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Old 07-05-2020, 07:24 PM   #15
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Can anyone who has a new Escape tell whether the frame is a glossy black or flat black when it is fresh from the factory? Ours is 2013 and is in need of some attention. We have some minor rust issues and fading. Thanks!
My trailer is a 2018 and has semi gloss black paint on the trailer frame.
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Old 07-05-2020, 09:57 PM   #16
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Tremclad or Rustoleum semi-gloss matches well.
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Old 07-13-2020, 03:52 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by rubicon327 View Post
After many years of use our frames start to show signs of age from gravel dings, road salt and just general wear and tear. You find more wear on the forward facing surfaces inline with tow vehicle wheels especially the front of the step. Decided to take on a full reconditioning. Prepped the frame by wire brushing. Found superficial rust only. The frame overall is in great shape. Was glad to see “USA” stamped on the steel in a few places. Used an industrial product called Corroseal rust converter/primer. This is a great product and is water based. Goes on milky white but dries black where the rust is converted and dries clear everywhere else.
Corroseal Rust Converter | Metal Primer | Rust Paint

Those looking close will likely see some differences from their trailers. This has the 3” frame with the Escape front reinforcement package (aka recall). We also have true scissors jacks which were put on some early trailers.

This is best top coated within 30 days. Does anyone have any recommendations for a top coat paint beyond a basic Rustoleum?

Before pics attached....after pics to follow in 2nd and 3rd posts

By the way...the high lift (~2-5/8” add) would have been great to have during this work!
Hello,

I apologize if this has been covered, but I could not find a thread discussing this.

You mentioned your's has a 3" frame, and has what looks to be 1" square tube welded on the bottom. I have recently purchased a 2010, which has the frame gusset reinforcements, but does not have the 1" square welded below the rails.

Was this a common procedure to have done? I would assume the new trailers are 4" boxed rails now?
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Old 07-13-2020, 06:37 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by ericbirk View Post
Hello,

I apologize if this has been covered, but I could not find a thread discussing this.

You mentioned your's has a 3" frame, and has what looks to be 1" square tube welded on the bottom. I have recently purchased a 2010, which has the frame gusset reinforcements, but does not have the 1" square welded below the rails.

Was this a common procedure to have done? I would assume the new trailers are 4" boxed rails now?
There were two recalls on the 3" frames for the 19' trailer. The first were the gusset reinforcements at the junction of the A-frame for the hitch to the main frame to the trailer. The second was the additional tubing you see in Dave's pictures. I used to have a 2013 19' and had both recalls done at the factory. ETI will send the parts and instructions to a certified welding shop to have the mods done. Contact ETI with the serial number of your rig to get the process started.

Note: you don't mention the model of trailer you bought. I'm not certain the second recall applied to early 21' models. ETI can tell with the S/N what recalls were for your particular rig. It is a good idea to register as a new owner with ETI regardless so they can contact you if needed.
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Old 07-13-2020, 07:28 PM   #19
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There were two recalls on the 3" frames for the 19' trailer. The first were the gusset reinforcements at the junction of the A-frame for the hitch to the main frame to the trailer. The second was the additional tubing you see in Dave's pictures. I used to have a 2013 19' and had both recalls done at the factory. ETI will send the parts and instructions to a certified welding shop to have the mods done. Contact ETI with the serial number of your rig to get the process started.

Note: you don't mention the model of trailer you bought. I'm not certain the second recall applied to early 21' models. ETI can tell with the S/N what recalls were for your particular rig. It is a good idea to register as a new owner with ETI regardless so they can contact you if needed.
Thanks Arnie,

Guess I am off the hook for the additional tubing with a 17b. Mine does have the gusset work done.
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Old 07-13-2020, 11:04 PM   #20
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Note: you don't mention the model of trailer you bought. I'm not certain the second recall applied to early 21' models. ETI can tell with the S/N what recalls were for your particular rig.
Just for clarification the 21 was never involved with any frame recall regardless of year. The first recall involved 2009-mid 2014+/- 15’s, 17’s and 19’s with 3” frames. The second recall only involved 19’s within the same year stretch.
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