Rust on our pretty Escape!

[Red Dog]

As I was cleaning our trailer, I spotted some places where the paint had chipped and is now rusted. We can't have rust! We just picked it up in January!

My questions:
What type of spray paint should I buy? Rustoleum Glossy Black paint?
Should I prep first?




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[gbaglo]

No spray paint, or soon you'll have the whole trailer painted black.
I have a small can ( half pint ) container of Tremclad semi-gloss and some disposable brushes. A little dab will do you.

[Ron in BC]

I share your pain, but it doesn't stay shiny new forever. Sad to say but the paint on the frame isn't the best and your rust spots are typical. At a minimum I wire brush the area first. I also wipe it with a solvent.

Spray can is fine but it's a thinner coat than if you brush it on. Gloss is good. I think I used a Satin once and it was OK also. Black on black is pretty forgiving and any black is better than rust.

Ron

[padlin]

Looks like the brackets from an Equalizer which I had on my last trailer. If so the brackets move a little when under pressure from the bars causing the paint to keep chipping off, from the bolts if I remember correctly. I used Rustoleum but would be tempted to try something like POR-15, maybe just the topcoat, hoping it would dry harder then Rustoleum. This was something I had to do periodically.

[gbaglo]

I first tried a matte black and it stood out like a sore thumb. Semi-gloss matched the best.
I looked up POR 15 and decided the prep work was a bigger problem for me than the rust.

[Donna D.]

You need to kill the rust. Painting anything over the top, just covers it up. You can use something like Naval Jelly or perhaps Evapo-Rust Remover from Harbor Freight. There's others too.

Glenn mentioned POR-15. Yes, it's time consuming, yes, it's messy, yes, it's expensive. I use it, I like it, it's a one-and-done. Not a one-and-done-over-and-over.

[Red Dog]

OK... so some solvent...semi-gloss to gloss...small can, rather than spray paint, and a disposable brush.

Got it!

Thanks everyone!


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[gbaglo]

I get a set of 30 disposable brushes from Lee Valley Tools. Handy to have around.
Disposable Natural-Bristle Brushes - Lee Valley Tools

[freespirit]

Originally Posted by Red Dog

As I was cleaning our trailer, I spotted some places where the paint had chipped and is now rusted. We can't have rust! We just picked it up in January!

bummer..only three months!
wonder if others who uses a WDH have this issue.
with regard to your pic, does the threaded part of the bolt actually make contact with the frame? if so painting will not fix it for very long...perhaps something between the threaded portion of the bolt and the frame?..

[Red Dog]

Originally Posted by freespirit

bummer..only three months!
wonder if others who uses a WDH have this issue.
with regard to your pic, does the threaded part of the bolt actually make contact with the frame? if so painting will not fix it for very long...perhaps something between the threaded portion of the bolt and the frame?..

Freespirit,

I was thinking the the scrapes were done during the install maybe, but in the photo, the bolt is indeed making contact with the frame.

Just to be clear, the E2 WDH works like a champ. This is just cosmetic and I have too much time on my hands.


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[C&G in FL]

I've had good luck wire brushing rust, then spraying one or two coats of Harbor Freight's rust converter, followed by a few coats of whatever color you are spraying. If it's near gel coat or trim, mask off other areas with news papers and masking tape.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by freespirit

wonder if others who uses a WDH have this issue.
.

Sorry to say it's nothing to do only with the WDH. There will be many areas that have this problem. The frame appears to have a very thin coat of paint without any primer. The front of the rear bumper will be an area that requires painting, especially if you travel on any gravel roads.

Ron

[Viajante]

Light sanding to smooth. Then permtex rust treatment (the liquid in a can is better than aerosol). Then flat back paint.

Welded brackets, zip ties, fasteners are rust spots.

[Jim Bennett]

Looking underneath my trailer the other day. Just one trip home from Chilliwack under its belt. The frame looks good everywhere right now, but the axle has a few rust spots forming.

[padlin]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Sorry to say it's nothing to do only with the WDH. There will be many areas that have this problem. The frame appears to have a very thin coat of paint without any primer. The front of the rear bumper will be an area that requires painting, especially if you travel on any gravel roads.

Ron

I had to do the bumper and the front facing surface of the step too. Actually I did the whole frame, hope Donna is right, one and done.

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Sorry to say it's nothing to do only with the WDH. There will be many areas that have this problem. The frame appears to have a very thin coat of paint without any primer. The front of the rear bumper will be an area that requires painting, especially if you travel on any gravel roads.

Ron

Was waiting to see if anyone out there was going to tell Fred the truth. You will see rust sooner or later in other places as well unless it stays in a garage. Coupler, the front box latches, alloy rims, chrome lug nuts and on 2016 back the door hinges. Kinda like weeds in spring- no stopping it.

[fudge_brownie]

Fred,
Save that partial can of paint.

[cpaharley2008]

Do not forget about the propane tank shelf, I put plastic trim on my tanks to keep it from rusting.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Was waiting to see if anyone out there was going to tell Fred the truth. You will see rust sooner or later in other places as well unless it stays in a garage. Coupler, the front box latches, alloy rims, chrome lug nuts and on 2016 back the door hinges. Kinda like weeds in spring- no stopping it.

All our cabinet door hinges are rusting . Paint the box hinges all the time , step , gas tank holders . So far good luck with the alloy rims , no rust . Frame not too bad either . Pat

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

So far good luck with the alloy rims , no rust .

Your alloy rims should never rust. PIT... yes and they will unless waxed and taken care of. Alloy doesn't mean maintenance free. It just means less maintenance over steel. Besides... they're pretty