I understand the comments about rust prevention and new trailers being easier if one wants to undertake a 'total' coating application (less prep, less existing rust to mitigate before coating, etc). Still, a total application on a new trailer, which if done properly involves at least scuffing all of the existing paint surface to facilitate adhesion, is no small undertaking, and in the case of the Escape with it's tanks etc there's still going to be lots of metal that can't be accessed.
In my experience living in central Texas far from coastal effects, rust has never been a "problem" for my fleet of utility and RV trailers, several over 30 yrs old and my Casita at now over 16 years, and with a wide variety of 'coating quality' as delivered.
I'm not saying they are "rust-free", just saying it's generally confined to spots where the paint film has been chipped and is not even remotely a structural concern. Over the years I'll occasionally address those with spot-treatment (wire-cup to bare metal, scuff adjacent good paint, apply primer and color topcoats). It's quick, easy, and just falls in the category of maintenance for me, no worries.
Even rust on the exposed threaded ends of typical zinc or oxide fasteners is easily addressed with a wire cup on a drill if/when there's need for R&R after decades of exposure, and fastener integrity is very rarely a concern IME.
So,
thanks for the comments / suggestions, all are appreciated, but I'll stick with my practice and see how it goes on the Escape. I realize different folks may have different preferences, and suspect a lot of that has to do with local environmental conditions (some likely more 'rust-promoting' than mine) and personal experience. In other words,
YMMV, no worries!
Perhaps we can let this thread return to it's original topic ....?
pic taken while still on delivery transport flatbed (waiting for late wrecker to unload).
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