Posted 2015-02-01 7:43 AM (#162427) Subject: Paint Issues On Aluminum Trailers
Member
Posts: 31
I have a 2000 4 STAR, all aluminum, no white paint and need a larger trailer. I have been looking at the newer 4 STAR trailers with all the white paint on them. I can take my current trailer to the truck wash and presto I have a brand new trailer. I understand this white paint is a huge maintenance problem in that you must keep it polished and over time will fade. Makes sense because paint is paint and will deteriorate with age. I am not into polishing paint on an aluminum trailer. I have noticed a lot of these painted aluminum trailers don't look good anymore. Anybody had problems with this paint?
Posted 2015-02-01 11:58 AM (#162428 - in reply to #162427) Subject: RE: Paint Issues On Aluminum Trailers
Veteran
Posts: 175 Location: Florida
Have 10 yo C&C aluminum trailer with about 1/3 white painted sides. It goes thru the Blue Beacon truck wash using their aluminum citrus wash and the painted and aluminum surfaces come out looking new. No problem.
Posted 2015-02-01 10:59 PM (#162438 - in reply to #162427) Subject: RE: Paint Issues On Aluminum Trailers
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
As was stated, a citrus wash can be used on a painted surface. Acid washing is suitable for bare metal, but will cause paint to erode and dull more quickly over time.
Posted 2015-02-03 6:45 AM (#162450 - in reply to #162427) Subject: RE: Paint Issues On Aluminum Trailers
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Call Jackson trailers in Chickasha, OK they paint the aluminum trailers for Elite. Honest answers can be had by calling them. http://jacksontrailers.com/
Posted 2015-02-12 6:56 PM (#162551 - in reply to #162427) Subject: RE: Paint Issues On Aluminum Trailers
Expert
Posts: 2614
I waxed our 3h Exiss just this past fall,white skin, we had some pretty heavy black streaking from where our RV shop had washed the top prior to coating the roof with elastomeric roof sealer and I had to use turtle wax polishing compound then a good carnauba wax ( Mothers California Gold was my choice) over. It was quiet a Herculean job for me,being 61 doesn't exactly lend itself to getting up and down off of a step ladder countless times and moving it. Nevertheless it gleamed when I was finished like brand new. I followed with a commercial type wash and wax and I think that might be all I will need from here on since it is kept inside,provided I wash it more often to stay in top of the runoff from the drip rail. Coating the roof may help with that too.
Posted 2016-09-05 8:16 AM (#168306 - in reply to #162428) Subject: RE: Paint Issues On Aluminum Trailers
We have a red all aluminum trailer and have asked the question on what is the best way to clean our trailer. It makes sense that the acid wash hurts the finish I just wish I knew how to clean ours.
Posted 2016-09-05 10:49 AM (#168307 - in reply to #162427) Subject: RE: Paint Issues On Aluminum Trailers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448 Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
You can try a polish/cleaner (not rubbing compound) found at your local hardware store. Lightly rub with cloth and see results. If paint is not too thin, you can use a random orbital buffer to do the rest of the trailer. Remember to start lightly and see the results......should look like a new trailer when done. Follow up with automotive wax.
Posted 2016-09-07 6:44 AM (#168322 - in reply to #162427) Subject: RE: Paint Issues On Aluminum Trailers
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If the paint is too thin to buff out, the only way to have a new look is to respray the trailer . The original paint can be quickly removed with chemical strippers. Don't use a media blaster as excess heat can warp the aluminum panels. The stripper will leave a shiney metal, but one that will have metal shading. Polishing the bare metal will not fully remove the different metal colourations. This process is very labour intensive.
?An easier course is to sand the paint edges and loose areas, clean all the surfaces and complete an overspray. This can be effected in as little as a half a day and will look new for many years. It's much easier to repaint an aluminum trailer than one constructed of steel.
RV washes and most citrus cleaners will clean a painted trailer and not harm the finish. We use a RV product available from Wall Mart on both our painted and bare aluminum trailers to good affect.
Paint Issues On Aluminum Trailers
