DCP

I bought a used steel trailer that has light surface rust. I am planning on refinishing the deck, but I was wondering what to do to the underside. Nothing awful underneath, just widespread light rust. The idea of trying to remove all the surface rust underneath isn't too appealing. Definitely not interested in spending big bucks on POR or similar. The trailer now lives inside so future rust isn't as much of a problem.

On the underside I was thinking of mechanically removing the worst of the rust and then using something like Rustoleum rusty metal primer on it without a finish cost. Sound reasonable? Suggestions welcome.

pontifex4

What's your aversion to POR? Granted, it doesn't have much UV resistance, but you can brush it on quickly and easily. We use a cheaper alternative up here called (creatively) DOR-16 that offers a little more UV resistance.

Matt Romanowski

Not cheap, but I've used this on a few trailers and it's worked very well http://semproducts.com/product-catal...n/rust-shield/

jpk

This past spring I addressed this problem with my trailer. I just used a wire cup brush on the grinder to get the flaking rust and loose paint off, then spray canned with rustoleum flat black. I did the underside of the entire trailer over the course of a weekend without working too hard; I probably could have easily gotten it done in 4-5 hours if didn't get distracted. Total cost was like $30 for 6 cans of paint.
If it's good for 5 years and I have to do it again, I'm OK with that.

DCP

Price. This trailer was stored outside for 7 years and rusted some, but now it will be inside. Doesn't seem worth it to me.

Gary R.

This may work for you -

mrbill_fl

anyone use Ospho? seems cheaper than POR?
we use that on trailers. seems to work... (in salt water applications).

remove tires/rubber, metal brush/wire wheel, ospho in a spray bottle... let dry and paint with rustoleum or similar...

just be careful, its an acid...

MUSSBERGER

http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-rust-converter.html

Wire brush the flaky parts, hit it with this stuff and rattle can it.

Dave 86 930 Fl

+1 wrt Ospho, remove most of rust, spray Ospho with garden sprayer, let dry and paint.

Silver Rose

I used a wire brush as posted earlier to remove surface rust and then ROLLED on a gallon of Rustolium paint. It has a very slight texture that covered the imperfections that spray painting would show. It left a thicker more durable paint and every one thought I bought a new trailer!! Took about 2 hours to do and no over spray!!

Chaos

Nice!

Gary R.

I would use a rust encapsulator and the undercoat type materiel for the underside and an encapsulator followed by a good heavy enamel (like Rustoleum) on the topside, and agree that rolling it on will work fine.

paradisenb

Amateurs!

http://www.ppgpro.com/PDFs/building-...n-Brochure.pdf