How to paint an Aluminum Travel Trailer
Just bought a 20' 1985 Yellowstone travel trailer. We just finished redoing the entire inside from floor to ceiling. But this spring we want to tackle the exterior.I have searched and searched online ...
Forum Discussion
I was in the same situation and painted my aluminum sided Starcraft. I do residential and light commercial painting so have a Graco airless sprayer. You can rent a sprayer at any of the paint distributors (SW, Benny Moore, etc.). You don't need a compressor and HVLP spray gear unless you decide to do an automotive type finish. IMO, those aren't necessary and would be a waste of your time and $$$.
Here was the drill: Clean aluminum siding with a strong cleaner (IIRC, I used a siding cleaner). Scuff surface with 3M plastic pads using Jasco Phosphate substitute prepaint cleaner (important to use an anti=oxidant cleaner). Clean surface with the Jasco and rinse. Tape and mask everything you don't want painted. I sprayed a complete primer coat on the siding since I had a few bare spots and I wanted good adhesion. If the siding still has paint, you don't need an etching primer. I used Sherwin Williams Industrial DTM primer. Finish coat was then sprayed using a latex enamel. The accent stripes were painted with rattles cans (Rustoleum, some type of metallic bronze). The paint still looks good going into year three.
Here was the drill: Clean aluminum siding with a strong cleaner (IIRC, I used a siding cleaner). Scuff surface with 3M plastic pads using Jasco Phosphate substitute prepaint cleaner (important to use an anti=oxidant cleaner). Clean surface with the Jasco and rinse. Tape and mask everything you don't want painted. I sprayed a complete primer coat on the siding since I had a few bare spots and I wanted good adhesion. If the siding still has paint, you don't need an etching primer. I used Sherwin Williams Industrial DTM primer. Finish coat was then sprayed using a latex enamel. The accent stripes were painted with rattles cans (Rustoleum, some type of metallic bronze). The paint still looks good going into year three.
