DIY Painting

[Bucky1320]

I have a 1990 Gulfstream gasser. The top doesn't look bad, but the storage door area has paint coming off and the rest is dull. I have considered different ways to paint, but I wonder what is the smart thing to do with the piano hinges. They are painted from the factory. Paint over them and hope for the best?
Anyone had any good luck with DIY painting of such a project? I'm just looking to spruce it up a bit. Obviously the motorhome isn't worth a great deal, but it is what we use to go to the race track, so we would like it to face up just a little better.

[Gjac]

I am in the same boat with a 16 year old M/H. I did the Zeps floor polish on the top part and it looks like new. The lower doors are scratched and front are pitted from a trip to Alaska and the back bumper hit a rock. After I did a fiber glass repair on the back bumper I tried the brush and tip method that they use on boats but did not like the out come. I was thinking about just spray painting the lower section with the hi gloss Rustoleam or the tractor paint that they sell at Tractor Supply. I was following this thread with interest hoping someone actually did this and could report on their success.

[Goostoff]

I didnt watch the video above but if it wasnt mentioned try some adhesion promoter on the hinges. This way youi dont have to mess around sanding them. If they are not painted it would be pretty simple to just mask them off.

[Bucky1320]

Almot wrote:
Are piano hinges aluminum? If so, then any paint is just an esthetic thing. You can leave it as is, at that age it doesn't matter. If you do paint it, rustoleum would be a good choice.

Not sure. They are painted now. I'm just not sure how to properly tape them off, as the entire area is busy with trim etc....and it would look odd right in the middle of new painted stuff. But if the paint is going to get in the hinges and squeak and carry on thereafter, that may not be good either.

[Almot]

Are piano hinges aluminum? If so, then any paint is just an esthetic thing. You can leave it as is, at that age it doesn't matter. If you do paint it, rustoleum would be a good choice.

[deleted-2]

Rustoleum roll on method

I rolled stripes on our old fifth wheel, repainted all the access hatches and the entry door using the method in the above video.

I was real happy with the results.

[Chris_Bryant]

I recently came across this website- https://www.dipyourcar.com/- spraying with Plastidip. Looks interesting- you can peel it off if you want. I don't think it would work on the hinges though...

I've also seen rigs- especially "below the belt", done with urethane bedliner, like http://monstaliner.com/. This guy did his van with it, looks good, and it's tough.

[Kemahsabe]

Here's a previous thread on the topic.