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How to paint an Aluminum Travel Trailer

Apadgett
Explorer
Explorer
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 for the best results without spending a ton of money, and can't find a straight answer any where. I don't need the unit to look brand new, but still want to be proud of what we have. Someone please point me in the right direction.
21 REPLIES 21

westend
Explorer
Explorer
seaeagle2 wrote:
Just to throw out something isn't the original finish actually an anodized finish?
There may have been just a small number of TT's with anodized sheets (ISTR seeing a real vintage trailer with a blue anodized finish).`It's not too practical for a trailer since any scratch or ding on the finish is going to be through the anodized layer. there really isn't any good , cheap repair process for anodized finish.
Judging from the few older rigs I've owned, they used an oil or urethane finish paint with an accompanying primer. I figured a good latex finish was going to last for awhile and is easy to touch up. A previous owner of the C/Hilton had painted over the existing accent panels and trim with a real nasty color and layout. If I had to, I would have thrown paint on the walls to cover it up, lol.

Good luck to the OP with the paint! FWIW, it took me more time to mask off then spray but the majority was done in a pretty easy day. The step-to-step is buried in the Hilton link in my signature line.
'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton

seaeagle2
Explorer
Explorer
Just to throw out something isn't the original finish actually an anodized finish?
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RVcircus
Explorer II
Explorer II
I'd go with a paint designed for aluminum siding. I don't think they come from the factory with automotive paint on the sided trailers and I wouldn't bother going through the extra trouble and expense.
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PAThwacker
Explorer
Explorer
Look on
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Apadgett
Explorer
Explorer
That's great. I am a contractor as well and I also own a Graco Airless. Looks exactly like what I am going for. Thank you so much.

westend
Explorer
Explorer
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.



'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton

Gjac
Explorer III
Explorer III
For a 1985 rv I would use a rusteum type paint. That would be the cheapest way to go. Tractor supply also sells a paint made for tractors that sit in the sun forever. Both are about $30/gal. Automotive paint will be much more expensive.

steve-n-vicki
Explorer
Explorer
how about a wrap job?

Apadgett
Explorer
Explorer
It's faded and the caulking job the guy did before me is horrible. I thought about the aluminum house siding paint, but not sure it will give me the look I'm hoping for. And no I do not have the equipment for automotive painting. I'll put some pics up as soon as I figure out how.

goducks10
Explorer
Explorer
Give these guys a call. I have watched about 5-6 shows they have on tv. They mostly do shinny aluminum, but I watched them paint an aluminum trailer similar in style to yours.
http://www.flytecamp.com/

Campfire_Time
Explorer
Explorer
WyoTraveler wrote:


Paint on aluminum won't last without it.


You're assuming bare aluminum. Most likely he just has a faded surface that's already painted. Cleaned up, and using any standard automotive primer will work fine.
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ken56
Explorer
Explorer
Oh, If you do use Zinc Chromate it should be applied light enough to read thru it. You don't put on a very heavy coat at all. If it looks like there's too little on it .... your done. you will want to apply another coat but don't.

ken56
Explorer
Explorer
Zinc Chromate is used on raw aluminum that is not previously painted so I think you would have to strip the old paint off and reprimer then paint. Total redo on the paint job. I could see doing that if this is a restoration of a vintage trailer, but how much work you want to do on it is up to you.

dadmomh
Explorer
Explorer
Before making a move, suggest you talk to a couple of good auto body shops for their recommendation. There is paint made for houses with aluminum siding, which may work just fine. But at this point, with all the work you've put in, you sure don't want to have it look like you bought a couple of cans of spray paint. Depending on the size and the $ involved, you may find that you can have it professionally done. Pictures??
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