Exterior Paint Job on a Budget TD

[Newman39Fan]

So I did my taxes today and Uncle Sam was not as nice to me as I was hoping for! I am readjusting my plans and budget for my TD build. First of all let me explain my TD usage. I am not building for a heavy usage camper. Mine will be used 1 to 3 times per year at NASCAR races. The rest of the time it will sit safely in the garage. And before you ask why such little usage, I have a 30’ 5th wheel on a permanent site on a lake that we use every weekend from April until November. I just don’t have the money to buy a truck big enough to pull it. So the solution is to build a TD for the couple of NASCAR races I attend each year until I can get a truck or win the lottery and buy a diesel pusher!
That being said I have a very specific, some would call crazy paint job in mind. However I now don’t want to spend the extra money for the CPES treatment and marine grade paint. So looking at my limited usage and the garage storage, can I get by with the following? I plan on using the KILLZ exterior primer and then a good exterior paint. I was thinking 2 coats of KILLZ and 3 coats of paint. Will this work or is it a complete waste of my time? Or is there another alternative that I have not thought of?

Thanks

[Nosty]

Boy have you ever opened up a can of worms here, Newman!

I have been battling those same demons over the last month. I finally stopped off at the Sherwin Williams dealer here in town, looking for a good grade oil-based primer to start sealing the floor before the tar coat. He began extolling me on a few facts regarding oil based paints and primers. He claims that due to EPA regulations, the paint manufacturers have modified their oil based formulas to an extent that makes them a mere shadow of their former selves; where as advances in the water based paints have been so great that they are now head and shoulders above even the older oil based paints.

I got the feeling he knew something about paints so I went on to ask him about exterior grade, high end, latex paints. His response was: "Well, how often do you have to repaint your house?" I know in this area, those with wooden or block houses have to repaint about every 10 years. He went on to say that, were I to store the camper in a garage or under a shed, (out of the sun and weather when not in use), a high quality water based primer, (2 coats sealing the ends heavilly), and two coats of high quality latex exterior paint should last for at least 10 years.

Before anyone comments on this post, (and I know you will ), don't shoot the messenger. I'm just sharing what the guy at the paint store told me, (and this was an honest to goodness paint store, not a big box store where the person waiting on you may just be filling in from the landscaping department). I also took into consideration that Sherwin Williams has some really high end paints so he could have easilly started trying to steer me toward the two part epoxies and all that.

In my opinion, what it boils down to is what you want the finished product to look like. (stepping off his soap box).

[Creamcracker]

My side walls are painted....
Philip

[Sam I am]

Newman, I built my tear in 2006, and my usage is similar to yours - about 3 or 4 times a year, and it stays in the garage the rest of the time. I painted the top with Sears Porch & Floor latex paint. Two coats of green over two coats of white latex primer (I forgot what brand). It has held up well, with no touch-up or repainting needed yet. It's been in some hard rainstorms in camp sites and in tow, and even in snow once! The paint was $17.00 per gallon in 2006, probably costs more now, but still not terribly expensive. It might work well for your teardrop.
Sam

[Newman39Fan]

Ok, so far it looks like what I am thinking will work. Thanks for the replies!

[caseydog]

My TD is painted with a good quality house paint. It is used for one camping trip a month, on average. It is in the garage when not in use. The house paint works fine. No problems, and I can always repaint it if I have to fix a blemish. It has been rained on, and towed at highway speeds for five hours at a time with no paint issues.

My budget is tight, too. And, house paint has done just fine for me.



CD

[starleen2]

ENAMEL, ENAMEL,ENAMEL! Enamel refers to the hardness of the paint finish. Whether oil based or latex, enamels are easy to keep clean and take weathering very well - I have used house style enamel paint on all my builds and have no problems - even pulling in some of the wickedest rains, camping in freezing temps, and blistering summer heat.

[NathanL]

My TD is painted with a good quality house paint. It is used for one camping trip a month, on average. It is in the garage when not in use. The house paint works fine. No problems, and I can always repaint it if I have to fix a blemish. It has been rained on, and towed at highway speeds for five hours at a time with no paint issues.

My budget is tight, too. And, house paint has done just fine for me.


CD

What type of plywood did you paint over?

[gperks]

I used rust-oleum enamel paint, its great with a little prep work and enamel primer. rust-oleum also has a marine paint for a good price, next time I will probably use the marine paint, but so far so good.

[caseydog]

My TD is painted with a good quality house paint. It is used for one camping trip a month, on average. It is in the garage when not in use. The house paint works fine. No problems, and I can always repaint it if I have to fix a blemish. It has been rained on, and towed at highway speeds for five hours at a time with no paint issues.

My budget is tight, too. And, house paint has done just fine for me.


CD

What type of plywood did you paint over?

3/4 inch birch.

CD

[Dragonryder]

I'm glad to hear the answers on here. I debated for a long time about whether it would be okay to paint or wait another year to maybe afford aluminum. I really wanted to use my camper while I'm still young enough to enjoy it. Aluminum seems to be very expensive and I figure, if I ever have to do any repair work, it would be easier and less expensive with a painted surface. I like being able to pick my color as well.

Thanks for the question and thanks for the answers. I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one to paint.