Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Last night I finally finished welding the frame. I used 2 x 2 x .120 tube for the frame and 2 x 2 x 3/16 for the tongue. Dexter axle and 13" wheels and tire finish it out. Now it ready for paint. I'm happy with the way it turned out. Not bad for the first time welding but a lot of the information leard from this forum went to good use in design and building it. I can't wait to start on the body but that should take me most of the winter. "Teardrop time" as someone else said. Don't hurry!! Just wanted to post a picture of the finished frame. One question I did have was what color do most of you paint your frames? It looks like black or white. Just curious.



Thanks agian for this great forum site.

sunny, looking good.
I painted my frame a dark purple(Deep Amethyst Pearl) the paint code is CU.

Mine's red, but it is a Harbor Freight bolt-together. Also, my tow vehicle is red. If it is going to be visible when the teardrop is done, the I would suggest that you choose a color that your really like or that matches your tow vehicle. If you don't have a preference, then I'd say paint it black or maybe silver if you are going with aluminum on the exterior of your tear.

Just a suggestion.

It is a good question. Never thought of painitng my HF bolt together. Blue truck towing a trailer with a red frame????

To paint, or not to paint?

I forgot about the RED trailers. That's why I asked what color people paint them. I do see lots of read trailer frames on the phots posted here. And I could paint it to match the tow vehicle but what do you do when you sell the vehicle and get another one? Repaint the trailer? I guess I could just build a new TT just because. It seems to be what a lot of people here do. "You can't build just one!"

....the color is your choice, ours was painted industrial black...a couple of tips if I may...to get a really good paint job on new metal...1) wipe it down really well with laquer thinner, acetone, or whatever good solvent you've got, changing out your rags as go, so as to remove any "fishoil" residue. 2) use a scuff pad to knock any rust scale or other residue off of the steel. 3) use a dry rag to remove any dust from scuffing 4) if you really want that paint to stick and stay for a long time, get a rattle can of acid etch primer and prime it well. 5) now paint it allready........
madjack

"You can't build just one!"

That's why I'm currently planning my second one!

Thanks Madjack. You answered my next question. I knew that one needed to clean the metal good before painting and I couldn't remember what was best to use, or even use for that matter. I will try to do it before the snow flys. Yes, it is forcasted for the northern Utah area this weekend but I don't think it will be in the valleys.

I painted my Tractor Supply trailer with Black Rust-o-leum hammered enamel. I really like the textured look.
There are many other colors of hammered enamel but good luck finding any of them in the stores in quart containers.

half a quart did my whole frame.

Walter

Thats a great Idea surveytech. I never thought about the hammered look paint. It would hide any imperfections in my welding. Thanks! THere are so many great ideas out here.

The frame is supposed to be the invisible part of the trailer. I would paint it black.

And no one can build just one. That's why I am planning number 4!

sunny16 wrote:Last night I finally finished welding the frame. I used 2 x 2 x .120 tube for the frame and 2 x 2 x 3/16 for the tongue. Dexter axle and 13" wheels and tire finish it out. Now it ready for paint. I'm happy with the way it turned out. Not bad for the first time welding but a lot of the information leard from this forum went to good use in design and building it. I can't wait to start on the body but that should take me most of the winter. "Teardrop time" as someone else said. Don't hurry!! Just wanted to post a picture of the finished frame. One question I did have was what color do most of you paint your frames? It looks like black or white. Just curious.

Thanks agian for this great forum site.

I painted my frame with this stuff:


I just wiped it down with laquer thinner and painted this stuff on with a roller.

http://www.rustbullet.com

asianflava wrote:
I just wiped it down with laquer thinner and painted this stuff on with a roller.

http://www.rustbullet.com

I'd like to make a point here

After I had my trailer fabbed by a local fabricator, I primed it with rusteoleum primer, and painted it with rusteoleum black paint. No one told me to wipe it down with laquer thinner. I got out to Steve's place in NY and when he pulled the tape off the tongue, the paint came with it. Duh! Steve asked, did you wipe it down? I looked like this...

Mike...

mikeschn wrote:
I got out to Steve's place in NY and when he pulled the tape off the tongue, the paint came with it. Duh! Steve asked, did you wipe it down? I looked like this...

Mike...

Yup, that's what will happen, particularly with tubing. It is always a good idea to scuff it up a bit too because the slag on the tubing doesn't take paint well at all.

I did not hide my frame you can see it very well. it was easier to build this way, and I don't think it looks too bad. BTW that is my friend's son.