Painting cargo trailer exterior

[meltonfam]

Hello - been lurking thru here as we built our toy hauler using our 6x12 Cargo Craft trailer. Found many great ideas from everyone here and we have applied many to ours. I cannot find though many posts on exterior of cargo trailers? Has anyone painted theirs possibly with something that is diy? Skin has seen better days but not ready to re-skin yet.

[Tomterrific]

I can say this. I used bright white paint for my exterior and a very white solvent based elastomeric roof coating for the top. The white paint reflects so much heat i think it does more than the insulation. It's like a basement and doesn't get super hot even in the direct sun. White may not be your first color choice but I think it is the best for the above reason. At least paint the roof bright white.

T

[Mike S]

I think it would be difficult to make a paint job look good on a cargo trailer. The reason is because most trailers have so many seams and metal screws to work around. I've considered getting a professional "wrap" put on. Wraps are becoming the more common method of resurfacing trucks and trailers. The wrap covers everything; seams, screws, and old paint.

[Spotman]

Interested in what others are using also. My black 7x14 does get a little warm even with insulation,
Just need another color.


Bob

[m.colley]

I think it would be difficult to make a paint job look good on a cargo trailer. The reason is because most trailers have so many seams and metal screws to work around. I've considered getting a professional "wrap" put on. Wraps are becoming the more common method of resurfacing trucks and trailers. The wrap covers everything; seams, screws, and old paint.

+1

As an old auto painter anything done by hand, short of using a spray gun is gonna show. You could go buy a semi decent HVLP gun from Harbor Freight and get a decent job but it won't be easy.


Martin

[Spotman]

Thanks Martin. How about a Earl Shieb type place or Maco?

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[m.colley]

Thanks Martin. How about a Earl Shieb type place or Maco?

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Man you remember ole Earl? Thats showing your age there Spotman . Yes either of them could do the job, just not sure of the cost. If you had a small compressor, a HVLP gun, and a place to do it you could paint it yourself.


Martin

[Spotman]

Martin, my Dad had a few done up in NY.

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[McDave]

Auto body paints have come a long ways since I was painting cars. Now almost everything is water based. That probably could have added a few years to my life expectancy....or not. But its a whole new much more forgiving game these days.
I really believe that if you got learned up, and some minimal equipment, and maybe some creative ideas for stripes or graphics, you could do this. Remember, you already own the black. Some creative masking could go a long ways towards a unique, one of a kind paint job. If you are going with white, that makes it about 70% easier as it is the least critical color, black being the most critical.
Draw up a trailer your size, and maybe 2-3 on a page, make some copies and start coloring them in. Let those creative juices flow and get input from others and just see what you come up with. Might be fun.
Good Luck,

McDave

PS. There is almost nothing more beautiful than white paint job with a pearl essence or flip/flop clear coat. I would probably try to stay away from metal flake if you are not an experienced painter. They have a tendency to gather and sag on vertical surfaces.

[Spotman]

Will work on that. Thanks for the ideas.

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[m.colley]

Auto body paints have come a long ways since I was painting cars. Now almost everything is water based. That probably could have added a few years to my life expectancy....or not. But its a whole new much more forgiving game these days.

Same here Dave, back in the day you pretty much had your choice of lacquer, enamel, and if you had big bucks Duponts Imron. I still remember reading the warning on my very first can of Imron. I had a part time gig painting ambulances on the weekend. I had to wear a full self contained respirator.
If all goes right this winter I'm pulling off all of the tins, including saddle bags and repainting the RoadKing.


Martin

[hankaye]

m.colley, Howdy;

Back-in-the-day, (late 60's to early 80's ), I did corrosion control in both the Coast Guard
and Navy. Painting aircraft was the biggest part of the job. Enamels, Lacquers then the killer
stuff with the isocyanates ... Polyurethane. What you refer to as Imron. Painted C-123's for the
Coast Guard and H-3's and F-14's for the Navy. Got outta that gig due to the constrictions with
the Poly. Haven't held a Binks-19 in my hand since.

hank

[m.colley]

m.colley, Howdy;

Back-in-the-day, (late 60's to early 80's ), I did corrosion control in both the Coast Guard
and Navy. Painting aircraft was the biggest part of the job. Enamels, Lacquers then the killer
stuff with the isocyanates ... Polyurethane. What you refer to as Imron. Painted C-123's for the
Coast Guard and H-3's and F-14's for the Navy. Got outta that gig due to the constrictions with
the Poly. Haven't held a Binks-19 in my hand since.

hank

Howdy back atcha Hank,
Yes the Poly's held up great to the elements, heat etc. I did some volunteer work for a couple of Volunteer Fire Depts. back in the early to mid 80's. The VFD's around here like to buy used trucks at auctions and rebuild them to save money. I supplied the labor and shop to paint, they bought the materials. It worked out good for them. Luckily at the time I had a boss that allowed me to use the shop anytime I needed. Yeah the goverment regs on spraying poly's were a pain, hence the full self contained respirator I had to buy. Binks was my go to gun as well, I still have two in the shop now but lately been using more gravity fed guns or HVLP's then my old siphon fed guns if I'm painting.

Martin