any 1-step (no prior sealing or priming) paint or coating ?

[working on it]

It seems that there are many methods to skin a TTT, and it makes my head ache when I research. Due to a major underbudgetting on this project...my wife's doing, not mine (cost be damned!)... I will forgo the Filon,FRP, honeycomb composite sidewall dreams. Looks like I'm going to have "painted/coated" plywood after all. The choices are manifold, but I only have experience with rattle cans for metal, and brush and roller on wood. Priming is not my usual prerequisite to painting,either. So, I polyurethaned (3 coats) my trailer's floor with foam brush and tack cloth only. Sealed the edges all around in the same fashion. The bottom of same was done with 4 cans of spray Plasticote undercoating. With my limited skills/experience, I am looking at an easy to apply coating: Durabak,Aluthane, Valspar Heavy Duty Aluminum Paint, or maybe just the same Minwax poly I used on the floor. Another choice would be the porch paint I used on mine 14 years ago (forgot what brand). Since those on this forum have tried them all, could anyone relate their experience taking a one-step approach? Success or no? This trailer will be covered from the Texas sun, and Oak tree sap (I swear), so the durability of the covering will be prolonged.

[afreegreek]

I suggest an exterior grade oil finish.. it will give you the easiest application and the best look for the work involved.. with other products like paint you can have adhesion problems and just plain old uglyness without primer.. oil finishes can be refreshed quickly. a good cleaning and a fresh coat once a year will keep it looking good for as long as you want..

[hoytedow]

Prime then paint is the best way to go if you don't fiberglass it. 2 coats of primer is better than 1.

Kilz and Rustoleum are what I used.

[Robbie]

^^^^^ That's what I was thinkin...

2 heavy coats of Kilz 2 primer/sealer with a few coats of Rustoleum High-Performance Enamal paint should do you good. There are a few members on here that have done this very thing and it turned out looking great and offered great protection. And they can be found at your local big box hardware stores! A great budget friendly covering.

Is your trailer a 4' wide or a 5' wide? If it is 4' wide then the FRP from Lowes or HD is roughly 33 bucks a sheet. 2 of those and you'll be good. Or you could look for the white EPDM rubber roofing pieces all over Ebay that are very cheap as well.

I was considering the Rustoleum painted sides with the EPDM roofing to save costs but figured I have all winter to finish this thing so aluminum is hopefully what it will end up with.