ladywendolyn
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Post by ladywendolyn on Aug 20, 2016 20:14:52 GMT -8
I had a guy I just met at the trailer rally this weekend go on a rant telly me that you can not paint a tin can trailer because the aluminum will not accept paint. He went on to say that the only way to get paint to stick would be to put a thin layer of bondo on it. He said he was a body man and knew what he was talking about.
So.... I knew he was wrong but didn't know why, so I didn't argue because nothing is worse than someone who argues about something with no information.
After this experience I want to know ... What kind of paint sticks to an aluminum trailer? What kind of primer do I need? I thought bondo wasn't the best idea, is that correct information?
Thanks
Lady W
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Aug 20, 2016 20:19:53 GMT -8
That silly man is just wrong. Almost any paint will "stick" to anything as long as proper prep is done. It's all about proper prep. Just carefully follow the manufacture's instructions and don't sweat it.
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ladywendolyn
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Post by ladywendolyn on Aug 20, 2016 20:27:51 GMT -8
That silly man is just wrong. Almost any paint will "stick" to anything as long as proper prep is done. It's all about proper prep. Just carefully follow the manufacture's instructions and don't sweat it. We'll I was tempted to tell him... "In my experience a lot of stuff sticks to vintage trailers, it's scraping it off that's the problem." Lol |
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Aug 20, 2016 20:31:38 GMT -8
That silly man is just wrong. Almost any paint will "stick" to anything as long as proper prep is done. It's all about proper prep. Just carefully follow the manufacture's instructions and don't sweat it. We'll I was tempted to tell him... "In my experience a lot of stuff sticks to vintage trailers, it's scraping it off that's the problem." Lol You sure got that right Wendy... |
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Post by Ross on Aug 21, 2016 4:28:23 GMT -8
I have to agree, that guy need to check his facts before preaching nonsense.
When I removed all of the paint, right down to the bare aluminum on a 1970 Scotty, I used a 2 part epoxy primer (primer and activate), then a 3 part automotive paint (paint, activator and thinner). No clear coat was used......didn't want to have to do the extra work. This was all recommended by my auto paint store tech's and the end result was amazing.
The epoxy primer that I used was an awesome primer. It would fill in minor scratches, almost like a feather fill primer.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Aug 21, 2016 5:20:53 GMT -8
He is right, over 100 years paint will wear off.  Seriously, the guy is a BananaHead. Does he think people with beautifully painted campers are redoing them every year? I tell people the following based on my limited experience... Oil enamel paint plan on redoing every 7-10 years if it is parked outside. Automotive paint plan on every 15 years when you pull all the jrail off and windows out to redo the putty tape. If you park inside or under a lean-to, you get more time. Bondo is a matter of opinion. Some people have done well with it and others haven't. Again, are you parking the camper in a garage? Or is it staying on one site under a lean-to? Then don't worry about it. I was told by an old time body work man that the thin aluminum skin used today was never meant to be stable enough for body filler. That the skin flexes with the wind as you drive down the highway and Bondo can't handle it without cracking. Are you just taking the camper from the garage to a lake 50 miles away? You'll probably be fine. Bouncing down the highway over long journeys while being pelted with 60+mph winds? Consider new skin. Others may disagree. |
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ladywendolyn
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Post by ladywendolyn on Aug 21, 2016 9:34:15 GMT -8
Thanks for the information! My skin is pretty good so if I did use any bondo it would only be the smallest little spot. We will be having it painted by an auto painter who does all the cars for our dealership so I will talk to him about the formula mentioned above. I'm also going to have a chat with a friend of ours who has a company that repairs and paints the aircraft in our city. He has many highly specialized products he uses. We met some really nice people at this rally and some really weird ones  |
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Aug 21, 2016 17:58:43 GMT -8
nc, your comment regarding skin flexing in the wind sure hits home with us. Maybe it is because I'm getting older and my hearing isn't as good as it used to be,but I just can't seem to find exactly where it is coming from. We have this problem with what others here call "oil-canning". We were at a campground at the Painted Desert(AZ) last fall. There was an unrelenting wind that must have been in excess of 30-40 mph day and night. I think it is the roof skin that kinda buckles with a loud "boom" every so often. (Usually when I'm just about to go to sleep.)I tried moving to different sites with wind coming from different directions, but it didn't seem to help. It has nothing to do with "Bondo" but I wonder if others have a similar problem. We tried all kinds of things with opening or closing windows, etc. Nothing seems to work...although earplugs do help.
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Post by danrhodes on Aug 21, 2016 18:10:37 GMT -8
nc, your comment regarding skin flexing in the wind sure hits home with us. Maybe it is because I'm getting older and my hearing isn't as good as it used to be,but I just can't seem to find exactly where it is coming from. We have this problem with what others here call "oil-canning". We were at a campground at the Painted Desert(AZ) last fall. There was an unrelenting wind that must have been in excess of 30-40 mph day and night. I think it is the roof skin that kinda buckles with a loud "boom" every so often. (Usually when I'm just about to go to sleep.)I tried moving to different sites with wind coming from different directions, but it didn't seem to help. It has nothing to do with "Bondo" but I wonder if others have a similar problem. We tried all kinds of things with opening or closing windows, etc. Nothing seems to work...although earplugs do help. Pack a few towel wrapped bricks? |
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Aug 21, 2016 18:28:52 GMT -8
You know Dan, you might be onto something, if indeed it is the roof. Gonna be hard to put bricks on the walls though. Now that I think about it, maybe that was why the PO screwed the roof skin to the rafters in the first place. No matter, I napped in the trailer earlier today, now I'm going to sleep in the beloved quiet of the basement bedroom in the house.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Aug 21, 2016 18:38:19 GMT -8
nc, your comment regarding skin flexing in the wind sure hits home with us. Maybe it is because I'm getting older and my hearing isn't as good as it used to be,but I just can't seem to find exactly where it is coming from. We have this problem with what others here call "oil-canning". We were at a campground at the Painted Desert(AZ) last fall. There was an unrelenting wind that must have been in excess of 30-40 mph day and night. I think it is the roof skin that kinda buckles with a loud "boom" every so often. (Usually when I'm just about to go to sleep.)I tried moving to different sites with wind coming from different directions, but it didn't seem to help. It has nothing to do with "Bondo" but I wonder if others have a similar problem. We tried all kinds of things with opening or closing windows, etc. Nothing seems to work...although earplugs do help. A 40mph wind is intense. Let's face it, you lean slightly on most of our campers and the skin flexes. It doesn't take much to make the skin move. Driving down the highway at 60mph with a 20mph headwind means the camper is being pelted with hurricane force winds. I bet if you recorded the sound inside you'd swear the camper was blowing apart. |
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Post by vikx on Aug 21, 2016 21:39:26 GMT -8
Our 57 Corvette oilcans on the streetside a little bit. It's screwed well but does swell/shrink in sun or clouds. (plywood walls) A pop isn't discernible but may be happening. Our friend has a Homerbuilt that oil cans noticeably on the street side; all new skin. He is frustrated and doesn't want to add screws unless absolutely necessary.
Almost all man made structures give and take. I can hear my house at times.
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turbodaddy
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Post by turbodaddy on Aug 22, 2016 4:41:52 GMT -8
I bet nc is right, a recording would probably be pretty scary! I always close all of the windows while towing for fear of an explosion of some sort. I think I'm going to try that recording idea just for fun though.
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Post by vintagebruce on Aug 22, 2016 7:48:08 GMT -8
I had to chuckle to myself when I read that the ranting expert said he knew what he was talking about because he was a body man. Just remember 50% of all body men trained in the business, graduated in the bottom half of their class...methinks your ranting expert has been sniffing way too much paint thinner or bondo fumes.
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oldsoldier
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Post by oldsoldier on Mar 13, 2017 9:25:07 GMT -8
These "know nothing" experts are funny when it's something like paint, bondo, screws size, etc. It's different when they give advice to newbies about wire gauges (14.2 being fine for ALL circuits, not just lighting circuits per NEC and ASWG); tow equipment appropriate for vehicle/camper setup, etc. For those, I always challenge them imnediately! They have potential to harm or kill the uninitiated. We need to stamp out these people just like the ones who sell campers as "ready to go on the road" despite terrible condition. For those of us who play with vintage campers, the horror stories abound...and too many all too true! Please identify by name companies or individuals who sell rolling death traps. And report them to the proper authorities, as I did with the Salt Lake City police department about Todd Anderson. They investigated him (example only) for running a chop shop. Nothing meanhearted about being defrauded: it's to keep guys like him from hurting or killing some innocent buyer. My brakes were installed upside-down, so they only braked when in reverse. Most folks drive on highways going forward! With my F150 or F250 it's no big deal. But some young couple pulling it with a sedan, it could mean death. We vintage restorer idiots seem to consider it our "red badge of courage" that we towed a derelict home after tying it to the frame...but we need to stamp out the people who perpetuate these acts. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
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