Rusty Trailer Frame

[Doc Tinker]

I have an update on the rusty trailer frame situation.



Jayco approved a repaint on the frame, after the dealer saw the amount of rust and presented my case to Jayco. The frame was washed, sanded and repainted by the dealer late last week and I am happy with the results.



I will monitor the frame and will treat it with one of the products that you guys have recommended, when needed.



Thank you all for you suggestions.



Doc

 

[merryman]

Doc

Here on the Oregon Coast rust is a real problem because of the salt water and air, as well as being wet a lot.

The thing I see used on the fishing boats and have tried sucessfully is phosphoric acid. When applied to rust (iron oxide) it is supposed to convert it to iron phosphate an inert substance that actually can serve as a primer.

At least some of the rust inhibiting paints simply have some phosphoric acid in them. When needing to paint rusty metal, or metal I want to protect from rust, I scale off the worst of the rust, spray it with straight phosphoric acid (wear long sleeves and pants and gogles), let it dry over night (the rust becomes a black almost paint looking coating on the metal) and paint; I have had excellent results. Here most hardware stores carry in quarts or gallons. A gallon cost $9. 00 and would do several trailer frames. I put it on with a spray bottle. You can allso get several brand name products based on phosphoric acid but they are generally much more expensive, and as far as I can see all you really gain is a little insullation from the disagreable fumes and such from handling the straight acid.

Vaughn