Painting black frame

[Daniel V.]

Topic says it all.

Which stays clean and lasts the longest? What do they typically use on new frames nowadays, besides powder coating?

Not that it matters that much... but just wonderin'.

[Kurt in BC]

i like flat, cracks seem to be easier to spot

[Gerry]

I first scraped it all down with a wire brush, on drill, then I used Flat Black Rust-o-lium for the frame then I used Krylon enamals for the lady-bugs. 2 nd year in service.
Gerry

[Alf S.]

Topic says it all.

Which stays clean and lasts the longest? What do they typically use on new frames nowadays, besides powder coating?

Not that it matters that much... but just wonderin'.

Hi: Daniel... I need to do ours again. I just paint the part outside the "SHELL" with black Matte...the rest I paint with KROWN T40 Maximum Strength Rust Inhibitor. It drips for a while so I do it on the gravel part of my driveway. This stuff will creap into places you can't get painted !!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Roger H]

Right, wrong, or indifferent, I've always used black glossy Rustoleum. It lasts for years, is easy to clean, and when a touch up is needed, it doesn't show after it's dried. It's inexpensive, available everywhere and it works. It's not bullet-proof though. You do have to check your frame annually and re-spray where necessary.

Roger

[Suz]

I use satin. Tried flat, and it picked up road dirt too bad. I tried gloss and it was too glossy for me. I ended up using brush on Rustoleum in satin and it has held up the best.

Like Roger said: right, wrong or indifferent, that's what I use.

[Donna D.]

No rules it has to be black either. For those that are looking to "Match" the tug, this is a simple enough way to do it. Paint the tongue and back bumper (and any other part of the frame that can be seen) the same color as the tug. If/when the trailer is sold, it's simple enough to paint black. Now I haven't seen this done on an egg, but have seen it done plenty of times on tear drops when pulled by a hot rod!

[Kurt in BC]

No rules it has to be black either. For those that are looking to "Match" the tug, this is a simple enough way to do it. Paint the tongue and back bumper (and any other part of the frame that can be seen) the same color as the tug. If/when the trailer is sold, it's simple enough to paint black. Now I haven't seen this done on an egg, but have seen it done plenty of times on tear drops when pulled by a hot rod!

Ya, mine underneath the trailer is flat black and the exposed area (tongue) is painted to match the lower half of my trailer.

[Joe Z]

Years back i used to paint all my frames Bright Red..... It really looked sharp. I may have to try it again and if i do i will post it
Joe

[Al Nelson]

Like she says, "Why does it have to be black?" Most of my many RVs came originaly with the frames beige, the same color as the body. I have always done mine with Tremco RV White rust paint. Looks a lot more classy than black and much easier to spot cracks.
Al

[Daniel V.]

I use satin. Tried flat, and it picked up road dirt too bad. I tried gloss and it was too glossy for me. I ended up using brush on Rustoleum in satin and it has held up the best.

Interesting... I hadn't even considered this option.

Interesting ideas... Thanks to all for the feedback so far.

[Kurt & Ann K.]

Daniel,
SEM's Trim Black, item # 39144. Available at automotive paint stores. Brush-on and spray. I usually purchase both so that even hard-to-get-at spots get painted. Satin appearance and designed specifically for frames.
I've used it for several years, on both car and trailer frames. It is currently on our Casita frame. It has proven to be a tough, weather resistant finish when subjected to both desert and mountain, all season environments.

Kurt & Ann K.

[Daniel V.]

SEM's Trim Black, item # 39144. [...] It has proven to be a tough, weather resistant finish when subjected to both desert and mountain, all season environments.

Thanks for the info, Kurt!

Would you say SEM's Trim Black is fairly equivalent to Rustoleum satin?

[Kurt & Ann K.]

Daniel,
Over the years I've used many Rustoleum paints, but never tried satin.
The SEM paint that I applied 4 years ago to the (then) new tongue on "Nuestra Casita" & the rest of the frame is still rust free & the finish looks about the same.
Today my wife bought another can of SEM trim black spray (Item #39143) to paint washers, nuts and bolt heads for another project. The price was $10.99 + tax.
This seems to be another case of "getting what you pay for"! It works for us.

Kurt & Ann K.

[Joy A]

So have any of you thought about using the SEM undercoating and then trim out the tongue and bumper with the black paint???

[Rob S.]

My frame is in good solid shape but the surface is pitted in areas. After blasting it clean I used the Rustoleum Hammered Dark Bronze. The hammer finish blends the surface irregularities nicely.

Rob

[Alf S.]

So have any of you thought about using the SEM undercoating and then trim out the tongue and bumper with the black paint???

Hi: Thats what I do...only with Krown Aerosol undercoating and TremClad (Canajun) version of Rustolium EH!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Paul and Libby Smith]

I had to remove the gray water tank on my scamp 5th, it had a crack on top, from side to side, someone gave me an old boat aluminum fuel tank, Iam in the process of altering it for my camper, or pay 165.00 for a new one from scamp, when I dropped the tank, I noticed the frame had little or no paint, so Iam sanding, and using Oshpho, tradename for phosphoric acid as a primer, and some leftover duplicolor Bed liner paint I used from a previous project, and I will roll it on, or brush it, who knows? it might turn out okay Paul

[CD Smith]

I touch-up my frame as needed with Black Aerosol Rustoleum Hammered finish. I pretreat with Phosphoric Plus (liquid naval gelly). Both available at the Home Depot within walking distance of my house.

[ChuckH]

Used POR 15 on my old Casita, just wire brush and applywith paint brush. Use WITH gloves ( it has to wear off your hands) and put cardboard down on the driveway. Very long lasting and on areas not exposed to sunshine, most of the frame, it does not have to be top coated. Exposed areas must be though and I used a bronze hammer finish and it looked black and hammer finish nicely blended in with uneven finish.
Chuck