New 1972 Trillium Owner

[hmm]

Hi,
Just bought a 1972 Trillium this week and have my first (of many) questions. I have read through hundreds of posts but can't seem to recall the answers to a couple of questions I have.
My trailer has been spray painted with 'automobile grade paint'. It looks pretty good but isn't a completely uniform coat so I would like to repaint sometime in the near future. To prep for painting this surface is a light sanding recommended prior to the primer?
To paint the inside surface- ensolite- I will fill the few small holes with paintable caulking after cleaning with an ammonia / water solution (as this seems to be a highly recommended method of cleaning). Originally I thought I would also fill the joins between the Ensolite with paintable caulking but I seem to still have nearly all of the T tape to cover the joins of the Ensolite. I'm thinking that the T tape might not be the same color as the paint I choose....can the T tape be primed and painted too or would you suggest filling the joins with the paintable caulking and going that route?
Thanks....looking forward to getting started...

[littlemisspippy]

Hi - I too am a new owner of a '76 Trillium 1300. I have read through some of the threads - it's very overwhelming to a newbie!! I am interested in painting the inside ensolite and fiberglass. I was going to clean with a Benjamin Moore product KP83 Super Spec Oil and Grease Cleaner, prime with STIX super adhesive primer then topcoat with a latex 100% acrylic paint (Aura by B.M.). As for those channel strips, we were wondering whether we could just use the adhesive tub strips that you use to go around the base of your tub. I have heard you can boil the original channel strips and reinstall them to remove the puckering but I'm wondering if they wouldn't do the same thing again. Once they are painted that wouldn't look very nice...any thoughts from experienced owners?

Lots of great resources and experience here - thank goodness!! Look forward to learning lots as we renovate our little nugget!!

[David Tilston]

While I have never painted Ensolite, it is a black foam covered by a layer of vinyl. Any paint that is suitable for vinyl will work. There are vinyl based paints. That is what I would use. That way it will behave just like the surface that it covers. The T molding is also made of vinyl.

Deirdre, The rippling of the T molding happens over several years. Likely what you see has been accumulated since manufacture. It is the result of heating and cooling cycles. The vinyl heats, softens, and expands. A section will be pushed out of the track when warm and soft. Then it cools down and hardens in that shape. This process repeats over the years and you have lots of ripples.

It will happen again, but if you paint with a vinyl based paint, then the paint should just follow along with this process, and still straighten out when heated. If not, I guess you paint again.

[Mikmay]

Deirdre depending where you are located in Ontario I have a source for new t moulding in southern Ontario very inexpensive but only comes in 8 foot lengths if you pm me I can give you more info

[littlemisspippy]

Dave - do you have any thoughts on using that adhesive strip in place of the snap-in covers?

[David Tilston]

I'm kind of fond of the T molding. I have lots of spare stuff. Not sure of an adhesive strip. I suppose it would be easy to replace if the adhesive failed. I think I would be more inclined to use a paintable calk.