Utility trailers, any bad ones?

[Industrial Toys]

It's the worst, poor quality coating imaginable. I "Thought" it was a superior process, but it is all environmentaly motivated. It does not adhere to the metal in any way as good as paint. And, it eventually flakes off if in any wet or especiallly salty environment, in huge flakes. I call it powder scab, except that a scab sticks better and is more fun to pull off.

I mean, the coating is hard and nice looking, but meaningless if it doesn't stay on the metal. AND, you can't rework it or touch it up.

I would never buy a new trailer unless galvanized. Looks new twenty years down the road.

 

[PA452]

My PJ has a powder coat finish. It's held up very well so far, but I've only had it probably three years now.

 

[aczlan]

I guess I'm missing something here. Why is Powder Coat a bad thing on a trailer?

Because it's hard to patch it when you put a hole in the powder coat either through poor surface prep on the part of the builder, you scraping it with the tractor while loading, or time and abrasion from road debris.
Then once you have a hole in the powder coat, the rust will start from there and work out under the powder coat until the powder coat starts to come off in sheets.

Aaron Z

 

[Rock Crawler]

Why wouldn't you just swipe a brush of gloss black rustoleum over any areas that you see the slightest indication of rust at? Seems simple enough to me... That's what mine got after the welding.

 

[aczlan]

Why wouldn't you just swipe a brush of gloss black rustoleum over any areas that you see the slightest indication of rust at? Seems simple enough to me... That's what mine got after the welding.View attachment 594693

As I recall, paint will not stick very well to the powder coat at the edge of your problem area, so the boundary between the bare metal where the powder coat was scraped off and the powder coat is unprotected and will rust easily.

Aaron Z

 

[RickB]

Why wouldn't you just swipe a brush of gloss black rustoleum over any areas that you see the slightest indication of rust at? Seems simple enough to me... That's what mine got after the welding.View attachment 594693

You will have your own answer in a year or two.

 

[Rock Crawler]

You will have your own answer in a year or two.

This trailer is sprayed enamel... Do I don't think I'll know what you speak of.

My 1999 trailer has been getting smaller with a brush full of rustoleum and spit at by cans of miscellaneous black paints, and after 20 years... It's still a black trailer. A couple times a year I'll down an hour looking for slight surface rust, and I cover it.
No oxygen.... no rust.
No moisture..... No rust.
No susceptible material.... No rust.

Any one (or more) of the 3 that you can control will stop the process. That's scientific fact.

 

[oldballs]

I have two 3 x 5 yard carts that are approx 20+ years old. One is black and one cream colored. The powder coat does come off in small/large sheets. At first I used rattle can spray paint to touch up the bare spots, but the peeling continues...and it still looks like crap; so I just don't bother anymore. Otherwise the carts are well made and having given me very good service.

Fortunately my equipment trailer is properly painted and still look fine (but a little faded) after 20+ years.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Industrial Toys]

It hardly seems like an environmenally friendly coating if the thing will be melted down sooner rather than later. Thought of another good name for it. Shake and Bake!

 

[Rock Crawler]

It hardly seems like an environmenally friendly coating if the thing will be melted down sooner rather than later. Thought of another good name for it. Shake and Bake!

Interestingly, one thing that jaded me and made me second guess buying this "Quality Trailers Inc" trailer was that Lamar and some others advertise the powder coating, and Quality advertises the 2 layers of enamel.

I know that when I hit it with the flapper wheel to prep for welding, the black paint appears thick and is laying on a tannish color primer that you go through before finally getting to steel. But I've always understood that powder coating is the cool guy coating and paint is all back of the bus.... I guess I'm the majority opinion here in this forum, powder coating is the back of the bus.