Powder Coating vs Painting

[Woody_tobius_jr]

I'm thinking of giving my trailer a 5 gallon tune up., it's getting a bunch of rock chips along it. Has anybody powder coated their trailer, and if you have, how would you say that it holds up compared to a good Endura paint against rock chips, etc.?


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[swankster]

If your getting a lot of chips, you might try truck bed liner coating. It comes in a lot of colors and I have seen some trucks around painted with it and it can look pretty good. You may be able to color coordinate it and apply it where your getting the chips and create a two tone effect.

[Woody_tobius_jr]

Thanks Swankster, I may look at that option yet, my plan is to either paint or powder coat and 3M tape the areas that are getting hit the worst. The trailer is an '04 and still looks really good, I'm just overly fussy and don't like the rock chips. I don't have anything that is powder coated and am curious as to how it holds up compared to paint


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[Dave Rittiman]

I had trailer powder coat my last summer due to the same issue, tons of rock chips. Powder coat by far is stronger then paint. If you do get it powder coated they had to sand blast off everything. It cost me around 1500 to get mine done for 230 boat mate trailer.

[Woody_tobius_jr]

How did they protect your wiring and brake lines when they blasted? Did they use sand or soda to blast your trailer?


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[gome123]

I also had mine powder coated. It was $1500 to have it done. They completely stripped the trailer. Everything has to be pulled out, as they have to cook it in order for the powder coat to cure. They sandblasted the trailer. It was nice, as it removed all the rust. The only crappy thing is the black is not super shiny. They stated that to get the high gloss black as you would with paint, it would cost a few hundred more. (True or not???) I chose to do the semi-gloss as they stated. I don't tow much where there are rocks, there are no chips on the trailer from towing since having done. Is it worth it... I think so. Also, do your bunks while at it.

[Woody_tobius_jr]

Great info gentlemen, thanks a lot. We're heading down to ID in a couple of weeks for holidays, and I'm waiting to hear back from a company in Hayden with a powder coating price, they quoted me $ 1800 to repaint, but after talking to a few people at work as well, I'm leaning towards powder coating.
Unfortunately, rocks are always a problem up here, they "sand" the highways in the winter with gravel, so that doesn't get cleared off completely and then there are gravel roads coming onto the highways every mile or two , so it never ends. I envy the US with their interstates




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[Evening Shade]

Whether you decide on paint or powder coat, I would get a set of Enkay Rock Tamers. I love mine. I would post a pic but I my iPad is acting up and won't let me do it.

[Evening Shade]

Here is a pic of my old truck and old boat. If you look close you can see the Rock Tamers mounted to the hitch which makes them easy to remove when not towing. Sorry the pic is really too small, but if you google Rock Tamers you can see good pics.

[Woody_tobius_jr]

You bet, I grabbed a set last fall when they went on sale, they definitely help for sure





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[Woody_tobius_jr]

I've gotten a couple of prices in Idaho, anywhere from 2500.00 to 2800.00 to blast and powder coat, which converts to about 3100.00 - 3400.00 CDN. Almost the same as it would cost up here. I might have to put it on the back burner until our dollar smartens up.


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[81nautique]

I have both painted and powder coated trailers. My 2012 trailer is factory painted and is showing rust everywhere, they do a lousy job of painting and I would bet these trailers are not even primed before the top coat. Every weld shows rust at the edges, there's nothing maintenance can do to prevent it as there's just no paint coverage.

My powder coated trailer is 25 years old, I had it sand blasted and coated 2 years ago. It is holding up better than the painted one but BOTH will chip from the gravel you're dealing with. Once they chip both will rust, problem with the powder coated trailer is getting touch up paint to match. The powdered trailer developed a crack that needs to be welded so now I'm a bit screwed with the repair as it can't be re coated I'll have to try to mix paint to match.
Either way you go I would get some 3M clear shield wrap and cover any leading edges like fenders to protect from rocks, both of my trailers are chipped to heck. I was going to do this to both and never got to it and they look like crap.

If I was to refurb another trailer I would sandblast and spend the money for the best epoxy primer I could buy then paint with a 2 part urethane top coat. I did that to another trailer about 7 years ago and that one still looks pretty darn good with thousands of miles on it.

[Woody_tobius_jr]

Great info thanks, I bought a roll of 3M on eBay last fall with this in mind. Once I pull the trigger on the blast and re-coating then she'll definitely be getting wrapped up to protect my investment


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[nyryan2001]

My triple axel is prayed with Rhino Liner..... for this exact reason. I had my first G trailer get eat alive by rock chips out in Oklahoma....Rhino Liner will survive anything.

[Woody_tobius_jr]

I do agree, rhino is definitely a top shelf product, I have had that sprayed in all of my trucks over the years.


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