Community Forums

Red_5 · 03-15-2017, 05:36 PM

I was prepping my trailer to take to the dealer for some other warranty work and I noticed what looks like a fair amount of rust especially on the bumper and rear receiver. Plus the suspension bolts look pretty bad too. Does this seem abnormal or excessive? I don't know why this forum flips my photo but you get the point.

BFlinn181 · 03-15-2017, 05:52 PM

Nothing looks unusual in your photos. The frame and axles could have been sitting outside for months before your 'house' was put on the frame. Very little paint and no undercoating was used to protect bare metal, especially at welds.

You could expend a lot of time and a fair amount of money treating the rust to stop it, then seal the treated steel with paint, then spray undercoating over that. That will probably make you feel better and it will look better, EXCEPT the rust will continue on the inside of the boxed steel unseen by you.

Steel (iron) interacts with oxygen and creates iron oxide (rust) The rust actually seals off the steel and slows future rusting and generally won't weaken the frame for many, many years.

Tuquala · 03-15-2017, 10:34 PM

And, you live near the ocean!!! Almost like living back in the midwest or the east!! Rust there is very normal and quick. It probably would be worth it to paint to help protect, if not just for your own peace of mind and satisfaction.

I do spot and touch ups on any area I find on our Timber Ridge. Haven't had to do much to the main frame yet, but keep checking it. There are some pretty good rust control products and paint out there. I'm sure someone here will recommend good ones. Me, I use good old Krylon shake and shoot!!!

Blackbelle · 03-15-2017, 11:20 PM

I might hit it with a coat of navel jelly then paint it. Navel jelly reacts to the rust and should help kill it and make it a paintable surface.

ModestMonk · 03-16-2017, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red_5

I was prepping my trailer to take to the dealer for some other warranty work and I noticed what looks like a fair amount of rust especially on the bumper and rear receiver. Plus the suspension bolts look pretty bad too. Does this seem abnormal or excessive? I don't know why this forum flips my photo but you get the point.

I've done rust restoration work here on the farm and have restored many a vehicle with frame off detail since '72. I'll give a brief overview and some suggestions for your consideration.

I would suggest you wash the area/s of dirt and grease.

You can decide to remove the rust if you wish to by either mechanical or chemical means, OR you can just encapsulate. A brief explanation of each:

Mechanical: wire brush, material blast or sanding. Then prime and finish.

Chemical: https://www.permatex.com/products/sp...ust-treatment/ apply,dry and it has now converted rust to a primer. Then add a finish.

Encapsulate: the easiest route. It neutralizes, seals and finish coats in one step.
Rustoleum or POR15 both available on Amazon.

For in between treatments or area's you can't reach readily: you can use "Fluid Film", also available on Amazon. It essentially is lanolin, it temporarily stops oxygen from reaching the rust, the encapsulation products are more permanent. No oxygen....means no rust. Or you could use Eastwood's internal coating which comes with a small tube and nozzle to spray into frames etc. Eastwood Internal Frame Coating 14oz Aerosol

Hope this helps!

brulaz · 03-16-2017, 06:34 AM

I lightly steel brush it and spray with rust-o-leum or similar paint product.
But it's just cosmetic.

Red_5 · 03-16-2017, 07:27 AM

Thanks for the feedback everyone. While this is my first travel trailer, it's my third trailer. The first two were car car haulers, one open one enclosed. The open trailer stayed at a place with an ocean view and seemed to rust less quickly. My enclosed car hauler stayed in the spot the RV now lives for several years and I never noticed anywhere near the amount of rust.

I'm heading to the dealership today to have a last few things taken care of before my 1 year warranty expires, we'll see what they have to say. If it seems to be normal, I have some POR15 I'll put to use. Thanks again.

oh oh · 03-16-2017, 05:20 PM

There is a paint that's called paint over rust that works good, It seals the air away from the rust. what I used went on with a brush. Used it on truck frames

bobbin · 03-16-2017, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red_5

I was prepping my trailer to take to the dealer for some other warranty work and I noticed what looks like a fair amount of rust especially on the bumper and rear receiver. Plus the suspension bolts look pretty bad too. Does this seem abnormal or excessive? I don't know why this forum flips my photo but you get the point.

imho, any amount of rust will weaken a frame. understand your sentiments. shared. way back in the days when a new TT was only $2k, we were never concerned about rusting, as it was easy and cheap to tack on new metals. but today a TT can be $35k to $100k, and at this price, the rapid rusting, depreciation and repair costs become an entirely different matter. rust has now become a pet peeve for me. truly, I think ORV should step up its game and give us far better anti-rust coatings. the added cost is minimal during fabrication, but exorbitant after purchase.

Arch Hoagland · 03-16-2017, 11:03 PM

Doesn't look good to me. Curious what the dealer says.

09 harley · 03-16-2017, 11:30 PM

The dealer would say that this is normal. Because it is. RV's are built cheaply. Their frames are for the most part not powder coated. They are not E-coated which is a newer process used on newer trucks. If they were you wouldn't see what you have.
Scrape and paint with Rustoleum oil based black gloss paint.
Since most people shop by price we get what we pay for.

Red_5 · 03-17-2017, 09:41 AM

I find the differing opinions on the subject interesting.

The service writer at the dealer thought it seemed excessive too but he's pretty new to the RV world. I dropped it off yesterday but haven't heard anything beyond the drop-off talk. I'll keep you posted.

Cumminsfan · 03-17-2017, 01:48 PM

I'd ask for a new one. If you can see that poor workmanship imagine whats wrong where you can't see.

BFlinn181 · 03-17-2017, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

I'd ask for a new one. If you can see that poor workmanship imagine whats wrong where you can't see.

Good luck with that!! If you do a search on the forum, you'll find many threads about rust on frames and unprotected steel. As someone else said, RVs are cranked out with little real regard to the environment they will be used. inappropriate fasteners, metallic incompatibility, (electrolysis) poor sealing or caulking, and many other issues are common in the industry.