Re-Paint Trailer Cost

[MetsFan9]

Looking to get my trailer re-painted at a body shop, I was wondering what you guys thought it would cost to get a trailer for a 16 foot Skeeter re-painted. The trailer is in great shape just needs some fresh paint to bring the color back. I would estimate the trailer at 19 feet or so. I was just wondering what you guys would estimate this cost to be.

[basshnter1]

I don't know but the cost is in all the prepwork.
The more you do yourself the cheaper it will cost.

[northrivergeek]

You have many options as far as paint, the longest lasting is to sand blast the trailer frame, then have it sprayed at linex hard and wont chip off .. cost 500 - 600 apox

Or you can sand the rusty spots with a 36 - 60 grit flap wheel and grinder, and spray with Rustoleum primer, then top coat with Rustoleum enamel prob looking at 100 -150 bucks in paint.

Or pay some one to do it that has spray guns etc .. prob run around 300 - 400

Reg Body shop depending on the quality you want, pin striping , etc any where from 600 - 1000

these prices are about what it would cost here in Southeast TN, your neck of the woods .. prob much higher

[Rebel9921]

Want to save money, and have less worry about future chips/stratches/rusting??? Simply go Herculiner...

Im sure if you looked hard enough around your area you can find the gallon kit for $75... its the prepping thats back-breaking... you'd need to get all the rust off... primered... then scuff up the primer well enough... then cleaned with Xylol... then go at it with 2-3-4 coats of Herculiner...

Im in middle of doing this to my boat trailer... I've herculined the axle... it looks SWEET!!! Cant imagine how sweet the trailer will look like... Am waiting on few trailer parts before I can proceed with herculining the trailier...

Good luck!

[northrivergeek]

Yea but wont be as purdy lol .. Herculiner ya only get the choice of red, white, black and grey, they also have a UV top coat now too, most auto parts stores only carry either black or grey.

[Ozark Angler]

I used Herculiner on my truck bumper for a winch bumper. I don't recommend it. TOO inconsistant in finish. The rubber "chunks" did not apply evenly and it just looked bad. I had to spray over it with Duplicolor bedliner to even it out. In the end, I could have paid the extra $100 for the powdercoat finish so I didn't save any money. Herculiner and other similar products fade BADLY over time and if it's black, it attracts a lot of heat. No bare feet when launching the boat! haha

Again, I don't recommend Herculiner from personal experience. I've never seen a good quality finish from it. Other brands, yes. Just not that one.

If you are going to do it, do it right and have it painted. Shop around for prices and try to find someone who does not own a body shop but paints on the side or paints cars cheap. You may save some money there.

[basshnter1]

Totally agree with the spray in bed liner stuff fading.
The line x on my truck bed was great for only about 5 months before it faded.
I've seen herculiner and it looks horrible.

[Rebel9921]

Geek... Im not going for pretty... Im going for durability... Besides its the boat that should overshadow the trailer in beauty... I dont want to have to worry about rust developing on the trailer from paint chipping n stratching...

Ozark... Well.. I did the axle in herculiner... and I say it looks awesome...
Your statement about the rubber chunks being inconsistent in applying process is probably due to not mixing enough and often... I find the method of using a mixer attached to the drill to work the best... I usually mix the whole thing for a good minute or two (you should see the bedliner frothing with the chunks... and be sure to get all the chunks off the sides and the bottom of the can)... and repeated mixing every 5-10 minutes after the major mixing to work excellent... I should take picture of the axle and post it up... It looks SWEET, is all I can say...

All I am interested in is to have a durable surface on the trailer... I want to be able to wash down the trailer and not having to worry about stratches or chipping... Thats the main reason why Im doing 4 to 6 coats on the trailer... I did 3 coats on the axle and found it to be enough...

[Ozark Angler]

I mixed mine with a power drill and mixer like you. I found it very difficult to spray and it clogged up the special spray gun I bought for the Herculiner. I had to brush it on and then it showed brush marks. It didn’t “roll-on” as advertised either. I even mixed it with the special type of thinner it recommended to help spread it better. I still wasn’t impressed with it because the chunks didn't seem consistent enough. No matter how much thinner I added, it still didn't spray correctly or roll on correctly.

If you are going for durability then you will be happy with it. It is relatively tough for the price but it’s not bullet proof. The more coats you add, the thicker it gets and more durable it is.

I recommend applying the UV protectant as described in the instructions. That will keep it from fading so quickly and keep it looking new as well as protect the finish.

[Rebel9921]

Maybe thats why... I noticed that the durability of it is of a lesser quality when you add Xylol to it... It also seemed to me that the rubber chunks disappear when you add xylol to it???

I didnt add anything to the herculiner for the axle... and yes I used the brush for the entire axle... I didnt brush it on... what I did was just dab it all over... Pretty much I would lay it on thick then spread it all over by the dabbing process... and it works good...

I will try and see how the rolling process work... but from what you described... I might will just save myself some trouble and use the brush-dabbing process... or I could do the rolling process for first coat then use the dabbing process for rest of the coat...

Nothing's really bulletproof... I just want less headache when it comes to the trailer... knowing that the trailer will be rust-proof for years to come is satisfying enough... and knowing I can drive over gravel roads without worrying about anyting is satisfying enough too...

[Ozark Angler]

I hear ya on gravel roads. I used to traverse one particular road all the time. My lake has been 6-8ft above normal pool since the spring so I haven't gone down that road all year. I may when the water receeds. The road runs into the lake and I can launch my boat closer to my fishing hole.

I think I used the "tapping" method too but had to brush it on first. I still didn't think it spread consistently enough. I did add the Xylol or whatever it was and yes, it thins it down. It still clogged my sprayer. that's why I sprayed over it with Duplicolor bedliner so I'd have an even texture.

I also noticed with Herculiner that some spots are shiny, some are dull, some are just FLAT, and some have no texture. Even though I mixed it for 5 mins with a high speed drill and mixing bit.

I may look into using something like it on the axle myself when I repaint mine. Not a bad idea.

[fogawee]

Took my 4th trailer to Macco they do a good job. Last time $300, previos 3 ranged from $150 to $200. I use to buy and resell project boats. This saved time and dollars for quick turns. I kept the last one and the paint is 3 years old,looks like new I live outside the Chicago area snow is hard on the trailers.
I think Maaco is nationwide paint franchise.

Ernie