How to Fix Rust on a Utility Trailer
Rust forms when the paint that protects the metal components of your utility trailer receives damage, which leaves the surface of the metal components exposed to moisture. Once formed, the rust progresses and can cause severe structural damage to your utility trailer. You must completely remove and neutralize rust to protect your utility trailer from further damage. Once the rust is removed, you need to apply primer and paint to ensure that the metal remains protected against the reformation of rust.
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Things You'll Need
- Safety glasses
- Face shield
- Leather gloves
- Wire wheel attachment
- 4-inch grinder
- Wire brush
- Clean rags
- Sandable aerosol primer
- 400-grit sandpaper
- Spray paint
Instructions
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1
Put on your safety glasses, face shield and leather gloves.
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2
Attach the wire wheel to the 4-inch grinder.
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3
Start the grinder, tilt the grinder 15-degrees from the surface of the utility trailer and run the wire wheel along the metal surface, using long continuous strokes. Continue removing the rust from the area until the metal of the surface is shiny and rust free.
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4
Repeat Step 3 on all the rust to remove it from the utility trailer.
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5
Remove rust from corners and areas that the wire wheel does not reach with the wire brush.
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6
Wipe down the entire surface of the utility trailer with clean rags to remove the dust created by removing the rust.
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7
Shake the sandable aerosol primer for the time specified on the back of the can.
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8
Hold the tip of the spray can 6 to 8 inches away from the metal that needs to be painted. Coat the bare surface by moving the spray can in long continuous strokes. If you stop in one place, runs will develop and ruin the finish of the paint.
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9
Lightly sand the cured primer with the 400-grit sandpaper to smooth out imperfections caused in the surface of the metal by the rust.
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10
Wipe the sanded surface with a clean rag to remove the sanding dust from the area.
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11
Shake the spray paint as specified on the can and apply the spray paint as described in Step 8 for the aerosol primer.
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12
Allow the spray paint to cure and then inspect all the painted areas of the utility trailer to ensure that you have an even coat of paint and no bare metal is left exposed. Repaint any areas that have exposed primer or metal with additional spray paint.
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13
Use the utility trailer after the spray paint has fully cured for 24 hours.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Substitute cold galvanizing spray for the sandable aerosol primer and spray paint if you have a galvanized utility trailer.
