Has anyone ever seen a painted Barth Travel Trailer? I always see Motorhomes painted.Now that I'm 97% finished I am thinking of possibly painting the aluminum. I was going to polish it out, but this might prove fruitless, as I live by the Salt Water. You can polish it, but in weeks it will start oxidizing. I am going to see what they use on planes to keep them shiny. Polishing is a lot of work, but I've always loved the look.
Any suggestions???????

Todd

quote:

Any suggestions???????

My guesstimates: 8-10 manhours per foot of length to achieve the initial polished finish....
2-3 manhours per foot per year to maintain it......Several hundred $$ in initial supplies &
materials....maybe a hundred $ per year to maintain.....

I vote paint.......

PS: Great job ya did there!

Lee
What price are you basing labor cost where you're located?
Todd

I own 2 aluminum trailers:
1964 Aristocrat 13 ft
1968 Barth 22 ft

I don't see anything wrong with painting them but I won't paint the Barth, I am to old to fool with polishing so what you see is what you get.

The Aristocrat is a different story as I have plans for a wild paint job for it as soon as I can get the painter lined up.

Mary
Do you have any pictures of the Aristocrat you could email me?
Todd
tearjerkers@gmail.com

I have pictures of the exterior that I can send, I am still working on the inside. It had no fridge or stove when I bought it and of course too small for a bath room. Will send pictures later tonight and will try to take some inside shots tomorrow.

Thanks.
Todd

Here's a post from the AirForums about painting Airstreams. I'm thinking about painting one of our trailers as the skin has some dings.
-Bill

Inland RV Center, In
Rivet Master

Airstream Dealer
Corona , California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,344
Images: 1 Paintin an Airstream

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Reading the above, makes me wonder how many hours some owners are spending, that are unnecessary when painting.

If someone choses to side step painting methods, then all bets are off.

The following is how we have done it for years, with nothing but outstanding long term (20 years) results.

1. "REMOVE" all the exterior plastic parts.
2. Strip the coach with Aircraft stripper.
3. Some additional applications of stripper may be necessary in stubborn areas.
4. "SAND" with "AIR TOOLS."
5. Use 120 to 150 grit sandpaper.
6. Clean the shell with lacquer thinner, thoroughly.
7. Remount the exterior lights, etc, and seal them as well.
8. Mask all the area's that you wish to protect.
9. Seal the seams or whatever with Vulkem and/or Par Band sealers.
10. Use "top" quality materials. Expect tp pay $1000.00 or more for materials for a 31 foot trailer.
11. Spray two double wet coats of "flexible" epoxy primer.
12. Let the primer "out gas" at least 24 hours. Longer, if the ambient temperature is very cold.
13. Spray three double wet coats of metallic silver.
14. Within 2 to 3 hours of the silver, spray three double wet coats of clear polyurethane.
15. Remove all the masking paper etc.
16. Your done. Get the beer out.

I understand that there will be those that differ with the above. That's your privilege. This system has worked AND stood the test of time for us for many many years. If you wish to side step some of the above, that again is your choice.

We have chosen to share this with those of genuine interest. We will not further make any addition comments, or get into any discussion with anyone who may chose to be argumentative, or who may wish to challenge the process. Nor, will we answer any other questions, no matter how well intended, simply because of liability.

As a testimonial of our paint work, ask anyone who has suffered hail damage to their trailer, after we painted it. The dents are there, but no cracks, chips, or peeling. Nuf said.

Andy

The thread is located here:
http://www.airforums.com/forum...ella-25-a-10522.html

quote:

Lee
What price are you basing labor cost where you're located?

Absolutely zero - it's a "Labor-of-LUV"

For a retail job by a vendor, I've seen prices around $100-$150 per linear foot (rear bumper to hitch socket) for initial polish job, i.e.: an 18' trailer could run $2500-$3500 for complete job.

Sidebar consideration: Paint will hide skin imperfections....polishing will highlight them......

The following is how we have done it for years, with nothing but outstanding long term (20 years) results.

I'm really liking step 16!!

That's a good question Todd, I wonder if Barth ever painted any of their trailers?

Thank you all for the info. I am going to check with a couple of Truck & bus painters on the island. Problem is labor cost here is more than other parts of the country.

I, myself,have never seen a painted Barth Trailer.

There is something to be said for a older trailer with new tires, sparklng hub caps, clean windows, new propane tanks, that says its a classic, and a work of art. All who wander are not lost.