Painting the A frame, where to get paint

[xo1rider]

I want to wire brush, prime and paint the area around the hitch of my trailer (A frame). The color which I'm guessing is standard looks to be a dark gray.

Can someone tell me where to buy the correct paint, what color to ask for and any tips including (if needed) the primer.

Thanks

[SteveH]

You can get it thru Airstream parts, but you're not going to like the price.

I mixed some black into some Rustoleum dark grey, and got a match.

[Roadrunner]

I just finished wire brushing and cleaning up the A-Frame on our "78" Ambassador. I removed all the hardware and wire brushed with drill. You may also may want to follow the frame back under the front of your trailer and prep it as well. Once all the gross rust was removed I coated it with 2 coats of POR 15 which is an excellent primer/sealer. One caution...don't get it on your skin or you'll be wearing it for awhile. This was followed by Rustoleum metallic grey. I'm sure you can get paint close to what Airstream uses. We decided to go darker and highlight with red on hardware. It really makes our Airstream look "clean".

Bob
Indiana, PA

PA TAC-5
WBCCI -4871

[dkottum]

I just picked some up last week while at the Airstream Store in Jackson Center. You can call them and they will send it out.

They are very helpful in providing little bits and pieces for your Airstream as well. Cheryl wanted another rack for the pantry and they had one for her. I wanted a complete set of extra keys, no problem

doug k

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by dkottum

I just picked some up last week while at the Airstream Store in Jackson Center. You can call them and they will send it out. They are very helpful in providing little bits and pieces for your Airstream as well.

doug k

EVERY time I call them with need for a part, all they will do is give me the part number, and tell me I have to call a dealer even to get the price for the part, and then order the part thru the dealer.

[dkottum]

Steve, is that the Airstream Store? Maybe there's a difference of accessories (store) and parts (dealer). I don't know, they had what we wanted.

doug k

[SteveH]

I can't say for sure, I just call Airstream in Ohio, and ask for parts information, and that's what I get.

A while back I did a stupid thing, and let some water stand over night under a computer on the writing table. Learned that it has a partical board center. Anyway, long story short, that little table's price thru a dealer here was $640.

Got one built at a local cabinet shop out of solid wood for $145.

[davidz71]

My understanding is that you can buy it while visiting the Airstream factory in Jackson Center but they will not ship it if you call them. They use the dealer network for that.

[vswingfield]

Wow! Two things in this thread really impressed me.

Originally Posted by xo1rider

I want to wire brush, prime and paint the area around the hitch of my trailer (A frame). The color which I'm guessing is standard looks to be a dark gray.

Can someone tell me where to buy the correct paint, what color to ask for and any tips including (if needed) the primer.

Thanks

1) You need to paint the A frame on a 2012 Airstream? That leaves me speechless. That's pretty much a brand new trailer.

Best of luck on getting the paint. Although, if the original paint didn't last a year, are you really sure you want more of the same?

Originally Posted by SteveH

I can't say for sure, I just call Airstream in Ohio, and ask for parts information, and that's what I get.

A while back I did a stupid thing, and let some water stand over night under a computer on the writing table. Learned that it has a partical board center. Anyway, long story short, that little table's price thru a dealer here was $640.

Got one built at a local cabinet shop out of solid wood for $145.

2) The particle board table is one thing, but you left a computer sitting in water?

I do agree that $640 is just crazy talk.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by vswingfield

2) The particle board table is one thing, but you left a computer sitting in water?

I spilled some drinking water on the table, thought I had wiped it all up, but some went under the computer. Evidently it wasn't too deep because it didn't hurt the computer.

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by SteveH

I spilled some drinking water on the table, thought I had wiped it all up, but some went under the computer. Evidently it wasn't too deep because it didn't hurt the computer.

Sounds like you got lucky there. Needing to replace the table and the computer would have been really bad.

[robwok]

wow, painting the hitch already?

I just did mine. Covered it in por15, then used the por15 silver pain. I brushed the base, but used a $99 Ingersol Rand HVLP sprayer and my pancake air compressor to spray the paint. Wasn't cheap paint, but I was able to cover a lot of stuff and still have some in the can in the fridge (used half of it almost a year ago- covered the top with saran wrap before putting on the lid and kept it in the fridge all year). Here's my hitch as of this morning actually. Keep in mind, mine is from 1964...

I did a once over with a wire wheel on my drill, some sand paper, and then the acid eating spray that Por15 recommends. I also had a few parts powder coated locally. I may never have to do this again.

[xo1rider]

Thanks everyone, I found what I think is the correct paint online at:

Pewter Gray Spray Paint 360260-100 [360260-100] - $18.95 : Out-of-Doors Mart!, More Airstream Parts on-line than anyone!

And to the person who wanted to know why my 2012 trailer needed touch up it's got to do more with me than the trailer. The area around the hitch where I toss the chains when I'm camped is chipped from the chain hitting that area and the area under the propane tanks where the tank cover rubs can use some touch up. I'm sure I could go five or six years without any significant rust, I'm just an anal old retired airline pilot who likes everything looking new.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, I bought my tongue paint from Rod at C&G Trailer Service in Bellflower, Ca.

[Skater]

Originally Posted by vswingfield

Sounds like you got lucky there. Needing to replace the table and the computer would have been really bad.

These days, computers can be had for far less than the $640 Airstream wanted to replace the table.

[BeachHouse]

Out of Doors Mart sells two colors for the A frame depending on how old your trailer is. Also, you can get pretty close with 'touch up' paint from an auto parts store. For my newer trailer the color was a little too metallic, but really you can' really tell. I think the color was pewter, but I can find out (I have some at home) if you want to know.

[Bk Yd Safari]

Originally Posted by xo1rider

Thanks everyone, I found what I think is the correct paint online at:

Pewter Gray Spray Paint 360260-100 [360260-100] - $18.95 : Out-of-Doors Mart!, More Airstream Parts on-line than anyone!

And to the person who wanted to know why my 2012 trailer needed touch up it's got to do more with me than the trailer. The area around the hitch where I toss the chains when I'm camped is chipped from the chain hitting that area and the area under the propane tanks where the tank cover rubs can use some touch up. I'm sure I could go five or six years without any significant rust, I'm just an anal old retired airline pilot who likes everything looking new.

I purchased my used Airstream from Out of Doors Mart and have ordered several items including the above spray paint from them. Sometimes a bit pricey with handling and shipping, but I always receive what I ordered in a timely manner.

[Chucktown 25]

User beware; The only thing that removes POR15 is time! (LOL)