New Rusty Propane Pipes

[rip]

What do you guys use, if anything, on the rusty propane pipes on your Forest River trailers? The ones, on my new 2013 Rockwood 2809W I just ordered, may just look bad and not be anything to worry about.

Do you paint them or do they stand up to the rusty conditions under our trailers with any concerns? I haven't found any threads where you talk about how you may do any improvements, or I may have missed them.

[lindy]

Nothing but surface oxidation. Trl will fall apart around you before you have an issue with the propane pipes.

[Dave_Monica]

I painted mine with black tremclad paint for appearance sake only.

Dave

[rockwood06]

That is black iron and that is what it does, that is nothing compared to what I see in buildings, the older the buildings the worst it is...and FYI the first place you will get a leak is anywhere where there is a fitting because once it is threaded the thickness of the pipe is reduced and this area will break down and leak faster, and all you need to check for leaks is a small amount of soap and water and spray it on the fittings if it bubbles you have a leak.

[rip]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

I painted mine with black tremclad paint for appearance sake only. Dave

Thanks, Dave. Did you buy a spray can or brush it on?

Did not know about tremclad, did web search, read a little, located it at Home Depot, sounds like the thing to do for cosmetic appearance.

[KQ2N]

I guess the same holds true for the propane tank? My first class C was about 10 years old and the tank completely rusted. I just traded in my 2 year old Sunseeker 2300 and the propane tank already showed signs of rust beginning. Any way to keep the tank looking new and white as when they're new?

[Dave_Monica]

Originally Posted by rip

Did not know about tremclad, did web search, read a little, located it at Home Depot, sounds like the thing to do for cosmetic appearance.

I just wire brushed the loose scale off and applied the black Tremclad paint with a brush. I've used the same paint for touch-ups on the frame, axles, pinbox and bumper.

Dave

[rip]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

I just wire brushed the loose scale off and applied the black Tremclad paint with a brush. I've used the same paint for touch-ups on the frame, axles, pinbox and bumper. Dave

As I crawled around under my new trailer and observed rust already forming here and there, hmmm-m-m-m everywhere, I'm investing in a can of that paint at Home Depot tomorrow.

Someday I may share a story with the forum about a little bit of rust and my boat trailer. It will explain my rust paranoia.

[cstover]

I am an Officer in Charge of a Coast Guard ship built in 1961. Who wants to share rust stories?

[rip]

Dang, Tremclad only available in Canada. Didn't seem to find same Rustoleum paint product in USA. Figures. Maybe an EPA thing. Grumble.

[NevadaM]

I've used an item called Ospho, available at most Wilco-type feed stores and maybe Home Depot's. It's an acid based that encapsulates the rust then it can be painted and the rust won't keep growing. Just be careful painting it on over yourself, it can't be bad for eyes, etc. It definately worked on a Jeep I was fixing up. Kept the rust under control and allowed me to paint right over it.

Nev

[DAISY BOYKIN]

RIP, you must have received your RV during the winter/ snow season. I had the same problem on my 2011 fifth wheel for I picked it up in January from RVWholsalers in Lake View Ohio. There was 6" of snow on the ground at the time I picked, the unit had been towed from the factory in Indiana
also with snow on the road. The salt that is applied to remove the snow is what is causing all the rust and deterioration.

I can see even the brass fittings are green from the salt and the screws have began to deteriorate. After returning to Florida from picking up my fifth wheel in January, I set out with a good pressure washing of all the under carriage. I even removed the wheels on each side so I could remove as much salt as possible. After the under carriage dried for a couple days.
As mentioned in a early post as using A chemical by the name OSPHO to treat the rusty areas. I used a same chemical by another name called "PREP & TECH" by KLEAN STRIP (phosphoric chemical) from Lowe's or Home Depot. It is the same chemical by the name of OSPHO. Just a little cheaper. I applied the chemical with a pump up sprayer and a quart plastic spray bottle along with a brush. This is a sort of a time consuming job, but it works. Follow the directions on the chemical container. It states it removes rust from metal surfaces & inhibits flash rusting. It also insures good paint adhesion. Again just follow the directions about application. I used a good black paint by RUST-O-LIEUM to paint all the surfaces. I purchased new screws, replaced all the rusty screws (lots of them). On the box tube of the frame near the wheels, I sprayed foam (INSULATION TYPE) into the ends of the open box framing. After drying of the foam, I used a hack saw blade to remove the excess foam that bulges out of the box tubes (FRAME).

I spent of lot of time a my back with a mechanics creeper to accomplish the task of the work to be done. Over all about a week!
As stated by the X coast Guard fellow, he can tell you about rust. Well I can too after 28 years in the Navy on lot of old WWII type ships.

Good luck.

[RPAspey]

every spring I go around with a wire brush and 3-4 cans of flat rustoleum spray paint. I brush the worst off and hit it with a quick coat. I can say that it only takes an hour or so till I run out of paint. Done til next year. It's also a good time to look for frame cracks and other damage.

[jeeplj8]

Por-15 is a true rust eliminating paint, there are other out there. My understanding is they chemically neutralize rust with high zinc content. Frankly overkill for most projects, but the end result is incredibly durable.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/b...FQ3NnAod-yUAZw

[Pipeman]

I also spray painted my pipes along with the frame. Just remembering my 6 days aboard a Canadian Navy frigate way back when. I spent time in the basement and then moved to the blunt end. Finally made it to the pointy end. Not the life for me. I liked my tank better....