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Old 02-22-2016, 02:47 PM   #1
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Frame paint coming off in sheets?

I've got a 2013 Mini Lite 2109s and noticed that the paint on the frame is coming off in sheets. Anyone else have this problem?



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Old 02-22-2016, 03:03 PM   #2
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Clean loose piece up with wire brush then spray rust mort or rust-prep on entire surface. Rinse with water the spray or brush on black chassis paint.


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Old 02-22-2016, 03:05 PM   #3
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I definitely have to do something with it. Has that issue ever been seen before? It's like the factory paint never stuck. There is clean metal under some of it.
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Old 02-22-2016, 03:05 PM   #4
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Frame paint coming off in sheets?

http://www.azautobodysupply.com/sem6...id=18283950120

https://www.google.com/search?q=rust...NqSKjgTqi7iQAw

http://www.tcpglobal.com/POR-45908.h...B#.VstqSkVOLCQ

Any napa will have this or similar.


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Old 02-22-2016, 03:36 PM   #5
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I guess at 3 years old and not ever seeing winter roads I would have expected more. I've got a 2006 Pace American enclosed trailer and the frame looks no where near as bad as the Rockwood.
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Old 02-22-2016, 03:39 PM   #6
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Have seen this on frames before , the steel hasn't been cleaned and the paint just doesn't adhere properly.Get as mush loose paint off as you can then do as Turbs said. At the very least spray some Tremclad rust paint on the bare areas.
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Old 02-22-2016, 03:43 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by GearHd6 View Post
I guess at 3 years old and not ever seeing winter roads I would have expected more. I've got a 2006 Pace American enclosed trailer and the frame looks no where near as bad as the Rockwood.
Lippert Components, (LCI). I had a few spots the same as yours on a 2013 Keystone. Don't look too close at the welds, LCI welds are usually extra special. Its best to look at them with your eyes closed. A friend of mine has a 2012 Heartland on an LCI frame, and you can not even tell it was ever painted, totally rust. He never towed in salt either for what that is worth.
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Old 02-22-2016, 03:44 PM   #8
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Yeah the cross members that hold up the holding tanks are real rough looking. I'm scared of how rusty they are on the inner areas towards the tanks where I can't see.
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Old 02-22-2016, 07:17 PM   #9
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Yeah the cross members that hold up the holding tanks are real rough looking. I'm scared of how rusty they are on the inner areas towards the tanks where I can't see.
Those are most likely just stamped sheet metal. If you go to LCI's site in the store section under chassis components, they offer a few different types. One is actually called a tank support and another a floater. All that stuff is way overpriced though. As an example they have a 4X4X92 bumper tube for $157 that you can get at RV Factory Surplus for $65 or they sell a Schwintek slide controller for $426 that I can find for $175 or less.

If you can weld, two pieces of 1 1/2" angle and a few pieces of plate you can make your own that would be much stronger.
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Old 02-22-2016, 10:17 PM   #10
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Yeah those cross members are definitely glorified sheet metal. The front tank brackets that bolt in are in decent shape though. The cross members welded to the frame are the rusted ones. Would you piggyback the rusty cross members with angle iron or cut the old stuff out? I do know how to weld, I've actually got a Miller mig welder.
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Old 02-23-2016, 07:18 AM   #11
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A lot of the strength is in the laminated floor assembly.

I didn't realize you meant the full height cross members, but I have seen where they use one of those for one side of the tank support. I guess in that case all you can do is treat it and re coat it unless you wanted to get into replacing those. Believe it or not they sell them. I know people who have added extra cross members when the floor went spongy.

I think you would need some major rust on those before worrying about it.
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Old 02-23-2016, 07:31 AM   #12
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I can easily coat the part of the cross members I can see but the side toward the tank I can't. I really don't want to get into dropping the tanks. I had forgotten that those cross members support the already spongy floor so cutting them out isn't going to work out.
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Old 02-23-2016, 08:23 AM   #13
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Rustolem makes a product called Rust Reform that will convert rust to an inert material that will never rust again. Check it out, I've used it for years and it's never failed me.
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Old 02-23-2016, 08:25 AM   #14
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I'll definitely check it out, thanks. Is it something that sprays on? Do you have to paint over it?
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Old 02-23-2016, 08:49 AM   #15
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Google is your friend-- Rustoleum Rust Reformer is available in brush on and
spray can. The Rustoleum site says WallyWorld carries it as well as AutoZone and probably your friendly neighborhood hardware store.
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Old 02-23-2016, 08:52 AM   #16
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I know Google is my friend but I like to hear what real people have used and how they applied it. He said he had good luck with no more rust so I'd like to replicate his application procedure.
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Old 02-23-2016, 09:00 AM   #17
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Originally Posted by GearHd6 View Post
I definitely have to do something with it. Has that issue ever been seen before? It's like the factory paint never stuck. There is clean metal under some of it.
Yep, happens all the time. Like the other poster said, prep it and re-paint it with the required materials. You need to appreciate how construction of an RV happens and say, the assembly line at an automobile plant. Not even close in mfg processes. The reason are many, unit production, plant and equipment expense, the list is long.
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Old 02-23-2016, 11:00 AM   #18
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You need to appreciate how construction of an RV happens and say, the assembly line at an automobile plant. Not even close in mfg processes. The reason are many, unit production, plant and equipment expense, the list is long.

The list may be long but I do not see how any of it justifies a frame that rusts or has the coating peel away in sheets on a 3 or 4 yr old trailer. There is such a thing as preventative maintenance but I don't think the OP's issues fall under that category. I have seen some of these frames rusted to the point you could not tell they were ever painted and they were not much over 2 yrs old. Its nothing more than piss poor manufacturing and buying frames from the lowest irresponsible bidder. You can try but you can't sugar coat it, although sugar may make a better coating than what they are using.
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Old 02-23-2016, 11:10 AM   #19
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Now mind you, that is not the only spot on this frame doing that. You can tap your finger all over and you can hear the paint is popped off the frame. Just pick a little and it'll all peel off like that picture I posted. I emailed Forest River about it yesterday and they got back to me in about an hour saying they were sorry my frame was doing that but the frame is only warrantied for 1 year so I'm out of luck.
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Old 02-23-2016, 11:16 AM   #20
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GearHd6 any way you can get under there with a high PSI pressure washer and peel all the paint off and respray with a good anti-rust paint?
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