I have a Roadstar caravan purchased 4 years ago privately and the previous owner liked the old Gal paint.
Fast forward to today and the Gal paint peeling and bugger me if it doesn't have a Galvanised Frame, a quick whip with pressure washer and more is exposed.
So I stripped off all the Gal Paint and it's pretty good a little dull but no rust, a bit of metal polish in a small area and it's shining
Should I paint it with a silver paint or polish the gal back to new look, I like the Galvanised look as it's clean.
I haven't stripped the draw bar or lower frame rails yet as their ok just a poor silver paint job.
Are Galvanised Vans painted or not that is the question.
I dont think a manufacturer would paint a galvanised chassis.
There are caravan manufacturers that dont galvanise chassis any more.
Back when I was buying my new van I looked at the Zone brand and from memory they have a coating they put on their chassis.
I think it is like a thick protective coating but according to Zone at the time it was weight saving if compared to galvanising.
I would imagine that manufacturers would opt for weight saving and painting galv chassis would be counter productive.
If there is no rust or damaged surfaces I would just leave the galvanised surface.
hot dip galvanising a chassis will add up to 200+ kilograms to a large vans weight, this is why most van manufacturers don't ask G&S Chassis (AL-KO) to do it anymore.
Cold gal paint is fine so long as you don't live in a corrosive environment like salted roads or near the ocean.
Do whatever you like . Would painting it keep it cooler if painted white ? The proper under coat prep also !! Gal oxidises a little also ? You may like that ?
Thanks for your knowledge on the added weight for Galvanising a frame, but it's already a Galvanised Chassis, Frame and Floor base.
It's cleaned up nice and to paint Gal you need an etch primmer which effects the Gal coating, which the previous owner didn't do. He just slapped on with a brush a think layer of paint, which started to peel after 4 years ( the time I've owned the van).
Has anyone have a Roadstar or Van with a Galvanised Frame and is it painted?
There are at least 3 ways to add sacraficial zinc to a steel surface - 1) dip in acid, rinse, then dip in molten zinc, 2) dip in acid, rinse, elctroplate a really, really thin layer of zinc onto the steel, rinse, 3) clean with soap and water, rinse, paint with rattle can or 2-part 'cold-galv'.
I'm sure there are many combinations, but most current van manufacturers use method 2 for most of the chassis with method 3 applied at welds and where extra screw, cable or pipe holes are made.
Due to stone chips the A-frame and spring mounts benefit from regular re-coating with cold galv; for aesthetics many owners 'join up' the retouching of these 2 locations.
bye.
-- Edited by bruceg on Saturday 18th of March 2023 01:08:25 PM
-- Edited by bruceg on Saturday 18th of March 2023 01:09:08 PM
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Bruce & Judy pulling a 3T 23.5' Traveller Prodigy behind a Diesel Range Rover
I recall seeing in the handbook for our caravan mention in routine mtce that you spray paint the chassis if it looks tarnished, etc.
Perhaps that is where Ram Man's overdone paint job stems from.
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
As you have found out paint will not stick properly to a galvanised surface unless it is prepared first either using an etch primer or a good scrubbing with a solution either homemade or bought.
