Track Trailer Forum

Sorry about the time between posts.
I rang atlas(track service agent at tamborine qld) and took the van in for a service.
We talked about the front panel refurb.He is doing it.
Will post how it went.
His work previously has been spot on.I expect it to be no different this time...mark

It's a bit exy.
I measured the thickness of the guard,it looks about 1 mm and a bit.
But the top folds under another piece of sheet metal,a tight fit.
I'll have to ring the shop and see if he can do a sloping,rounded type edge,from the top down a bit.
If not it could look a bit odd.
Hopefully he can,or i may have to find a different coating,i could apply with a roller to give a mild stiple effect.
I did not want to do this myself.
I will go armed with a bolt to the bolt king,and see what they have.
I'm not sure,but i think someone told me stainless steel bolts can be a bit soft.These guard ones are not under a lot of stress tho.
I admire that you fitted up the awning,hope the snapped bolt wasn't too much of a pain in the bum.I wouldn't even try it,i know my limitations.
      Thanks mark

Hi luke,just had a quote.
$119 per side.
Maybe an extra $44 per side if undercoat is needed.
Thickness will be 3mm.
That seems thick,but i have never seen this stuff before.
It get's a good rap on reviews here and there tho.
How thick was your coating.
Probably need new bolts,but that's ok,i was going to put new marine grade stainless on.
      Thanks mark

Thanks luke,that sounds like the go to me.
I'm not concerned about the non gloss finish.
It does seem easy to get them off.So i'll have a look around,see if there is anyone on the Brisbane baydide area does it. Thanks mark

One job finished,another starts.
Hi all,i would like to refurb the two vertical black panels each side of the draw bar.
It would probably be a better finish if i take them off first.
Apart from that i have no idea what the best way is to bring the surface back to new.All input appreciated.What have you done,or thought about doing?
          Thanks all mark.

Ray,i wont forget to let you know how it goes tho.I don't think it will peel off.
When i have sanded it back,it has seemed to be well attached Maybe we'll be back late september...but departure and destinations are unknown.. mark

Hi Ray,i don't expect there will not be any stone chips or paint missing after gravel roads.
But now i have it worked out what to do,i'm happy to give it all a quick prep,sanding then paint.
The longest part of the job will be a couple of days between coats.
They say 16 hrs i think.But a couple of days doesn't hurt.
Sorry for not getting back sooner,i'm stuffed if i can work out why i don't get notifications on a reply.thanks all mark

Hope someone can help me re. emails and allerts.I am definitly ignorant of the ways of forums.
I don't get emails and or allerts for any forum discusions
I'm watching.I thought i had made the right moves for this..but..
I go to user actions,tap on receive emails or allerts,iget nothing.
Is there something i'm missing?Don't want to be a pest,but i allso can't seem to track down the glases icon,that i think tells you you are watching a particular post.
   Thanks all mark

Sorry jay,here is a quick run down on what i did.
1.a scrape and sand of surface to be painted.if you prep it well,the finish looks spot on.👍🏻
2.a quick wipe over,dusting.i used a dry brush and non lint rag.4.i brushed on some rust converter(feronite)you get it at mitre 10.to any little bits of rust left,a day later a light sand and dust.
3Apply the u/c wattle master prep mettle primer..it is turps paint so i used a good quality house brush.I have found monach give a good finish and last well.Due to humidity i gave it two days to cure well.Then a second u/c(after a quick wipe with a 400 gritt sand paper).
Before painting on under coat or top coat,ilike to have two sets of brushes soaking in turps.
Just in case the brushes you use first get a bit gunky.
To get rid of the extra turps in the brush,just sqeeze in a rag and then a bit of a flick on a towel or similer.
4.So after a couple of days i attempt
the top coat.Same as for under coat.For this i used wattle kill rust epoxy gloss eenamel,but a sticker on the bottom of the label says it is 'matt bkack'it must have this sticker or it will be Gloss finish.
If you like high gloss this is a vey good choice.We didnot like it the first time,so a bit aof mucking around,and presto.the matt black...and i'm very happy with it.
I know it will be needing redoing after various trips,but now i know what i'm doing,it should be a quick job.
Good luck to all,and if unsure ring the paint support people at the company who make the paint you decide on.stay safe wehen uder the van.thanks for your input.   Mark

Sorry i did not read your post well enough.
Exfactory,the first one.
Still if yourself or anyone else has worked out an efficent way of doing a retrofit,i'd appreciate the input.thanks all mark

Hi Monester,old chat,but hopefully🤞
Did you retro fit the truma,or was it ex factory.
We would like to fit(maybe someone else) an a/c,so our touring window can be a bit longer.Not a fan of hot humid nights.thankyou mark.

Sorry it took a while to update what has been going on.
So i topcoated with the gloss.
You could paint it on the wall and use it as a mirror.
Decided it was not quite what i was looking for,you need a welding mask to look at it😁
I sanded it back a fair bit,put on the u/c recomended to go over.
Well there were small bits here and there that were a bit orange peely.
Turns out i was given the wrong advice.I explained in detail what i was doing and was sold the WRONG u/c.
I have since sanded it back again,undercoated (different u/c),and finished in a matt black.
No problems at all it looks great.
This is the firs time i have done this sort of thing.
Some went wrong and a lot went right.
I learnt a lot,and is good to see the finish.
I'm confident when i get back from the next trip,i'll easily be able to bring the suspension
back to looking the goods.
Thanks for all input,stay safe.mark

Hi Gobi 1,ive done the same as you a couple of times.luckily no breaks.
I'll be going the elecy pump way from now on.thanks for the post.

Ok,after a lot of phone calls,ive decided to buy a different u/c instead of the one i have all ready.
I have put a couple a coats of feronite on..looks good,worked very well.
I'm going to u/c with a wattly primer,followed by wattle killrust epoxy enamel topcoat.
There were others,but there seemed to be a lot of nasty stuff in them.
I think there may be harder finishes,but i'm thinking this will be easier to redo after a trip.
Thanks everyone for replies.

Okedoke,thanks Rob.
I'll check out the septone.
The car parts shops seem to stock a single brand of these products,and 'they are the best'
I'm looking for a satin black top coat,and maybe an undercoat as well.
As i said earlier,ihave apretty good steel undercoat,that will stick to anything.I have some bare metal bits of steel,.heavey handed sanding,wire bruhing .Thanks mark