[AlabamaDan]

About 15 years ago I inherited a small 4x8 utility trailer from my grandfather. It has a steel floor, tilt bed, and a 18" gate. It's probably 30-40 years old. It was originally designed as a yard trailer with a drop pin hitch. He pulled it around behind a lawnmower. I cut the pin hitch off and added a ball hitch when I got it and it's been a decent trailer. It's hard to back up, but other than that makes a great ATV trailer. Sometimes I haul the ATV on it and sometimes I pull the ATV with it. It was probably red when new. Today it is faded and aged, but not really rusted. It's kinda like those old rat rods. I'm trying to decide if I should paint it. I'm thinking a flat maroon or something similar to keep the look, but freshen it up.

Questions: Since it isn't really rusted, should I sand or just paint? Should I prime? Recommendations on paint?

 

[SamUK]

If the paint is old it may chip/flake off, I’d be tempted to try an air powered descaler. That being said, a grinder with flap discs would do well I should think.
I’d be tempted to go back to metal and then use a good rust proof paint such as Hammerite. I think you guys have other brands available in the US also. Maybe bed liner would work well, I’m not sure in that one though as I’ve never used it myself.

 

[fishfiles]

there are so many ways to skin a cat , what you are looking for in the end governs how to proceed ------------ a quickie would be to wipe it down with Liquid Sand Paper , great stuff , then prime it with Self Ethicing primer then paint , if you have any rust spots or scratches , you can feather the edges with a orbital sander with 220 paper before priming

 

[alloutdoors]

If you are planning on keeping this family piece forever, then I would go ahead and take it down to bare metal, prime and paint or have it powder coated.

 

[Wsg]

When I rented trailers, I used a cupped brush on 7" grinder, quick to clean up. I was never overconcerned on final looks as intended to do this yearly to extend life of trailer