UPDATED - Painting a Caravan

[Roundozo]

Hi everyone,

Me and the Mrs have bought a cheapo caravan. I'm not a fan of them at all really but it means we can get out and about and enjoy some outdoor living and we also have a canoe so that'll be fun. Anyhow, I really dislike the colour these were built in and was wondering how I could make it look slightly better.

My plan is to paint it French grey or satin black with a cream top and keeping the metal work clean. I think this will look great but what paint can I use? I don't want to spend loads, remember is a cheapo caravan, but I was thinking of using plastikote. Do you think this will work? I'll clean it first and then go over it with some scouring pads to give the paint a good hold but I don't really want to do much more. The plastikote stuff covers about 2.5m2 so I'll need quite a few cans.

Anyway all thoughts and pointers appreciated.

P.s. don't worry, the zed isn't towing it!

[cj10jeeper]

Would be good to see a photo of the caravan, but imho plastikote on it will look crap on big flat panels and in weeks start to chip and peel. It'll also look like you did it with a roller. I've seen plenty of brush painted caravans in my off-roading adventures

It really needs spraying correctly and given you're looking to save money I'd rub it down, mask the metal and spray with large rattle cans. Get some big ones made up at a local paint shop in a colour you like.

[85genius]

My mates brother does caravan repairs and he sprays them exactly the same way as you do a car, in fact I got him to repair one of my old cars when I smashed it

[firebobby]

We have been caravanning for years, I'm sure you will enjoy it

[Roundozo]

So I would prepare the areas with a light sand after washing it etc and would obviously mask off Windows and trim etc but I just wanted to know if I'd need to use a primers as well.

The roof and top of the sides will remain white with either a French/Lamborghini grey or satin black sides, front and rear. I might also put a couple of pin stripes down the side.

I'll try and get a picture up soon. I don't want to get it done professionally as the entire van is only worth 800.

[cj10jeeper]

So I would prepare the areas with a light sand after washing it etc and would obviously mask off Windows and trim etc but I just wanted to know if I'd need to use a primers as well.

The roof and top of the sides will remain white with either a French/Lamborghini grey or satin black sides, front and rear. I might also put a couple of pin stripes down the side.

I'll try and get a picture up soon. I don't want to get it done professionally as the entire van is only worth 800.

For what you're doing you'll be fine to give it a real good wash, allow to dry, light wet and dry to key the paint and remove dead paint, mask and panel spray. Do it when warm and not windy as you'll no doubt be outside.
Won't be perfect, but you know that

Satin will go on easier, but also harder to keep clean.

[Mister T]

You'd be better off using something like Tekaloid coach paint and a roller.

You've got such a large surface area on a caravan that using rattle cans will end up costing a fortune.

[A1GSS]

Caravan club even publish a leaflet on this, Tekaloid recommended:

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/caravanclu ... van-mo.pdf

[Roundozo]

Picked up the caravan. Lots of work done but not ready for the full reveal yet but here's a teaser of the Lamborghini grey colour (this is the bit that covers the tow bar).

[Johnross]

thought this post was going to be a euphemism , but it really is about "painting a caravan"

[RickRob]

I have been on here long enough not to even question why someone would write about painting a caravan on the Z4-Forum!

In fact, I think that's why I like the Forum so much - mainly about Zeds but plenty of other things going on.

[rhys4]

Hope you enjoy the caravan

[slick]

Picked up the caravan. Lots of work done but not ready for the full reveal yet but here's a teaser of the Lamborghini grey colour (this is the bit that covers the tow bar).

I cant wait for a pic of a caravan on that table

[Roundozo]

Well I thought I'd update this just in case anyone was actually interested although I do appreciate its difficult to be interested in a caravan.

The outside will be finished this summer as didn't have time in the end last summer but the inside has now been finished. Here are a load of photos for anyone interested. Before, during and after.....
[/URL[URL=http://s273.photobucket.com/user/roundo ... z.jpg.html]

[Wyldie85]

updated and modernised...

Look forward to seeing the outer colour when it's all done.
I'm not a fan of caravans but appreciate you're putting the time and effort in here so credit where credit's due!!