Finish - Drive Trailers

Hot Dip Galvanized Finish

The Best Solution for Protecting Against Corrosion and Rust

Drive Trailers offers hot-dip galvanizing as a premium finishing option, delivering unmatched corrosion protection for your trailer. This industrial-grade zinc coating creates a durable zinc-iron alloy barrier that stands up to harsh conditions, from winter road salt to demanding job sites. Each galvanized trailer is processed at Valmont Coatings and undergoes a multi-step treatment that ensures long-term performance with minimal maintenance. The process includes thorough surface preparation and immersion in a molten zinc bath, resulting in a metallurgically bonded finish built for decades of use.

Partial Tilt T6 — Galvanized Partial Tilt

Step-by-Step Hot-Dip Galvanizing Process

1: Surface Preparation

Proper preparation is critical to achieving a high-quality galvanized finish. Steel must be completely clean before it’s immersed in molten zinc. The preparation stage includes:

Degreasing/Caustic Cleaning: Contaminants like dirt, grease, and oil are removed using a hot alkali solution, a mild acidic bath, or a biological cleaning bath.
Descaling: Mill scale and iron oxides are removed by immersing the steel in a heated sulfuric acid bath or an ambient hydrochloric acid solution.
Fluxing: Remaining oxides are removed in a zinc ammonium chloride solution. A protective layer is applied to prevent oxidation before the galvanizing stage.

2: Galvanizing

The cleaned steel is immersed in a molten zinc bath containing at least 98% pure zinc, maintained between 815°F and 850°F (435°C–455°C). As the steel and zinc react, they form bonded zinc-iron alloy layers, with a final outer layer of 100% zinc for maximum durability.

3: Inspection & Quality Control

Because zinc will not bond to unclean steel, a visual inspection quickly reveals coating quality. Coating thickness and adhesion are tested to meet ASTM galvanizing standards, ensuring every trailer receives a long-lasting protective finish.

Benefits of Hot-Dip Galvanizing Your Trailer:

Superior corrosion resistance in all weather conditions
Extended trailer lifespan with minimal maintenance
Protection against road salt, chemicals, and abrasives
Durable, bonded zinc coating that resists chipping and peeling

Powder Coat Finish

Stand Out with Drive Trailers High-Quality Powder Coat Finishes

Drive Trailers offers a selection of high-quality, industrial-grade powered coated finishes designed to withstand the toughest job site conditions. Choose from a wide range of standard trailer colors or request a custom color option to match your brand or fleet.

Each trailer undergoes thorough surface preparation before powder coating, ensuring a clean, smooth, and professional finish that not only looks great but also provides long-lasting protection against the elements. Our durable coatings help prevent rust, resist chips and scratches, and keep your trailer looking sharp for years of hard use.