Looks like I will be taking off and refinishing my ladder. Any tips or ideas on what will cover and last. I was thinking rhino coat or something of that nature. Any suggestions would be great.

 

They usually rust from the inside out.
Rhino lining would probably be the best

 

Yeah the power coat on two of my rungs is pealing off and it looks like I am getting some surface rust. My plan it to take it off and use a grinder to take all the surface rust and power coat off then re coat.

 

And while you have it off, you could use either an existing screw hole, or make one, to allow a long plastic tube to be snaked inside to spray your choice of rust preventer / paint / under coating, etc. to hold down the rust from inside. Or just pour it in and shake it around to spread it. One of those bar-b-que marinade syringes can squirt a lot of stuff through a small hole.

 

Man that's great info. I have a BBQ comp team www.fatashbbq.com so as luck would have it I got plenty of those syringes laying around. Thanks for the tips guys!

 

Interesting... Not sure if the "rusting from inside out" theory is correct or not (sounds plausible), but coating the inside seems tedious. The ladder is about $100, correct? Will last 5 or 6 years? Not worth the extra work, IMHO. Then again, I am looking at installing a ladder, and as **** as I am, I'll probably try coating the inside of the damn thing...

 

Anything sealed and made of steel will rust from the inside out because of the condensation that is inside it.
Nothing you can do about it other than drill drain holes.
Look at any tubed steel brush bar or ladder or running board/side step, all rusted from the inside out.
Any make, any model, steel is steel.
I do agree that the cost-benefit of coating the inside is not worth it, but thats just me.

 

Right about the condensation, coating and drain holes would be good. Will the truck last as long as the ladder?

 

I would just take it to a powder coater and let them have at it. My local coater does full sandblast and coating of a ladder for under $10. It is a lot faster and will look great. I may need to clarify that price is for satin black. If you want a crinkle coat it should be more.

 

I have a Land Rover Ladder and it is sealed from all ends and does not have any holes for drainage. It seems to rust at the rungs and at the edges. Basically anyplace condensation and rain can sit I have painted it about every 1.5 years. I use Rustolium Rust reformer, then truck bed liner to match my bumper and fender flairs. Now I need a roof rack for a destination to climb!