I want an Indestructable paint job!

[91explo]

Ive started doing body work to my X...Im planning on applying brush on bedliner or a spray on rock guard/undercoat. I just want a tough coat for 4x4ing and im not worried on how "good" it looks as long as it will handle some tree branchs ect... has anyone out there done this?? I cant be the only crazy one! :S And plus its a cheap "do it your self" job

 

[CDW6212R]

Spray on bedliner.

 

[IZwack]

Just get the cheapest rattle can.

 

[tonymac97XL]

I have chipgaurd up to the small feature line on my X, it's decently rugged, but likes to chip off, ironically, due to thermal expansion. I'd try a rubberized undercoating or something that doesn't get as rigid as chipgaurd, I'm looking into redoing mine. Either use spray-on rubberized or roll it on, the brush is hard to work with. It can actually look decent if applied carefully.

 

[Glacier991]

I'd suggest a Urethane single stage paint.... something like white to better hide scratches.. Either that or aircraft epoxy. Not cheap eiher way.

And a wierd idea I have never tried all over, but you *could* add flex additive to the paint.... might help... it too is VERY costly.

 

[tonymac97XL]

yeah, the bedliner option is usually around $40 to $45 a gallon. Not cheap, but then again, we're not talking black primer. That's $0.98 a can.

 

[Tbars4]

...grey primer is cool...

 

[tonymac97XL]

...grey primer is cool...

Hahaha, well, my grill is black primer... came out pretty good, too...:

 

[Tbars4]

...cammo primer...

 

[Lt.Jim]

From the Herculiner web site:

 

[tonymac97XL]

That's the stuff I was thinking of! My dad put it in the bed of his truck, and NOTHING can take that stuff off.

 

[Regulator_XLS]

my buddy did his entire jeep wagoneer in bedliner, and it looks awesome and we use his hood as a tool bench, nothing scrathes it, we jab screwdrivers at it and its still sticking

 

[BrooklynBay]

http://www.drivingmeinsane.com/forums/money/1246-paint-your-car-50-a-new-post.html

 

[91explo]

ah yes...that pic of that suburban is perfect! To bad that spray on liner is expensive! I know because i worked for xtreme liners for a few months. Hmm mabey theres a rattle can of liner on the market? Or mabey I will get a gun for rubberized underseal...hmm all these great ideas! I was thinkin black primer but than thats all that would be protecting my body work and bare metal. I do have a sata primer gun I could use with my 8 gallon compressor? But i still like the idea of a "thick" "rugged" paint job.

 

[IZwack]

IMO, for the price of these industrial liners, and considering how broke we off-roaders are, the cheapest rattle can (or the Rustoleum epoxy for two more dollars) do just fine . I'd rather spend that money towards some tubes for rock sliders or something else worthwhile.

 

[tonymac97XL]

I'll have to post some pics, but I only used spray-on liner up partway on my doors and around the wheel wells. It's holding in there good, I've hit some pretty crappy trails with it (I haven't done any serious off-roading yet, these were camping trips with plenty of brush and stuff to destroy paint jobs. While I had 225/70R15's I wasn't going anywhere near a rock.) I would NOT recommend the bedliner from Wal-Mart, it's garbage after about a year, and pretty much just as expensive as the other stuff. (My only complaint: It's peeling off. Understand, I spray-canned a replacement door over a year ago and it's still just fine. This bedliner, however, likes to peel.)
Get a can or two of herculiner if you're up to the expense, and put it on there good and thick where the most damage is likely to occur. (doorhandles down). Then use really cheap black primer for the rest of the beastie. It'll go on easily, look fine, and is the easiest of anything to touch up (buy another rattlecan and hit the bad spots. If you're really worried get a sanding block and smooth it before applying a new coat)

[EDIT] Pictures:

 

[91explo]

hmm now that ive heard of some other peoples stories and tips....I think im going to just go with a couple good coats of primer! Reason for this is i think it would be a lot easier stripping and repairing a panel if needed! I would not want to strip my x of that liner stuff...man that would take awhile! Im thinking iether white or black primer. White would be nice because it hides alot...but black would be nice to! I know at the body shop we had white....but do they have it in a spray can? Hmm I wonder if i should just spray in my portable garage with my 8 gallon compressor?I own a paint gun! Any comments on this?

 

[91explo]

i know this is going to sound crazy...but in the past 10 minutes I think ive totally changed my mind!! I visited the hurculiner website thanks "lt.jim" and looked at there gallery! Wow...I must say I'm impressed! A guy did his entire bronco II with 3 coats, from 2 gallons! I found a place that sells it in my town here so I'm going to go get a price from them tommorow...any mabey get started!

 

[rookieshooter]

John Deere Blitz Black. You can rattle can it or use a compressor. It's a satin black that you can't bang off with a hammer. Hey, it' made for tractors, what does that tell ya?

I just wet sanded it after application with 1000 grit. The door has a different tint because at the time of pic it was not wet sanded with above.

I have done both. Rattle can and compressor. Scratch it up.....No biggie, just break out the rattle can Plus the luster looks so cool when wet

This paint has been on some of the Hot Rod sites and maybe that's why it's gotten more pricey. But I also heard that it had to change some of the ingredents to meet Ca. envoir. codes.

 

[Paraphoe]

Awesome truck rookie. The black looks great.