Your Choice of Trim and Bumper Paint (Photoshop Pics)

Well it's about that time that my bumper and rocker panels are starting to just look plain nasty, so I figured I would take it all off and just paint it black to match my grille. A lot of people on here seem to recommend the duplicolor spray-on truck bed liner. Others prefer herculiner/rhino liner. A friend of mine did his Jeep doors with the duplicolor as well. I figure that the truck bed liner would be much less prone to wear or damage than bumper paint.

Would the rocker panels/bumper require any priming? I was planning on washing, sanding, degreasing with a metal cloth, then power washing for maximum adhesiveness (if that's even a real word), all before painting.

Advantages/disadvantages of any product? Price range? What would you guys prefer.
I had a friend of mine photoshop the concept on my vehicle.

First picture is pre-shackles and TT
Second picture is pre-everything
http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/4724/****tycopyut3.jpg

 

[Charlie]

You know, I've thought about doing the whole front grill section black like in that photoshop, but I just can't decide if I would like it or not.

Cost should be less that $20 including everything, sand paper, paint, ect, assuming you do it yourself (paint, not bedliner). While I'm here...may I suggest...

 

[bp1506]

I think if you also tinted the windows it would look really good.

 

[mp88]

Actually Charlie, the grille on my 'ploder was just $20 on ebay. It came black and unpainted. The fllat color was the basis for everything else on the truck that I'd like to do.

I really thought about bringing the paint up like you did there, but it just takes away from that semi-stock look that I would like to keep.

Tinting the windows doesn't sound like too bad of an idea. But there's a certain point where the car looks (pardon my French) wiggerish. Since I know nothing about tint, won't certain cleaners like Invisible Glass strip the tint off of the windows? Is it hard to tint windows?

 

[toypaseo]

IMO, leave the tinting to a pro. Tinting only the side windows should not be too much. I would consider $100, a fair price. If lifetime warranty is not standard, go elsewhere.

I clean my tint with a damp microfiber cloth, followed by a dry microfiber cloth to dry.

 

[mp88]

Should I use 400 grit sandpaper? What are some good prepping procedures?

Ok I just got back from Advance. $8 for a can of truck bed paint . I've heard that I may need a couple cans to get the job done. I was thinking along the lines of 2 coats of primer and 3 coats of paint on the panels and flares.

As for the bumpers, I got to thinking. The store sells this clear adherence stuff, so after prepping, I would put 3 coats of that on, followed by 3-4 coats of duplicolor bumper paint.
For the rear bumper I would put the bumper paint on the metal part and the truck bed liner on the plastic steps. Since there's 2 steps I think it would look pretty neat.

Here's what I'm wondering though: The bumpers are plastic and metal. Would the bumper paint sit well on both of those? Would I have to add any clearcoat protectant to either the bumper paint or the truck bed liner?

 

[Joe Dirt]

For some perspective on use, I used one entire tall rattle can of Duplicolor bedliner itself for 3 good coats on a Reese Hitch I put on my Ex.