Clear-coat bare metal sliders

[daesonn]

I am awaiting the arrival of my 2017 4runner TRD off-road premium in MGM and was looking at my first planned mod- sliders. I like southern style offroad and actually kind of like the bare metal look they have. I knoe most people powder coat or rattle can their sliders, but is there anyway to protect them from not-so-harsh conditions (I live in AZ and don't plan on doing a tremendous amount of off-roading) and preserve the unpainted look?

Thanks!

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[MN4runnerman]

If you go the clear coat route I wouldn't use regular clear coat. I'd use chip guard clear coat which has a bit of texture in it.

 

[JWaldz]

Anything is possible with determination (and $).. I don't see why you couldn't do it. The only thing I'd be worried about is if you actually go offroad and scrape them up you wont be able to tell where they're scraped up. Unless it's a gouge and obvious. Therefor, you wont know where the touch them up and then comes the surface rust.

 

[NinjaOne]

Anything is possible with determination (and $).. I don't see why you couldn't do it. The only thing I'd be worried about is if you actually go offroad and scrape them up you wont be able to tell where they're scraped up. Unless it's a gouge and obvious. Therefor, you wont know where the touch them up and then comes the surface rust.

Something I hadn't thought of. I'd been considering doing just a clearcoat on my skids...

 

[daesonn]

No other input or pictures? I figured this would be more common... maybe with the textured option like [MENTION=106706]MN4runnerman[/MENTION] mentioned then I would be able to keep the look but still be able to spot places that need touch up

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[MN4runnerman]

Chip guard clear is used on rocker panels and the lower parts of doors. If you look closely at those spots on your 4Runner you can see that it has glossy texture compared to the rest of the clearcoat on your truck. It's because it is a thicker enamel paint that is more chip resistant than regular clearcoat. Get a few cans and put 2-3 coats on each slider and you'll be good to go. If I didn't bedline my sliders I would've painted them up and used chip guard as clear over it.

 

[PWD4R]

If you'll off road at all I just think it's kind of a junk idea honestly. I mean I understand your thought but the theory vs reality is the main issue. Your average clear coat gets scraped by brush... tree leaves and twigs... if the sliders won't even see that much abuse then I'd question the need in general. I'd save your money for something more useful in that case

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[daesonn]

Chip guard clear is used on rocker panels and the lower parts of doors. If you look closely at those spots on your 4Runner you can see that it has glossy texture compared to the rest of the clearcoat on your truck. It's because it is a thicker enamel paint that is more chip resistant than regular clearcoat. Get a few cans and put 2-3 coats on each slider and you'll be good to go. If I didn't bedline my sliders I would've painted them up and used chip guard as clear over it.

Is there a specific product you might recommend? And do you think I might have issues with flaking and/or yellowing since there would be no primer/paint for the clear-coat to bind to?

 

[MN4runnerman]

Is there a specific product you might recommend? And do you think I might have issues with flaking and/or yellowing since there would be no primer/paint for the clear-coat to bind to?

I use SEM clear chip guard. Honestly I have never clear coated just bare metal. Your gonna kind of be the guinea pig here. But I can give you steps to follow so that you'd have the best chance at it turning out.

1. Clean bare metal using acetone or SEM makes a degreaser called SEM Solve. Some of the stuff you get comes with applicator brushes.
2. Apply the chip guard in thin coats. This stuff runs really easily which in your case probably won't affect the finished product. But when I use it over paint I have to be careful.
3. If it's warm out give it like 20-30 minutes between coats.

 

[MeanoTorino]

There is also the option of clear powder coating. Do a google image search and you can see some pretty good examples of it. I have to SSO sliders as well and I'm dropping them off this week to get them powder coated in Gunmetal grey. My 4runner is MGM also.

 

[MN4runnerman]

There is also the option of clear powder coating. Do a google image search and you can see some pretty good examples of it. I have to SSO sliders as well and I'm dropping them off this week to get them powder coated in Gunmetal grey. My 4runner is MGM also.

I've used powder coating clear on the custom fishing jigs I make. I usually add a bit of metallic so I can make them sparkle more

 

[Classic95]

If you really like the look galvanizing would be the way to go but it's very expensive. I was quoted $500 for a batch, which could be up to #1500's (I think that was weight). So, unless you went in with at least another person, rather cost prohibitive. My friend had it done to the sliders on his truck and they have held up very well.

 

[Shocks]

You could just get a color that matches the bare metal and paint it that. This way you get the protection of paint with the look you're looking for.