Painting Fender Flares

[zgensler31]

i tried searching for a few things but just havent quite found what im looking for.

first, i have a 96 sr5 and want to paint the fender flares, running boards, front valance. what are the differences, advantages, disadvantages to bedlining them and just a black rattle can.

second, if someone could either post or point me towards a good thread on the procedure to painting them(what primers, how many coats etc) it would be much appreciated. thanks


also i live in western pa. would it matter to do it now in winter or should i wait til spring?

 

[BrianSD_42]

I suggest you either order new OEM SR5 flares or pay someone to paint them professionally after you remove them.

If you paint them yourself via a rattle-can I can assure you the paint will not last more than 12 mo. A professional paint job (ie a paint gun) is a totally different process and superior quality chemical. I have done the rattle can on my bumper twice now and it is only so-so.

 

[zgensler31]

I suggest you either order new OEM SR5 flares or pay someone to paint them professionally after you remove them.

If you paint them yourself via a rattle-can I can assure you the paint will not last more than 12 mo. A professional paint job (ie a paint gun) is a totally different process and superior quality chemical. I have done the rattle can on my bumper twice now and it is only so-so.[/QUOTE

even with a clear? or some kind of protection Spray stuff?

 

[BrianSD_42]

I am not a pro by any means and it does depend on what quality you expect. I guess just do it an choose good spray paint. Worse case it will fade in 12 mo or less but maybe not too bad.

If you can take them off yourself then it will not end up costing much for a trial run.

I have a pretty good write up on painting in my build thread. Be sure to use high quality paint like duplicolor or SEM (the higher cost cans not $3 but $9)

 

[zgensler31]

Awesome I'll check out your thread. Any clue what it would run me to have them painted? Or if I could get ahold of a paint gun....might have a friend with one.

 

[maxspeed96ct]

I just sprayed my flares and lower valance with spray beliner today, ill get some pics for you guys tomoro.



It looks great, but I should of used a better bedliner spray. The rustoleum stuff just didnt go on as thick and "tough" as real beliner . Even after several coats . Now I know why it was so much cheaper then the other brands.

But im overall happy with the results, ill see how it lasts to .

I sanded with 220 grit, then cleaned with prep solvent, then used adhesion promoter for plastics (from automotivetouchup) follwed by the spray bedliner.

The worst part of the job was taping and covering everything

 

[99 sr5 highlander]

I painted my flares about 3 months ago with duplicolor spray on bedliner. After lots of rain and long freeway trips, they still look just as great as when I did them. I think the bedliner on the flares is tougher than the clear coat on the body. I really suggest doing this yourself to save money. The total cost for me was $24 and my flares look brand new. Just make sure to prep them very well with lots of soap and paper towels.

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[zgensler31]

I painted my flares about 3 months ago with duplicolor spray on bedliner. After lots of rain and long freeway trips, they still look just as great as when I did them. I think the bedliner on the flares is tougher than the clear coat on the body. I really suggest doing this yourself to save money. The total cost for me was $24 and my flares look brand new. Just make sure to prep them very well with lots of soap and paper towels.

~original[/IMG]

Sweet man. 99 sr5 Highlander. What made you go with be liner instead of paint? Did you have any fit issues putting it back on?

 

[A.Wilson013]

Sweet man. 99 sr5 Highlander. What made you go with be liner instead of paint? Did you have any fit issues putting it back on?

It looks like he had the same issue I had when I removed my front pass side flare to do my Tacoma Whip mod.

See how it doesn't sit flush with the fender anymore? It's impossible to get it right, using the same holes. I tried for hours. I have seen good results drilling new holes, but I didn't want to do that.

 

[cj80cruiser]

I think it's better to apply bedliner in warmer temps but I sprayed my truck with Raptor bedliner that you can get off ebay. One bottle will go a long way but you'll need hardener and the spray gun they sell. I bought the kit that came with everything for $100 and sprayed 75% of my Landcruiser with several coats. It's definitely thicker than Rustoleum but not quite as thick as say a Rhino liner which makes the Raptor brand look better on the side of the truck than a thick Rhino lining. I sprayed with a really high pressure and it gave it a fine texture...I think around 80-90 PSI

 

[zgensler31]

I think it's better to apply bedliner in warmer temps but I sprayed my truck with Raptor bedliner that you can get off ebay. One bottle will go a long way but you'll need hardener and the spray gun they sell. I bought the kit that came with everything for $100 and sprayed 75% of my Landcruiser with several coats. It's definitely thicker than Rustoleum but not quite as thick as say a Rhino liner which makes the Raptor brand look better on the side of the truck than a thick Rhino lining. I sprayed with a really high pressure and it gave it a fine texture...I think around 80-90 PSI

Cool. Would it be better to bed liner since we get alot if snow up here? Brian emc said paint didn't last long. Any one know how long the bed liner will hold up?

 

[CodyX36]

Look up Bulldog Adhesive Promoter. Spray a coat or 2 of that before you do your painting. You can probably find it wherever rattlecan paint is sold.

 

[zgensler31]

Look up Bulldog Adhesive Promoter. Spray a coat or 2 of that before you do your painting. You can probably find it wherever rattlecan paint is sold.

I take it yiuve used it before? There site said to sand only if there was peeling paint. Would it hurt to rough it up with like 200 or 300 grit first?

 

[1985taylor1925]

I would have to agree with Brian on this. Ive done a ton of painting with rattle cans, and its very difficult to get a nice finish that will last. I also do some professional painting on the jets I work on at my base. And I would recommend getting at least the flares professionally painted. But I know its stupid expensive.

A product I would recommend if you do it by hand is Rust Oleum Bumper and Trim paint. It comes out very consistent and is about the strongest stuff ive used other than Rust Oleum metalics. I know a lot of people like dupli color, but from my experience its much more difficult to get a consistent finish with it, and its not as durable as rust oleum.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I gave this Duplicolor Bumpoer trim spray a try and after 5 months and into our winter it's still looking good but the jury is still out on longevity but so far so good.

I used Duplicolor plastic paint for my scoop insert which was oxidizing bad and needed something til I decide to go back to body color or not.

Next up I'm doing the lower valance by springtime.

 

[zgensler31]

Am I getting this right? Paint looks great but isn't known to be very durable yet. Does anyone know about how the bed liner will hold up?

 

[99 sr5 highlander]

Sweet man. 99 sr5 Highlander. What made you go with be liner instead of paint? Did you have any fit issues putting it back on?

I used bed liner because it has a good texture and it's very durable. It is, however slightly challenging to clean, because of the texture. There was a small issue with getting it aligned, but I got it pretty good so the small gap really isn't noticeable.

 

[zgensler31]

I used bed liner because it has a good texture and it's very durable. It is, however slightly challenging to clean, because of the texture. There was a small issue with getting it aligned, but I got it pretty good so the small gap really isn't noticeable.

Thanks, you've been a big help. Did you have any problems with getting a good even coat?

 

[cj80cruiser]

I've used the raptor bedliner on 2 different trucks. My 80 series Landcruiser got it sprayed all down the side. There is a pic on here somewhere of it. http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/256937-my-raptor-u-pol-bedlined-80-pic.html

The other truck I sprayed it on is my chrome 4runner bumper. Did it over a year ago with hardly scuffing the surface. It's still holding up fine. I also spray painted over the bedliner to give it some color. I havent used bright colors to paint over it though....only black or gun metal grey.

 

[cj80cruiser]

Thanks, you've been a big help. Did you have any problems with getting a good even coat?

I would tape around the flares and not remove them. Take your time and you can get it right.