Repainting Skid Plate and Hitch

[atalarico]

Hey all,

I know this has been covered in the past, but I wanted to see if I have the right idea based off of old threads and if anyone has anything new to offer.

I'm going to repaint my factory skid and my hitch on my 97. The skid more just because it could use a refresh and it would help the overall look of my pretty beat up truck. I'm going to use the POR15 paint/treatment since that seems to be the best recommended throughout threads here and elsewhere. Is that still the case?

If I want to paint my skid a different color, is POR15 still the way to go? Can I paint over the POR15 black paint with another color? I'm not sure I'm going to paint it a different color, as I think just gloss or flat black will make it look a million times better as it is, but I am curious how red would look.

Also, is the little $20 POR15 starter kit enough paint for the skid and the hitch, or should I buy the quart size cleaner and metal pre-treatment and a slightly bigger can of paint?

The hitch and the mounting rails have quite a few rust spots, and there's even about a dime-sized hole in the hitch. I'm wondering if it makes more sense to get a hitch from the Yota Yard that's in slightly better shape and repaint that one. I personally don't care about the rust hole, I don't ever tow anything, and the hitch is just there as a nice jacking point when off-road and what not. Will the repaint still make it look decent even if it has a small hole? Should I not even waste the $50 or whatever it would cost for a used hitch?

Thanks! I've never repainted anything on a car ever, so this will be a...fun (?) experience.

 

[gamefreakgc]

If you don't use the hitch and it's rusting out (never tow anything with that hitch if it has holes!) why not just remove it? It'll drop 50 lbs. off the vehicle.

 

[4runnerWiniarski23]

Personally I would just wire brush off as much rust from the hitch as you can and paint over it. If you are never really using it and its for comestic reasons than the more prep the better the result. (thats if you arent considering removing it)

Painting the skid plate red will really make it stick out. If your curious on how it would look snap a picture with your phone than use paint on the computer to get an idea.

 

[atalarico]

If you don't use the hitch and it's rusting out (never tow anything with that hitch if it has holes!) why not just remove it? It'll drop 50 lbs. off the vehicle.

I didn't say I don't use it, I just don't use it to tow since I have nothing to tow. And yes, I also know you'd never want to tow with a hitch that has a compromised structure like that. The one time I was going to a few years back, the electrical connection wouldn't work (prob bad relay), so UHaul wouldn't give me the trailer. So, I hauled the 78" long couch with my hatch open and secured like a ****ing boss. The rust hole wasn't quite there yet either, and I would have only been towing a very very small load a short distance.

That hitch has saved my (4Runner's) literal ass a few times. Once I slid backward down a hill of craptacular mud water about 7 miles back on a 4WD road. The only thing that prevented me from going all the way down into a lodgepole fence, and then the river, was my trailer hitch being wedged on a boulder. It has also defended my bumper against a parking lot rear-ending.

Other reasons I want to keep it that aren't related to my questions about paint:
-use it as a hi-lift jack point (haven't actually needed to, but nice to know I can)
-I have a shackle on it if I need to use said hi-lift as a come-along
-it looks naked without it
-50lbs on a ~3,700lbs truck is a drop in the bucket (it's literally 1.3% of the total weight of the truck)
-It's not my daily anyway, so that kind of stuff doesn't matter to me

Making me all weepy over my hitch. That said, the more I think about it, the more I'm thinking I should fix the wiring issue and get a hitch in better shape and paint it. Just because I don't tow now doesn't mean I don't want to, and I wonder if I haven't wanted to because I know I can't. Hmmmmmm

 

[Kbuch1]

Atalarico,
Literally, I just completed this job, and have not reinstalled my skid as I plan to flush. The coolant.
I did the same to both my skid and hitch.
Wire brushed the skid particularly, especially the welds. The only scale rust I found was on the side nearest the muffler.
For the skid, I did it primarily as a bolt was rounded and it was causing issue with servicing the front diff.
Mine was grease and oil covered from minor VC leak. After cleaning it profusely at a local car wash, I did the same as with the hitch..
Rust oleum Rust Reformer in black as a primer coat, followed by a flat black enamel finish coat. Multiple light coats to avoid any runs and it came out pretty solid in terms of results.
I think a highlight color in red would jump out really bold. Good luck with whatever you do.

 

[atalarico]

Atalarico,
Literally, I just completed this job, and have not reinstalled my skid as I plan to flush. The coolant.
I did the same to both my skid and hitch.
Wire brushed the skid particularly, especially the welds. The only scale rust I found was on the side nearest the muffler.
For the skid, I did it primarily as a bolt was rounded and it was causing issue with servicing the front diff.
Mine was grease and oil covered from minor VC leak. After cleaning it profusely at a local car wash, I did the same as with the hitch..
Rust oleum Rust Reformer in black as a primer coat, followed by a flat black enamel finish coat. Multiple light coats to avoid any runs and it came out pretty solid in terms of results.
I think a highlight color in red would jump out really bold. Good luck with whatever you do.

Thanks for the tips! I don't have a dremel or a wirebrush, so I guess I'll be going to pick one up for this job. I also have a pretty nasty layer of goop on the top of my skid from a VC leak (and a handful of oil changes where I didn't feel like removing the skid).

I have a hose at home, I wonder if I really need to take it to a pressure wash car wash or if I can just spray Purple Power, scrape goop, spray, repeat a few times? Did you soak it in anything before pressure washing it or did it just melt right off under the pressure?

I'm torn on the red color, and I know it'll make it pop, that's kind of what made me think of it. However, I think just repainting it black will also make it pop since it'll be the shiniest looking thing on my truck anyway, so I might just do that. Plus, I only really drive it for mountain adventures, so it'll be recoated in mud in no time.

Cheers!

 

[ThorInc]

Por 15 is good stuff and you are recommended to paint over if it will be in direct sunlight, no UV blockers. Get the loose stuff off with a wire brush or wheel then degrease and use their rust prep....it's good stuff. You should be able to do the skid and hitch with the "starter kit", just Google on ways to keep the paint from hardening and sealing the can permanently shut if you have any left when you are done.

 

[atalarico]

Por 15 is good stuff and you are recommended to paint over if it will be in direct sunlight, no UV blockers. Get the loose stuff off with a wire brush or wheel then degrease and use their rust prep....it's good stuff. You should be able to do the skid and hitch with the "starter kit", just Google on ways to keep the paint from hardening and sealing the can permanently shut if you have any left when you are done.

Ah! So, I'm thinking that since the skidplate really should never be seeing direct UV (really...it would be a bad day if it was getting direct sunlight), I should be fine with just using the POR15 paint after the treatment?

The hitch is more so in the sun, so that's interesting. Glad to hear that 4oz's of paint goes a long way!

 

[ThorInc]

Yep, I'd use the por15 on the hitch and I am sure it will last at least two years without a top coat.

 

[tee-bone]

Quoting myself quoting someone else...I should mention I was asking about painting my frame.

A while back I emailed a rep for POR-15 when I wanted to do this on a different vehicle. The following is what he told me, and what I followed. I used a wire wheel on a grinder to get to bare metal.

Make sure the surface is down to bare metal or rust. Properly, clean and prep the surface with our Marine Clean and Prep and Ready. Each product is sprayed on individually, kept wet 10-15 minutes then rinsed thoroughly with water and allowed to dry. You do not have to use a power washer. Simply using a garden hose is fine. Once you have rinsed both cleaner and prep allow the surface to dry then apply 2 thin covering coats of POR-15. You do NOT have to use the silver first. A top coat is only necessary if the POR-15 is exposed to direct sunlight only. If you want to use the Chassiscoat be sure to apply it when the 2nd coat of POR-15 is almost dry, slightly tacky. If you do paint over nuts and bolts with POR-15 it will be very difficult to remove but not impossible. Keep the POR-15 free from bolt threads. The POR-15 will fill the threads and will be difficult to remove. I would order a gallon each of Marine Clean and Prep and Ready, 2 quarts of POR-15 and 2-3 cans of Chassiscoat (optional). The 2 quarts of POR-15 will be enough product to coat up to 100 square feet with the 2 thin covering coats applied.

 

[MyFirstRunner]

Hey all,

I know this has been covered in the past, but I wanted to see if I have the right idea based off of old threads and if anyone has anything new to offer.

I'm going to repaint my factory skid and my hitch on my 97. The skid more just because it could use a refresh and it would help the overall look of my pretty beat up truck. I'm going to use the POR15 paint/treatment since that seems to be the best recommended throughout threads here and elsewhere. Is that still the case?

If I want to paint my skid a different color, is POR15 still the way to go? Can I paint over the POR15 black paint with another color? I'm not sure I'm going to paint it a different color, as I think just gloss or flat black will make it look a million times better as it is, but I am curious how red would look.

Also, is the little $20 POR15 starter kit enough paint for the skid and the hitch, or should I buy the quart size cleaner and metal pre-treatment and a slightly bigger can of paint?

The hitch and the mounting rails have quite a few rust spots, and there's even about a dime-sized hole in the hitch. I'm wondering if it makes more sense to get a hitch from the Yota Yard that's in slightly better shape and repaint that one. I personally don't care about the rust hole, I don't ever tow anything, and the hitch is just there as a nice jacking point when off-road and what not. Will the repaint still make it look decent even if it has a small hole? Should I not even waste the $50 or whatever it would cost for a used hitch?

Thanks! I've never repainted anything on a car ever, so this will be a...fun (?) experience.

I used POR15 on my hitch 2 years ago, followed the proper procedures of cleaning, etc., then painted over it with a couple coats of flat black and it still looks brand new. And yes, a little POR15 goes a long way in terms of coverage.

 

[atalarico]

Thanks for all the por15 info all! I'm going to go for it! I'll post some pics when it's all done (prob a month before I get around to it).

 

[volkinator]

Thanks for all the por15 info all! I'm going to go for it! I'll post some pics when it's all done (prob a month before I get around to it).

wear gloves and long sleeves. that stuff if NASTY on anything it's not supposed to be on. But totally worth it.

 

[atalarico]

wear gloves and long sleeves. that stuff if NASTY on anything it's not supposed to be on. But totally worth it.

Yes, I definitely read in more than a few places that you should treat this stuff like radioactive waste. Work in a protected area, don't spill any, don't get any on you, and don't sweat in it!

Most good things in life come with warnings like that!

 

[ThorInc]

Yeah, don't huff it :behindsofa: and don't let it dry on your skin, it will only come off once your skin sheds. In addition Google how you can store it after use, if it gets on the rim of the can it will not allow you to pop it open again in the future. Ijust had to punch a hole in the lid and sealed every thing up again with tuck tape and saran wrap. We will see if any air gets in as it will then be expensive toast.