Coating for lower rocker area

[Martin White]

I've done some searching but haven't quite found what I'm looking for, which is a heavy duty coating for the lower section of my truck from the bottom part of the body up to the side moulding. I'd like to go with black, and I've heard of people having rhino lining and all sorts of other coatings applied. I've noticed gravel and sand are really taking a toll on this section of the paint and I'd like to protect it before things get worse.

What do you guys recommend? I'd likely have to get this done by a shop, and preferably something available in Abbotsford or the Greater Vancouver area. I'm open to a stippled or rough surface. Suggestions?

 

[Southeast Overland]

Any sort of bedliner. You can have a shop do it or you can do-it-yourself with a roll on kit...

 

[Gus]

Any of the spray-on or do-it yourself truck bedliners will work great. I had the rockers of my tow rig/DD sprayed, one of the best mods that I've done by far, it shows no signs of abuse two years later.

 

[Martin White]

Gus, did you use textured or smooth surface? Does it make much of a difference? What product did you have sprayed on there? I have easy access to Rhino....this is probably going to be a shop job given my lack of a place and time to do the work myself.

 

[Dave-T]

Here is what Calicruiser recently did.....

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=159857

 

[brownbear]

Hey Martin, I used duplicolor truck bed liner kit from C-tire. I just bought the jug and used an undercoating gun. Makes a nice finish.

Or buy the box kit and use the rollar they provide. But if you have an air compressor I recommend not buying the box. As the amount used on the rockers and rear quarters is little in comparison to a box in a truck. So the kit with everything is overkill.


75 bucks or so is the jug. Undercoat gun is 30.

Get a jug of acetone to clean the gun between applications or the gun will be fawked.

Nice thing about the undercoat gun and thickness of this product is minimal overspray. I just used newspaper and masking tape. And there was no mist flying around. So I never covered the top of truck.

 

[Martin White]

Brownbear, I was looking at the Canadian Tire kit today! How has that lasted on your truck? Is the surface fairly easy to clean? It sounds like a good option.

 

[Gus]

Gus, did you use textured or smooth surface? Does it make much of a difference? What product did you have sprayed on there? I have easy access to Rhino....this is probably going to be a shop job given my lack of a place and time to do the work myself.

The name brand liner I had sprayed was Arma-Coating, looks identical to Rhino Liner in appearance and texture. I wanted the smooth texure for ease of cleaning, I doubt smooth vs rough texture would make any significant difference. I had my tow rig done two years ago and it hasn't chipped, peeled or faded at all. I also had this same stuff sprayed on the interrior of my FJ40, I've been very happy with it.

 

[toddslater]

3M Rocker Schutz...best if sprayed with their special gun. Make sure you give it a few days before painting and most importantly having gas overflow the fill and dumping down on it...don't ask how I know.....

 

[Martin White]

Is there any consensus from the products available as to which might be the best or are they all roughly the same? I think I'm going to do this myself with a friend who will help me out. I see Herculiner, C-tire duplicolour, Line X and Durabak. Any others? Anything easier to get in Canada? Any off the shelf suppliers other than C-Tire up here in Canada?

 

[webelk6]

my tundra has a coating on the lower area . Might want to check in at a dealer to see what they use. I can say it is holding up great.

 

[Martin White]

Oh, I only wish. Every time I stop by the dealer here in Abby, they ask me why I didn't buy an FJ Cruiser. I showed the last guy the underside of my 81, his jaw dropped, and he said no more....it was pretty funny. I only stop by there when my g/f gets her corolla serviced.

Sadly I don't think these guys would have the remotest clue what kind of coating is on the underside of the new trucks they sell.

I'm leaning towards trying some rust bullet to see what happens...

 

[Cletus]

I'm planning on smooth dura-back on the rockers of my '80 mini-truck. i used a herculiner kit from my local NAPA on the interior last fall. seems to be working well. i just think any of the coating with texture are a pain to get/keep clean. fine for a bed where you may need the grip but on the body where all i'm seeking is protection i think the smooth will be sweet.
clay

 

[boerboel313]

When using a gun, is it necessary to clean it between each coat? Maybe a dumb question. I'm going to say yes.