"TFen" (tfen)
09/06/2016 at 08:59 • Filed to: None
1
24|
"TFen" (tfen)
09/06/2016 at 08:59 • Filed to: None | 1
| 24 |
I have an 09 F350 work truck that’s been serving me well. Mechanically it’s fantastic (knock on wood) but the body has been beat up pretty bad (scratches everywhere, the odd rust spot, dented fender and door, etc.). I work a lot in the mud so big tires are a must, which kick up a lot of rocks and beat the paint up like it’s nothing.
Up until recently I had planned on just continuing to keep the truck in great mechanical condition and keep the battle scars coming. Lately, however, I’ve had the urge to bring her back to her former glory (I’m about 5 months away from paying her off completely).
It’s gonna cost me about $700 to have the door and replacement fender painted the traditional way(still leaving a ton of imperfections elsewhere on the body), or I can pay somebody ~$2500 to “Raptor Liner” the whole truck, making her look new again.
Does anyone have any longterm experience with the stuff? How is it holding up?
I’d hate to drop $2000+ on aesthetics just to have it fade in a couple years. If I get the body looking nice I’d likely keep it for many, many years and eventually swap a Cummins into it when the (not-yet)problem-prone 6.4 inevitably fails.
TL;DR: Who has any longterm experince with bed liner as paint? How’s it holding up?
(Picture of the truck before most of the battle scars)
CalzoneGolem
> TFen
09/06/2016 at 09:12 |
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Not as like paint on exterior panels but it is tough as fuck and doesn’t fade inside of a bed. I can’t imagine being on the outside of a door is going to weather it faster or harder than the inside of the bed.
OPPOsaurus WRX
> TFen
09/06/2016 at 09:15 |
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holy shit a truck being used as a truck. amazing.
Nibby
> TFen
09/06/2016 at 09:15 |
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Line your bed with the blood of Duramax drivers.
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TFen
> CalzoneGolem
09/06/2016 at 09:22 |
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I guess I’m just wondering if the exterior finish would stay “uniform” or end up becoming blotchy?
My box has been bed-linered since the original owner bought it new, but the finish is now pretty blotchy and faded - however it’s had many,many gallons of diesel, coolant, washer fluid, oil, etc. spilled back there over the years.
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TFen
> OPPOsaurus WRX
09/06/2016 at 09:24 |
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Trust me, if owning it wasn’t a 100% necessity(and a decent tax write off) she’d be traded in on an E46 M3 or C5 Z06 tomorrow.
(not really a truck guy)
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TFen
> Nibby
09/06/2016 at 09:26 |
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Truck’s aren’t really my #1 passion but I do love the look of a nice Denali... :S
Stapleface
> TFen
09/06/2016 at 09:27 |
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I don’t have any personal experience, just more anecdotal than anything. Just yesterday I was sitting in traffic next to pretty much a carbon copy of your truck, minus the paint color. He had the bottom of the door and fender (the two tone part) done in bedliner. It wasn't really noticeable unless you were up close, but the truck looked pretty clean, and the liner looked to be in perfect condition. Obviously I have no idea how long it was on there, but it looked like this guy used his truck as a truck. Perhaps doing something similar might be a good avenue to pursue versus doing the whole truck?
S65
> TFen
09/06/2016 at 09:29 |
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Holy shit a F350 that isn’t a bro truck. I think using bedliner as paint will look like shit, I’d rather Plastidip the truck.
BorkBorkBjork
> TFen
09/06/2016 at 09:34 |
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I have researched this for my Tahoe (which is my high-mileage work vehicle) and I will be doing if/when the paint gets any worse. From what I understand, that bedliner is damn near indestructable. They can also limit the amount of abrasive in the mix, so you can get rid of the “texture” if you want and have a smooth-(ish) gel coat.
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Nibby
> TFen
09/06/2016 at 09:35 |
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I do like the current gen Sierras a lot
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TFen
> S65
09/06/2016 at 09:45 |
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Yeah, I lifted it the bare minimum possible (2.5") to fit 35's. I hate brodozers with a passion. You should see the monstrosities that some of the guys run out here...
Plastidip is a no-go. Not only will it not hold up to the daily scratches and rocks that the tires kick up, but I’m constantly loading/unloading my slip tank into the equipment so diesel spills are unavoidable. Plastidip melts on contact with gas/diesel.
I agree, bedliner isn’t the greatest looking finish, but it will definitely take the abuse. I’m actually slowly coming around to the look, if anything the flat black finish will almost match my bike.
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TFen
> Stapleface
09/06/2016 at 09:49 |
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Yeah, that’s pretty popular out here because of the rock chips from the big tires.
Unfortunately, If I went that route I’d still have to get the door and fender painted anyway which would make the overall cost a wash. Also, I’d still have a ton of scratches and chips around the box.
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TFen
> BorkBorkBjork
09/06/2016 at 09:51 |
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I didn’t realize that the texture could be toned down, that would be awesome! I really like the look of smooth, matte black. I painted my last two bikes that way.
Thanks! I’ll have to look into this.
TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
> TFen
09/06/2016 at 11:12 |
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never have coated a whole truck but my 99 f350 has it over the fenders and part way up the doors. didnt help much with the crap tons of salt MI lays down in the winter though.
Also i love your truck! 6.4 powerstoke?
cazzyodo
> TFen
09/06/2016 at 11:16 |
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Saw a JK Unlimited with it painted on everywhere. It was coarse as hell and looked terrible up close but from a distance the matte was very cool. Tough as nails, I’m sure.
The level of grit in this particular one was more than I’ve ever seen in a bed lining. If it’s the regular texture, I’m assuming it’d look just a bit rougher than matte close up. If you can tone it down more, why the hell wouldn’t you use it as paint?! Could be a great life extender. Given my family’s truck died to rust, I say do it.
cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
> TFen
09/06/2016 at 11:28 |
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Off topic but your job looks cool! Working in Alberta somewhere?
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TFen
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/06/2016 at 21:32 |
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Yeah man!
It’s a lot of fun sometimes, but I’d say 75% of the time I’m just sitting in my truck waiting... Lot’s of Netflix haha
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TFen
> cazzyodo
09/06/2016 at 21:34 |
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I had a good exchange with the paint guy today and I’m pretty sure this is happening in October. I’ll post updates if/when it happens.
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TFen
> TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
09/06/2016 at 21:36 |
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Good to know. No salt up here, though... so that’s a plus.
Thanks man, It’s a 2009 F350 Lariat with a 6fo.
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TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
> TFen
09/07/2016 at 00:09 |
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looks great! id love to upgrade to a newer truck once I graduate haha
Bongeman
> TFen
07/08/2019 at 09:59 |
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Only chiming in here way too late, but I gotta say it’s a nice truck but you don’t need to spend that much to bed line it! You can cover the whole thing with Durabak - best stuff there is, for I think $360! They’ve got a few colors too and you can even go with Smooth bed liner if you don’t want the rough finish. I got mine at www.durabakcompany.com and so far (9 years and counting) it’s been one of the best investments I ever made in my F250
66P1800inpieces
> TFen
08/04/2020 at 11:57 |
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Seems like it would add a bit of unnecessary weight.
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TFen
> 66P1800inpieces
08/05/2020 at 01:57 |
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On a 9000lb vehicle with 650ft-lbs of torque? Really?
I think it could’ve handled an extra 50l bs (and that’s being generous).
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66P1800inpieces
> TFen
08/05/2020 at 09:20 |
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Yeah, I think you got me there.