[Pajarojo]

I'm considering it too although it's pretty low on my list of priorities. Except I was just planning on using Plasti-Dip.
Everything I've read about it seems to lean toward "it's super easy - go for it"
This was helpful to read Installing Full-Body Plasti Dip on our DIY Camper Van Conversion – EXPLORIST.life especially like that you can modify the plasti-dip using xylene.
I also plan to plasti-dip my grill since I got the G.D. chrome grill

 

[gregoryx]

Cool thought, @Pajarojo . I didn't realize that was a thing!

 

[andyl]

Do you maintain PlastiDip like paint? Can you buff out scratches? Does it take car wax?

 

[gregoryx]

Do you maintain PlastiDip like paint? Can you buff out scratches? Does it take car wax?

Good question! I understand the bedliner to be, "just spray more on if it's messed up." Maybe that'd be the approach with PlastiDip?

 

[Pajarojo]

Do you maintain PlastiDip like paint? Can you buff out scratches? Does it take car wax?

No, I don't think so, probably just wipe it down. It's a matte plastic wrap type of finish. I think you can sort of redo scratches using xylene as they briefly discuss in tip 3 of the article I linked above.

 

[Ranger Robin]

@gregoryx I have used raptor liner on some flares for my F150 and it has held up really well (9K miles/7 months and some off-roading). I think Plasti Dip is cheaper and can be removed so may try that on the exterior parts of the van you mentioned. The Plastic Dip website has a bunch of videos about application that will answer all the questions on here. they make a more expensive non-removable type as well, can't remember the product name but its on the site.

 

[gregoryx]

@Ranger Robin, thank you. I like the Raptor Liner look. Easy enough to apply?

I'll check out the Plastic Dip videos. I had no idea. I thought of it as just for replacing handles on tools. 😏

 

[Ranger Robin]

@gregoryx Ya, spraying the Raptor liner was super easy, set the compressor to the specified pressure and spray it with a cheap Schutz spray gun. They sell quart bottles on Amazon you mix up the components and attach to the gun and spray. pot life was about 30 minutes I think? I also sprayed the bottom of a Four Wheel camper (was painted plywood) with it and it was bomb proof. You can also roll raptor liner on, varying the look with the roller texture. The spray was kind of a chunky look which I liked. It seems impervious. You can buy lots of colors or get a certain auto color to premix
in the other parts for a color match to your paint. The truck flares look pretty good IMHO and match the Diamondback cover almost exactly. The cover came sprayed with whatever brand they use.

 

[gregoryx]

@Ranger Robin, oh yeah. That's the look I want. And rolling it on sound way better - less risk of over-spraying the rest of the van. Love it.

 

[Ranger Robin]

@Ranger Robin, oh yeah. That's the look I want. And rolling it on sound way better - less risk of over-spraying the rest of the van. Love it.

Post what the roll on results are for sure. I love Nate on Explorist.life but their pull handles came off pretty quickly so I wonder the longevity of plasti dip but he makes some great points about cost and being able to just redo anything. The raptor liner seems much more permanent, that could be a good thing or not depending on everyone's wishes. I found the Raptor really easy to work with, I'm no pro and I even drug the hose over a freshly sprayed part (DUH) but was able to just spray some more on and it went away! Pretty forgiving, IMHO. I will price and check out both to be sure if the van ever comes.....FWIW, I'm waiting for your build thread......every time you post a pic its something interesting. The bed, the u/m water tank......hope you will compile something when you can get to it. Or maybe I'll bring a bevvie of your choice and sign up for a tour, my folks are in the OC. I do hope your dad is better. And whole family. I know your pain. 🙏🏾

 

[gregoryx]

@Ranger Robin, knowing it was easy to fix a problem is big. Love it.

Build thread? Ugh. Yeah... I guess that would be good. I've documented everything for myself, so... yeah. Maybe I'll do one of those first-post things with place-holders for the details then build it out. That'd give me something to do. 😏

Do come visit! I'd love to hang out a bit - I'll provide wine and beer... or even a few house mixed drinks we like. 🍹

Thank you for the mention on dad. I was hesitant to get personal on here... but being human seems like a good thing, really. 😊

 

[randerp]

@gregoryx Ya, spraying the Raptor liner was super easy, set the compressor to the specified pressure and spray it with a cheap Schutz spray gun. They sell quart bottles on Amazon you mix up the components and attach to the gun and spray. pot life was about 30 minutes I think? I also sprayed the bottom of a Four Wheel camper (was painted plywood) with it and it was bomb proof. You can also roll raptor liner on, varying the look with the roller texture. The spray was kind of a chunky look which I liked. It seems impervious. You can buy lots of colors or get a certain auto color to premix
in the other parts for a color match to your paint. The truck flares look pretty good IMHO and match the Diamondback cover almost exactly. The cover came sprayed with whatever brand they use.


View attachment 159313 View attachment 159315

Looks great. Any special prep you did?

 

[Ranger Robin]

Looks great. Any special prep you did?

For the plastic truck flares a light sanding, more like scuffing of the plastic and I sprayed adhesion promotor before spraying. Probably didn't need to do both but it was easy. For the camper bottom (painted plywood) no prep just clean it. Super easy. Raptor has good instructions online.

 

[Captadv]

I’m also very interested in removing the exterior trim as well. It really looks like you’d need to do a lot of body work if you wanted to get rid of the trim completely.

Here is a picture of what’s behind the trim on a 2015 (from a YT video).

 

[Van Wilder]

@gregoryx did you ever paint/plastidip/raptor anything on your van?

 

[gregoryx]

@gregoryx did you ever paint/plastidip/raptor anything on your van?

Nope. Found a bunch of things that could work... and looked at the spray- versus roll-on options... and the various quality questions... and got overwhelmed. It seemed like the easy-ish DIY options come out looking pretty crappy. And spray-on seems like a LOT of work to mask... yeah... stalled.

 

[Turbonsa]

following... still looking for options as well. Do you know if any companies in the portland area do this...?

 

[gregoryx]

following... still looking for options as well. Do you know if any companies in the portland area do this...?

Not I. If I ever return to this question, right now I'd say roll-on Raptor looks about the best option...

 

[Captadv]

I've been looking into this a bit more, and I do want to mention, at some point, Ford did change the type of clips they use on these panels. When I lookup my 2022 parts for clip for these moulding panels, they now have a rubber gasket.

https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/clip-trim-6421377-1?pdp=y#/sectionId:4285760

I think I need to go to the car wash and do some testing...
Might be enough to put some Sikaflex on the top seam to limit the amount of water going behind...