truck bed coating

Elan Discussions
1

Have any of our North American colleages experiences with either Herculiner or Rust-oleum Road Warrior truck bed paint?
From what I can gather its an epoxy based paint with fine rubber particles imbedded in it.
I’m considering this product as a wheel arch coating to reduce stone crazing.

2

Nigel,

I have used the Herculiner coating and I will say it is very tough stuff. Should work very well for your application. Mine was a little different, we used it to seal and weatherproof several loudspeaker cabinets which would be used in an outdoor environment. I can say after 4-5 years in the winter weather it has done very well and protected the louspeaker boxes. They have been out in Iowa winter.

Mark

3

Thanks for that Mark.
I’ve toyed with various methods of protecting the wings around the wheel arch-including fitting arch liners!
The resilience of the epoxy paint combined with the shock absobing effect of the rubber filler appeals as a much simpler solution

4

Hi Nigel
I guess I would want to know if you can get the stuff off before applying to the underside of inner wings. What happens if you ever have to repair the area?
My friend has the bed of his pickup coated (Rino liner) and it has seen some heavy rocks dropped into it and in general a lot of use (abuse?). No separation, scuffs, scrapes. Its really durrable stuff.

Gary

5

Hi Gary
removal with great difficulty by the looks of it!
The car in question had numerous star cracks on the wing related to the wheel well-now repaired.The underside/floorpan of the car is bare fibreglass and has a sandblasted appearance-possibly had some life on an unsealed road by the looks of it.
I intend to fibreglass in the lip of the wheel arch to increase local strength-I’ve seen this area crack on the Elans.Possibly also add an extra layer of glass on the wing area as well.

Future repairs?
I’d imagine it would be a job for the grinder/dremel to expose and feather a glass margin for a local repair or section.
The main issue would be those “multiple compound” tears that can be tied in place then laminated from the inside-that would present a problem.
FWIW I’ve never found underseal easy to romove either-even with solvent.

6

Hi Margaret, and welcome aboard. I won’t be of any use to you as I’ve never owned a vehicle with a bed nor had any experience with liners.

However, for the benefit of those who might come later, perhaps you could provide a little more information:

  1. You asked about both a “bed coating” and “bed liner”. Are these different in your mind or for your application? I think of the former as an “applied” product, while the latter might be a molded plastic item that you bolt in.

  2. I normally think of “beds” as belonging to trucks rather than cars. Unless you’re driving an El Camino or UK equivalent (was there one?). Perhaps a Mini truck?

Anyway, more info on the vehicle and your intended use is always a plus to get you the best answer. And we always do better with photos.

Best to you,

Dave

7

protectakote.co.uk/kits.htm

8

My camper-van had bed-liners fitted.

9

SEM makes a rock chip coating that can be sprayed on, which is clear. Can be put on directly over paint. Commonly used on lower rocker panels. Have used it, but found it difficult to spray in my HVLP gun. Comes ready to spray, just pour it in the gun and go. I think the next time I might try an aerosol version.

Rob Walker
26-4889