Solutions for protecting roof paint under a rack?

It's damn hard to clean under my roof rack. I was thinking about removing it and plasti-dipping or vinyl wrapping it after a good cleaning. Think it's necessary? Just leave it dirty?

I'm about to purchase a tan softopper, and I already have my stock rims plasti-dipped in camo tan so that color would be my first thought. Black is bad down here in the south since it's super hot normally. The plasti-dip is real, real hard to keep clean though, so I'm back at square one with a dirty roof - but my paint may be protected. Vinyl may be a better option. Be cool to protect under the bed rail caps as well. Just wrap, or derp, to the body line right below the rails...It would protect from the softopper back window panel as well. Does plasti dip offer the same paint protecting qualities as vinyl?



I got some custom pads, made by Vitamin Blue, to protect my paddleboard so it's even more difficult to get underneath them.





Think a tan roof would look bad? Think it would provide any sort of protection?

 

I'm planning in installing a Frontrunner rack this summer. I was wondering about the same problem you are having. I will be wrapping the top with black vinyl. That way I can just clean it with a long brush. The Frontrunner may have more clearance than your Baja though.

 

I plan to have the 9y/o help with any areas I can't get to. At some point in my trucks life I'm sure I'll remove it for a real wax but till then it seems as though I can get to all areas of the roof with a rag.

 

Buy a small roll of vinyl and roll it out under the rack. That's what id do anyways. Can always peel it off later and the paint would be like new

 

I plastidipped where the 4 cab areas where my Yakima Qclips are. Vinyl or plastidip would work. Vinyl might be a tougher material and easier to clean. Plastidip seems more gritty.

 

If these photos help....Plasti Dip on the roof before...

 

And After...

 

How many cans did it take to do the roof?

 

I used three.....4 would have been perfect and more than likely you would have some left.

 

Go to Lowes or HomeDepot and get some adhesive non skid sheets. Put them under your rack. Did this on my Escape to prevent scratching when I put my kayaks on tbe rack. A little heat and they came right off when I went to trade it in.

 

The reason I chose plasti dip is because the roofs on tacomas have an issue with rust. with that in mind plasti dip seals out moisture