Bed Rack should I powder coat it or paint it or plastic dip

Built a bed rack for my 2013 toyota tacoma short bed and need some feed back on what is the best way to paint it. Should I powder coat it or paint it or plastic dip? New to tacoma world and any ideas would be helpful. Working on my roof rack and tire carrier presently.

 

Just paint it with a few good coats if rustoleum

 

Thanks I think that's what I am going to do appreciate your help.

 

I'd also say paint it. Just do as good of a job sanding, priming and doing enough coats of paint

 

Don't forget to sand and prime. The bond you get between a primer and the metal will be stronger than if you just used paint and will provide a better surface for the paint to adhere too.

 

Thanks a lot for the advice my first tacoma and I'm loving all the different mods you can do. Just finished making the bed rack now I'm going to make an original roof rack to go along with my original bed rack. Then thinking about making my own sliders. And love reading everyone's thoughts on this site. Thanks for being so nice to a newbie.

 

Nice looking truck!

 

Sorry, have to say it, you got a nice rack.

 

I like to paint things. It's fun. I've had very good luck with this here Rustoleum product. Prep work is key. I would use some sandpaper to rough everything up just a bit to give a grippy surface for the paint to adhere to. Sandblasting works well for this step also. Be ready to spend some serious time wiping and rubbing down every inch of your nice rack (sorry had to say it) with acetone or something to take the oils off.

Use gloss, not flat paint. It will hold up to the elements much better over time. A light first coat followed by two heavier wet coats is good. Get more cans than you think you need and return what you don't use so you don't have to stop. By the time you finish a coat you can start over with the next. I would grab 2 or 3 cans of primer and maybe 5 or 6 cans of paint... Yeah you will spend some $ but it's worth it.

Use primer that matches the brand of the paint. And read the application instructions... They matter with this stuff! I think you can immediately top coat your primer. Paint it in the shade on a warm (but not hot) non-windy day.

Wear a respirator or dust mask so you don't cough up black gunk two days later. Let your painted piece sit in the sun for a week or more before you man-handle it or you will ding up your sweet paint job.

If you patiently take your time with it the paint job will serve you well. Seriously I have stuff that has held up for years in the sun with no problems if you do it right. And that rack looks sweet! It will look great painted!

 

Thanks for the advice I'm so excited to get this going I put my heart into building the rack just want to make sure the paint job does it justice. And to be honest I am a 16 year marine vet with PTSD and keep to myself that saying besides my wife and daughter don't have to many people to ask for advice. I own my own company and keep to myself so this forum rocks know I can get advice on the new mods I'm about to start building thanks

 

Definitely don’t plastidip!
Good paint job will be perfect. Then its easy to touch up when needed as well

 

I would powder coat it. Less likely to scratch up a rack on rocks and such so you wont have to worry about touching it up when scratched. Powder coat will hold up over time its just expensive as can be.

 

I've used this on my front and rear bumper. Seems to be holding up really well. I decided to try it because I didn't want black bumpers and this comes in Gunmetal. (It also comes in other colors, black, blue, red, etc)

Here's a link to it on Summit, but I got it at O'Reilly's.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...LbSC_YMo_dy3r4IyQM4uNMLHbNJeY2MRoCrhwQAvD_BwE

 

Yeah I agree powder coat is awesomeness but $$$. That's why I suggested painting... Because I'm a cheap ass. And painting it ain't a bad option either. Good luck, post some pics when you get it done! Can't wait to see it.

 

What can you afford?

 

Well I can afford to powder coat but I'm a cheap ass too so I already sanded it cleaned it with aceatone and primed it waiting to do another coat then putting on multiple coats rustoluem gloss put on 3 coats of gloss coming together

 

Wow. That thing is sweet

 

Thanks I love making original mods for my Taco sometimes my wife thinks I love my truck more than her.

 

Kinda off topic but why did you switch from Tacoma to a F-150? lol

 

Still working on new tires and stance hate Ford's but that was funny