Rockrail paint?

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HoosierJeeper

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So after one winter (put the rails on in November), I decided to take them off to clean/paint them and this is how they look.
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They look like shit. I had primed them with some self etching primer, then some VHT chassis paint, then Rustoleum paint, then some spray bedliner.

The primer and the VHT chassis paint help up just fine on the pinchweld FWIW.

What should I try next? I like the grip aspect of bedliner, tried gripe tape when I put them on and it came off within the week. I understand that hitting rocks will scrape anything off, I'm fine touching that up, but I'd like something that can hold up to the road salt, dirt roads, standing on them with ski boots, etc so I don't have this happen again.

Thanks.
 

LibertyTC

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Hj What I have found works well, that I did on the push bar steel is use a thick coat of Tremclad Rust paint spray. Let first coat dry 30 hrs. 2nd coat actually brush on a thick coat or two coats, and let dry 2 +days. Then re-apply another spray coat and done. It is all about thickness and hard dry coats. If u need touch ups, spay coats or brush on match color very well. Years later now with the thick coats no rust comes to the surface now on the steel. The gloss has is own clear coat in it and is stick to steel perfectly.
If you want absolute the best paint do what I did on the boat floor. Go to a paint store and get a custom made polyurethane based paint & go to town with thick coats.
That stuff hardens like a good solid glue is shiny, & does not scratch easily. (not cheap though)
 
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JeepCoMJ

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Por15 it then spray your bedliner.

No need to clean off any non scale rust...the por converts rust
 

yellocoyote

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^Also my suggestion.

I did just the POR15 on my rails earlier this spring... and without any topcoat (bedliner, or otherwise) they look pretty good. I'm not going to add anything else at this time.

I want to see how well (if) they resist abrasion when off road.
 

HoosierJeeper

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Ended up sanding down to near bare metal, a few rust specs left, then using Rustoleum rusty metal primer and a brush on rustoleum hammered paint.
 

JeepCoMJ

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Por15 takes scrapes and doesn't chip really easily, it is very hard.
 

Cherrie

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I'm glad you posted a picture. I didn't get mine off last year with everything that happened. I took them of this spring, they don't look much worse than yours. But they have also rusted my under carriage.
 

HoosierJeeper

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I got lucky in that regard, mine didn't really put any rust on the undercarriage. I had painted the frame and pinchseam before I put them on though. The rust contained itself to the rails lol, with a vengeance. The hardware rusted horribly though, already got some stainless stuff to replace it.
 

JeepCoMJ

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Stainless is nt a great idea. It's harder, therefor more brittle. It is equally strong but unlike gr8 and above, it will reach it's stress point and shear
 

Cherrie

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I'm thinking of using stainless. I don't think the hardness matters in this application, for my use. The parts aren't being pulled apart. There are plenty of bolts so supporting the weight of stepping on shouldn't be an issue. They fit almost tight to body/uni so not moving up much. I don't "rock wheel" so I'm not worried.
But right not I'm not sure I'll reinstall at all.
I'm actually getting in and out easier without.
I do see it wearing my seat, but my back and hip feel better. I'm thinking because without my stance is narrower. But winter might be a different story.
 
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TwoBobsKJ

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So should I return the stainless and go back to normal ones?

I'm using stainless for the pinch weld bolts - standard grade for the machine screws/bolts that tap into the uni-frame. Though one or two may shear if I hit a rock REALLY hard they are easily replaced.

The bolts rusted on mine and I can't stand to see that on my Jeep :icon_neutral:

Bob
 

JeepCoMJ

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I would replace the frame side ones with standard and get used to replacing them.
 

bigyellowjimmy

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If you are dragging these over rocks use G8 and simply paint with flat black because no paint, powder coat or bedliner will hold up to that. If they are on for looks and/or occasional rock kisses probably doesn't matter what grade fasteners or finish.

On my dedicated rock crawler I use 2 colors for everything that makes contact with rocks, flat black and stainless steel color that way I can repaint when making repairs or adding tube.
 

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