Best Paint for Flatbed?

[BirdDoggin]

I have a flatbed that is in need of some TLC before it goes back on my 74'. I have heard good things about red oxide primer, but as far as the paint anyone have any thoughts? I have seen the POR-15 but wonder if its really any better than good ol' Rustoleum!

[GCncsuHD]

Keep in mind, POR-15 will turn to chalk FAST if left out in the sun without being top coated. It is very tough stuff though. I have had good luck with TSC truck and tractor paint with the hardener additive, or if you have the $$ to spend get it spray on bedlinered.

[cdowns]

best way would b to use POR15 and when it is still tacky spray a topcoat of rustoleum// that will give you great rust protection and a tough durable final product for a working truck

[hugger6933]

Go to a tractor supply house or farm equipment store and looka equipment enamael. That stuff istuff! I have painted some trucks with it and last a good long time . It was not expensive it cost me about 30.00 bucks to buy a gal of paint and some reducer to cut it down

[CowboyProtectionUnit]

Been Told That There was a Colored Rhino Liner that you can buy.......

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by CowboyProtectionUnit

Been Told That There was a Colored Rhino Liner that you can buy.......

Rhino would be the last thing you would want to buy if the bed is too be used. It is soft and easy to cut/peel up and fades quickly. Although it is nice and grippy to stop stuff from sliding around. Line-X can be had in colors and is much harder and more resistant to fading, although with the hardness, it doesn't grip objects as well, although absolutely better still than just a smooth painted bed.

[BigDan3131]

Originally Posted by GCncsuHD

Rhino would be the last thing you would want to buy if the bed is too be used. It is soft and easy to cut/peel up and fades quickly. Although it is nice and grippy to stop stuff from sliding around. Line-X can be had in colors and is much harder and more resistant to fading, although with the hardness, it doesn't grip objects as well, although absolutely better still than just a smooth painted bed.

Sorry you had a bad experience with Rhino but what you said isn't at all true. If it stayed soft the material was going bad or the mix ratio was off. You can get it in two types, one allows for heavy stuff to settle in place and the other is super hard when dry and it only takes a few minutes for it dry. I would spray the final coats with real high air pressure and it would make it very rough.
Its all in the prep if you half-a** it nothing will grip not even paint. Any rusty metal or bare steel would get epoxy primed and clean painted surfaces would be DA'd with 80 grit. Clean it spotless and shoot.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by BigDan3131

Sorry you had a bad experience with Rhino but what you said isn't at all true. If it stayed soft the material was going bad or the mix ratio was off. You can get it in two types, one allows for heavy stuff to settle in place and the other is super hard when dry and it only takes a few minutes for it dry. I would spray the final coats with real high air pressure and it would make it very rough.
Its all in the prep if you half-a** it nothing will grip not even paint. Any rusty metal or bare steel would get epoxy primed and clean painted surfaces would be DA'd with 80 grit. Clean it spotless and shoot.

I wholeheartedly agree with the prep statement.

I am simply stating my experience with two trucks we have had that came with "Rhino" brand liner emblem in the bed. Both were a faded chalky gray and easily damaged. Having two other trucks with Line-X, the finish hasn't faded, although it has lost some of it's original "shine", and seems much tougher. I will say that due to the softer, more rubbery composition of the Rhino, it was much better at gripping smooth objects such as toolboxes in the bed.

From all the stories I have heard in addition to mine, Line-X is the way to go for a bed that will be used and open to the elements, while a Rhino would be more suited for a truck with a camper top or tonneau cover as it will not be as affected by UV rays and you will benefit from the grippy rubbery surface.

[mbgmike]

if its a work truck there is no paint that lasts. just do the sides evreything else will just wear off. if just want it to be pretty just paint it or use bedliner

[odog]

Prep it really well and use John Deere Blitz black. Its a flat black equipment paint and toughas nails.

[CowboyProtectionUnit]

LOL Guys Guys Guys... I was Just Suggesting a Rhino Type Material... I was told it was Rhino Lining.. BUT I AM Glad It Sparked this little Convo LOL GREAT INFO!

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by CowboyProtectionUnit

LOL Guys Guys Guys... I was Just Suggesting a Rhino Type Material... I was told it was Rhino Lining.. BUT I AM Glad It Sparked this little Convo LOL GREAT INFO!

if its rhino liner and put on thick it should work pretty good for average daily use. We haul heavy parts and most liners still chip .But we are rough on them to by throwing stuff instead of laying them gently

[CowboyProtectionUnit]

Yeah The Place I Saw this stuff Used was on a Push Bar...... and It was Smooth with no grip... I had attributed that to the location of the stuff and the stuff that was stated in past posts here....

[BirdDoggin]

Thank you everyone for all of your input. Here are some more pics of the flatbed. I think im going to take about 18" off each side to narrow it up a bit. Eight feet wide is a little too wide for what I need. Ive have access to a sandblaster so thats def the route im gonna take. Nice to have good friends. There are a few of those crossmembers that might be rusted bad enough to remove. Probably could get by with just cutting the bad sections out and not even worry about replacing them.

Also am thinking about lights. Maybe sum on top of the headache bar, and sum side markers on the bed. What do you guys think?

[CowboyProtectionUnit]

I'm not Divulging any Secrets from my book here on the cool flat bed looks... but I will say some KC lights and LED Clearance Lights would be BAD ARSE

[donut]

On my old truck bodies, I used epoxy primer topcoated with rustoleum or tractor paint. Easy to touch up.

Lights, yea. could use some, (or at least some reflectors). Narrowing, it's a personal preference imo. I'd look into narrowing it, but I don't think I'd go 18". Maybe just enough to cover the rear wheels? What I would do is replace the mud flaps, and maybe do something with the rear bumper. From the rear it looks kinda dis-jointed, maybe if the bed wasn't wider than the bumper... Use your imagination.

[BigDan3131]

By the way, if you do decide on any type of liner be sure to tell them which holes you want to keep. Otherwise the will be filled up, and if there are some you want filled and are having both sides sprayed. Put duct tape over the holes on both sides and the liner will seal them.

[Shaun1162]

Texas Refinery makes a great paint... Can't think of the name of the paint, but I'll look in the next couple days. You can roll it on, or spray it if you really want to. Very hard to get off, and will go right on over rust or bare metal. Had real good luck with it over the years. I think it's around $125 for 6 gallons shipped.