Project: DIY U-POL Raptor bedliner spray

[accely]

hey guys, figured I would start posting some pics of this project I'm working on.
After alot of searching and reading about DIY bed lining I decided to go with U-Pol Raptor spray, lots of other users on forums have had great results and after my first few applications I'm VERY happy. I've had linex on my last vehicle and this stuff came out exactly like it. Easy to spray, texture is perfect(i wanted a thick bumpy texture), dries quickly and it feels very hard. UV resistant as well. I've read a number of posts of people who said they've had it applied for years and it's as good as the day they bought it.

So far I sprayed:
- front chrome grill (attached pictures)
- chrome side steps (will post pictures soon)

Next to come:
all side fenders
rocker bars next to side fenders
rear bumper
front lower grill
front bumper

About the kit:
- about $125 shipped from amazon. includes spray gun and 4 bottles of spray, hardener liquid
- I sprayed at 45 PSI (lower psi is thiicker texture, higher psi is smoother)
- I used 2 bottles so far on the grill and side steps.

[HummerJim]

VERY NICE! I like it!:perfect10s:

[LoJac963]

hmm very interesting! I'm in the process of replacing all my plasti dipped stuff with permanent products....I wonder how well this would work on the stock wheels.

[jsbihn]

Is there no heat involved?
I thought the line-x type liner was tough because it was sprayed out hot and cooled quickly and then of course because of the mixture.

I think you did a fantastic job, please dont misunderstand this post, I am just wondering since I would think that without the heat to possibly bond it to the metal it would chip off easier (especially those sections like the grill which sees alot of flying rocks and such)

[accely]

hmm very interesting! I'm in the process of replacing all my plasti dipped stuff with permanent products....I wonder how well this would work on the stock wheels.
I too had plastidipped wheels on my Raptor for a year, it held up great but I got tired of the dirty gray look it always had. I thought about doing these dick cipek rims with the liner but I'm not sure. If I do them they will be the last thing to go.

[accely]

Is there no heat involved?
I thought the line-x type liner was tough because it was sprayed out hot and cooled quickly and then of course because of the mixture.

I think you did a fantastic job, please dont misunderstand this post, I am just wondering since I would think that without the heat to possibly bond it to the metal it would chip off easier (especially those sections like the grill which sees alot of flying rocks and such)
Not sure on how linex is sprayed, but I can say some things I've read from other forums etc. Many people have stated even after 4-5 years of having the u-pol Raptor liner on that it has not chipped, faded or broken in any way. And this is from people who were actually using it in their pickup bed for hauling stuff, beating on it etc.
Lots of other people coat the inside of their jeeps and say it holds up very well. So since for us (hummer owners) using it for fenders, grills, bumpers, etc I think we can really expect it to hold up extremely well.

Aside from having a lifetime warranty from Linex I have yet to find any negatives of the Raptor liner vs having a professional linex job done. I havent read of anyone saying it's chipped without doing something out of the norm

[accely]

Adding picture of grill on the H2.


Friday I'm hoping to do:
brush guard, rear light guards, rear bumper, front bumper, front lower grill, roof rack rails, all fenders and side rocker bars.

[LoJac963]

oh yeah that looks awesome!! Nice work!

[jsbihn]

Very NICE pic.
Excellent reply BTW. Definitely makes sense when you put things in those terms.
Thanks

[Camou2]

accely, what prep work did you do before you sprayed the front grill? Thanks.

[accely]

accely, what prep work did you do before you sprayed the front grill? Thanks.
Front chrome grill (plastic with chrome paint) Since it's plastic/painted all you need to do is clean it with some wax/grease remover spray, wipe it off with a dry towel to remove any debris, then spray on a coat of adhesion promoter for plastics. I'm using the one U-POL recommended.. U-Pol 799 GRIP #4 U-POL Universal Adhesion Promoter. Then spray the raptor liner

For metal items such as the side steps:
I bought an electric sander ($100) and used 120grit paper to sand down the side steps until smooth, clean them with the wax/grease remover spray, wipe off any debri, then spray on a paint primer designed for bare metal UPOL recommends U-POL ACID#8 - ETCH PRIMER M.I.R. COMPLIANT, then spray the raptor liner.

[Hellz]

you did a GREAT job on the spray. it looks just like my LineX grill.

my only concern with this is unless you have alot of excess left over to do other parts... it only costs $100 to LineX a grill, and another $30 to $50 for the UV coating......

again, dont get me wrong, it turned out great.. im looking for a cheap alertantive to line the inside of my truck..

[accely]

you did a GREAT job on the spray. it looks just like my LineX grill.

my only concern with this is unless you have alot of excess left over to do other parts... it only costs $100 to LineX a grill, and another $30 to $50 for the UV coating......

again, dont get me wrong, it turned out great.. im looking for a cheap alertantive to line the inside of my truck..
The grill itself only used maybe half a bottle? 4 bottle kit is 100$, 25$ each bottle, so roughly 12.50$ for the grill itself.
To answer your question, yes there is plenty left over. Tomorrow I'm planing to do all this with 4-5 bottles: brush guard, rear light guards, rear bumper, front bumper, front lower grill, roof rack rails, all fenders and side rocker bars. hood vent thingy.

So really all of that is gonna be about 100-125$ and imagine all the labor you save too :) Wayyyyyy cheaper than linex.

Also it's UV resistant. Another thing I've seen people on jeep forums say is even after a few years it still looks good as the day they sprayed it.

[accely]

Got a bunch of things sprayed this past weekend.
Only thing that I don't care for was the chrome mirror backings. Is it possible to just order all black backings that you can pop on instead of the chrome?

Next to spray list:
- roof rails
- rear metal bumper/hooks
- rear license plate/trunk handle housing
- not sure on rims yet.. will be last to do IF i decide to do it. I may get new black rims though if i decide to go 37's

I also fixed my instrument cluster this weekend with one of those $50 kits, saved 200$ compared to getting a replacement cluster :dancingbanana:

[LoJac963]

wow nice work, that stuff really looks good. As much as I'd love to Line-X a bunch of stuff it's just too expensive IMO. I definitely think this is the route I'll be going. Your front bumper looks amazing!

[accely]

wow nice work, that stuff really looks good. As much as I'd love to Line-X a bunch of stuff it's just too expensive IMO. I definitely think this is the route I'll be going. Your front bumper looks amazing!
thanks! I'm really impressed how well the front looks too. It looks very professional. I did 2-3 coats on the front stuff since it will be taking the most impacts with rocks, etc.

I think the biggest PRO about this stuff is how even it sprays on and looks. There's virtually no clumping, dark/light spots, spray lines, or whatever. It all looks the same wet or dry. Even in different angels of light hitting it, it's all even

[LoJac963]

Is it rubberized or hard after it cures? I was going to try the dupli color spray bedliner but I was reading the can and it says its rubberized. I want something that cures hard!

[accely]

Is it rubberized or hard after it cures? I was going to try the dupli color spray bedliner but I was reading the can and it says its rubberized. I want something that cures hard!
hard as a rock! it's exactly like linex in every way.

BTW I also did a rubber based spray a few years ago some another H2's roof rack bars.. that stuff sucked!!

[accely]

Couple month update: stuff is still great. No problems yet. Getting ready to do my roof this weekend. Plan on shooting at a higher PSI and farther spray distance to make a more fine texture. If I think the roof turns on well, I will further ponder the idea of doing the entire body :)