Dinged up bash plates -- how to prevent rust

[MilesTeg]

So I got a badge of honor by dinging up my bash plates a bit in Moab. The front and the under engine plates.

I did remove the powder coat so I'd like to do something to prevent rust issues. What's my best option for a DIY solution?

Sponsored

 

[HeliPilot]

Remove/sand and DIY bedliner

 

[Easy-v]

I sprayed mine with Flexseal the one time I bothered to clean out all the dirt and sand from them and took them off.

Since then, because I live north of I80 where salt is used in the winter, I subsequently had woolwax/fluid film applied over the years

 

[NC_Oak]

I take mine (3/16" steel) off each winter and touch them up. sometimes a little sanding if needed (the big gouges) and / or some rust converter. But really just a few top coats - I use the krylon textured black cuz thats what I painted my bumper with. plus the skid removal gives me a chance to take a look at the business underneath and inspect for issues

 

[Umichigan1]

So I got a badge of honor by dinging up my bash plates a bit in Moab. The front and the under engine plates.

I did remove the powder coat so I'd like to do something to prevent rust issues. What's my best option for a DIY solution?

In Michigan it's a losing battle (Winter, salt, bad roads in general, etc.). For us it's a case of learning to embrace imperfections.

 

[CalvinT]

I'd use Rust-oleum Roll Bar and Chassis paint. They claim it's self priming, but I'd use a rust converter under it unless I'm painting shiney metal. Harbor Freight carries it locally.

 

[Felix808]

Just rattle can them. They'll be scraped up again on the next run

 

[MilesTeg]

Thanks for the notes everyone. I didn't know they made DIY bedliner and textured rattle can paint. Will take them off here in the next weekend or two and get them patched up.

 

[NC_Oak]

if you really feel you must hit em with something now, I wouldnt take em off. Just climb under there and do your best.

Assume you're planning on wheeling again this year...

 

[mhtucker78]

Ospho

 

[Brian_B]

Thanks for the notes everyone. I didn't know they made DIY bedliner and textured rattle can paint. Will take them off here in the next weekend or two and get them patched up.

I use Rustoleum bedliner spray paint for touching up just about everything - it matches most powdercoats and the black plastic texture, and does a pretty good job of staying put preventing rust - but really any decent paint would do here - i wouldn't spend a ton of money on touch up paint - it’s not readily visible, it’s gonna get scratched again, and the real objective is to protect the bare metal from corrosion.

Skid plates are there to get scratched up - i wouldn’t feel the need to drop them and touch them up them every time they do. Drop them off and clean them up and touch them up before winter hits and that should be fine. There may be a bit of surface rust from the summer, but should clean up easy so long as you get to it before the salt. Living along the coast may need to be a bit more vigilant

 

[Felix808]

I use Rustoleum bedliner spray paint for touching up just about everything - it matches most powdercoats and the black plastic texture, and does a pretty good job of staying put preventing rust - but really any decent paint would do here - i wouldn't spend a ton of money on touch up paint - it’s not readily visible, it’s gonna get scratched again, and the real objective is to protect the bare metal from corrosion.

Skid plates are there to get scratched up - i wouldn’t feel the need to drop them and touch them up them every time they do. Drop them off and clean them up and touch them up before winter hits and that should be fine. There may be a bit of surface rust from the summer, but should clean up easy so long as you get to it before the salt. Living along the coast may need to be a bit more vigilant

Yep, just spray and go. If you go through all the trouble of dropping the plates sanding them out making them all nice, you will get tired of that after the 2nd or 3rd time and be converted to the spray and go method. Just cover the bare metal as Brian said. Flat or semi -gloss black & call it a day .

 

[jsoa]

I agree with most here, Ive bent, scratched, even mangled my skids, I do take them off from time to time to clean the inside of dirt and give the rusted parts a little spray of this (don't care if the color matches perfectly)

Sponsored