Coating Roof With Line-X

[rbattelle]

Next week I'm planning to have my roof coated with Line-X. It was damaged in a hailstorm and I'd prefer to do it this way; if there's ever another hailstorm, the roof will be impervious.



Before I take the plunge, does anyone have any reasons this would be a bad idea?



-Ryan

 

[Bob4x4]

If you leave it black you will be soaking up extreme heat

 

[Motorhead]

I have seen numerous Jeeps ans Samurai's that had the whole body done. Why not?

 

[AMink]

It fades but if you keep it up with a rubber treatment, you should be fine.

 

[JHumphries]

If you get the UV Topcoat, it won't fade. It will be easier to clean as well.
The Linex will help for small hail, but anything big will still probably dent it, and the dents will be harder to pop out.

 

[rbattelle]

If you leave it black you will be soaking up extreme heat

Yeah, but no more than a black colored truck, no?

The Linex will help for small hail, but anything big will still probably dent it, and the dents will be harder to pop out.

Maybe. The last major hailstorm we had was baseball-sized. The bed and rails, coated with Line-X, have not even the slightest dent anywhere.



-Ryan

 

[JMetzger]

Sounds like a good idea but I wonder about the added weight if the roof would stand it. I love the Linex in my truck bed, as for hail denting the roof with Linex I do not think that would be a problem as it would take awful large hail stones to dent my truck bed. Did you get an estimate as to what it would cost, would be interesting to know?

 

[rbattelle]

Initial estimate was $350. I would not be upset if it cost $500 - I just want it to be done well.

They want me to do some of the prep - removing the clearance lights and door seals.

-Ryan

 

[Crunch]

They want me to do some of the prep - removing the clearance lights and door seals.

If you do the prep it would also be the time to add things like a roof mounted CB antenna base, additional lights or other things that require a hole drilled in the roof. Ever wanted one of those Google Street-View cameras?:-laf

 

[JMetzger]

I don't feel that that is to bad of a price, did they say how thick they woul put i.

 

[Jeepr]

Nothing to base it on, but it seems like it would be hotter than the regular black paint. What about the hood, you'll still get damage there. And, I know my bed has faded, and things tend to stain it.

 

[JKosten]

You can always have them color match it to your truck and then spray. Then the black color and heat won't be an issue.

 

[rbattelle]

I don't feel that that is to bad of a price, did they say how thick they woul put i.

I thought it was quite reasonable. We didn't discuss the thickness, but the implication was that it would be as thick as the bedliner (1/8"?)



My biggest worry is how they'll cover the clearance light holes. They said it was something they could handle using metal tape, but warned me that there would be subtle changes in thickness where the holes are, meaning it will be possible to see where they are.



I'd rather not bother with the color matching - it won't be exactly right and I'd rather just have standard black.



Speaking of the hood, it was also hail damaged and I'm considering having it coated too! But not just yet.



-Ryan

 

[JKosten]

If they do cover the holes just drop the headliner and poke through from the bottom.

 

[Motorhead]

If the Linex flows out some after spraying, aren't you going to see the hail divots after or are you going to surface the dents first??

 

[rbattelle]

I'm not planning to reinstall the clearance lights. I don't like them and never wanted them, but had no choice - in 2003 all 3500s had clearance lights.

Yes, theoretically you'll still see the dents (there are only 3 or 4). I have no interest in trying to correct the divots, for a couple reasons. First, one of them is exactly on the seam with the windshield and looks very expensive to repair. Second, the other dents are all nearly 7' in the air, so nobody but me sees them.

Plus I figure the texture on the Line-X will camoflage them quite a bit.

Am I crazy?

-Ryan

 

[Gibbs]

Ryan, I actually like the idea. I say go for it. So they're going to cover the holes where your clearance lights were with metal tape? Hopefully they can spray a little thicker there since the tape will create "flat" spots on the curved roof. Line-X is really tough, I had it sprayed on the sides of my 2003 that I used to have. It made it impervious to rocks (I used to work at a rock quarry) that would get propelled from the tires at light speed. Post some pictures when its done.

 

[rbattelle]

Post some pictures when its done.

I will. She's going in tomorrow morning, and they're keeping her until Wednesday.



Her first night away from me since she left the factory.



-Ryan

 

[tempforce]

sorry i didn't see your post earlier, i was going to mention lizard skin with ceramic beads. cuts heat transfer and works like bed liner...

 

[rbattelle]

Here's the results. This was the best angle to show the whole roof. I'm amazed at how good it looks - almost factory. I didn't expect it to look awful, but I sure didn't think it would look this good.



-Ryan