Those fender flares look gorgeous on your truck. Apart from styling your truck, fender flares also provide great protection from debris entering your truck. You might want to paint your plastic fender flares to enhance the style or just for necessity.
Painting fender flares with bed liner spray is the most convenient method. But how to make the bedliner stick to plastic fender flares?
You have to prepare your fender flares before applying bedliner. Start by cleaning it thoroughly making sure there’s no dirt on it. Next scrub-off any existing paint and clean it again, get rid of any debris. As necessary, put the amount of coating you need. Don’t forget to mask the uncovered areas.
Without maintaining proper procedures, bedliner spray won’t look any good. This article describes the proper procedure to paint your fender flares.
Let’s get started;
How To Paint Plastic fender flares With Bedliner
Let’s get started with the procedures of painting plastic fender flares.
Prepare the plastic fender flares
To prepare it, there are a few things you will need: Water, Wiper, and a Clean Rag.
First, remove the accessories and tailgate from your truck before applying a bedliner. Your truck’s bed should be cleaned out of debris and dirt.
You should also clean out all the drains and holes. Both flares should be scrubbed with TSP and water. You can remove oil, petroleum, and wax residues by doing so. As part of this process, chemicals may be used as well as scrapers.
A degreaser will also work on the flares’ outer surface. You’ll get cracks and peeling paint if you get dust on the flares. The outer surface of the flares should be thoroughly cleaned with an all-purpose automotive degreaser.
Mask uncovered areas
If you don’t want spray paint on the other painted parts of your truck, you must mask them. You can do this using painter’s tape. Make sure you put the tape with a firm press, so it doesn’t come unsticking.
For extra protection, you can put newspapers under the tape. That way, you can be sure no paint will leak through. Do not forget to seal the holes, or you will have a hard time cleaning them.
Scrub & Clean the surface
Your bed liner will not stick if there is any existing paint on the flares. Also, the paint will be seen under the new paint.
Using 200-grit sandpaper, smooth out the flares. It’ll get rid of rough spots and imperfections on the flare. In this way, the primer can stick to the flares.
Make sure the flares are smooth by working out any bumps or imperfections. To clean the flare after sanding, wipe it with a tack cloth to get rid of dust.
Put an adhesion promoter on the flare’s surface. Alternatively, you can use a 2000-grit Scotch Brite pad if you’re worried about scratching your flares.
Applying Paint
There will be two steps.
Applying Primer
Prime the flares by applying primer on the surface. Ensure the primer can is held 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) away from the flares and sprayed. Cover the flare by moving your arm in long sweeping motions. You should continue to spray the flares with the primer until all of the flares have been coated.
After applying the primer, allow it to dry for at least 30 minutes. Make sure the flares are dry by running your hand over their surface. There may be a sticky feeling on the surface, but it should not come off on your hands.
Applying paint
When you’re painting the flares, go slow and sweeping. You’ll need to spray one coat on all the fender flares. Spray in long, even bursts instead of short ones, or your flares will look splotchy. You’ll get the best results with two or three thin coats.
Wait about 30 minutes for it to dry. You’ll need a few more coats to cover your flare completely. Follow the same steps as you did for the first coat. The paint will look darker and richer after this coat.
Don’t add another coat until the first one is dry. Wait 24 hours for the flares to dry. Once this is done, the paint will be completely hard.
Bed Liner Spray For Plastic
Here are a few Bed Liner Spray if you are confused what to choose;
| Bed Liner Paint | Functionalities |
| HERCULINER Aerosol Spray Bed Liner | Tough textured polyurethane formulaGreat for touch-ups & cutting inChip, fade, & impact resistantStick to metal, fiberglass, and many other surfaces |
| U-POL Raptor Gm White Urethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner | Protects Against Rust And CorrosionExcellent Uv ProtectionCan Be Applied With A Schutz GunNo Need To Wax After ApplicationAbrasion And Stain ResistantProtects Against Rust, Corrosion Salt, Damp & Extreme TemperaturesWaterproof, FlexibleHelps Deaden Sound & Vibrations |
| RAPTOR UP4886 Flame Red Bed Liner | High level of fade resistanceProvides a water resistant finish, keeping moisture out and reducing rustA range of textures can be created from one canNo need for spray equipment |
| U-Pol Products 0822 RAPTOR Black Truck Bed Liner | Scratch and stain resistantUV Resistant – Will not fadeNo need to wax after application Abrasion and Stain ResistantProtects against rust, corrosion salt, damp & extreme temperaturesWaterproof, flexible, helps deaden sound & vibrationsProvides excellent adhesion |
FAQs
Will bed liner stick to plastic fender flares?
The bed line will stick to plastic fender flares with the proper procedure. The plastics will need to be cleaned and sanded, then contaminants in the plastic need to be removed to make the paint adhere. As soon as the paint has been applied, you’ll want to seal and protect it with a primer, paint, and top coat.
Is plastic paint permanent?
Plastic can be painted with standard exterior gloss paint if you use an appropriate primer and undercoat. You can use acrylic or oil-based gloss, which comes in many colors. You can apply it with a brush, roller, or spray.
What grit do you use to sand clear coats?
It is recommended to wet-sand the clear coat with 400-grit sandpaper. A layer of polish will eventually be applied over the surface to fill in the finer and finer scratches. It is important to perform the sanding steps to minimize the amount of clear coat on the surface until it is smooth.
Is it possible to put fenders without bolting them?
You don’t have to drill anything to install most fender flares. You just need to fill out the online order form with your truck’s model, year and make, and the flares will fit like a glove.
Read also: How To Patch A Hole In A Tonneau Cover?
Conclusion
Painting plastic fender flares is easy if you follow the proper process. Starting from cleaning to painting it, maintain a sequence.
Spray-on Bedliners protect your truck’s bed, so they’re worth it. The price isn’t too high; it’s quite affordable. Also, these bedliners last a long time. So you’d enjoy its value for a very long time.
Also read: BAKFlip F1 Vs BAKFlip MX4
