Bedlining a camper shell....

[shawn474]

I recently bought a beautiful ARE camper shell. My truck is deepwater blue and the cap is silver. It really doesnt bother me that its a different color, but it bothers the wife apparently. I bought it for $250 and estimates to paint it are in the $3-500 range. Not really wanting to invest in that and because it doesn't bother me, I am looking to see how hard it would be just to bedline it. What would I have to do to prep the shell and how hard would it be? Thanks in advance.

[KING_Polaris]

Well, bedlining would definitely be the cheapest most effective way in wanting to paint it. You'll want to first sand it down to get a nice textured surface on it to lay down a couple initial coats down. Anywhere from 60-80 grit would be perfect, that's what I had used. For something like a bed topper I would think 4-5 cans would be perfect to cover a nice layer across the surface. There's probably hundred of threads on here of how-to walkthroughs on painting with bedliner. Basically, you want to keep a good 10-12'' from whatever surface you are painting to have a nice and even coat as you come across the surface of the topper. Rustoluem Truck Bed Coating is the stuff to go! If you have any questions just PM me on here, I know a think or two on bedliner.

[jasonmotox]

I bedlined my topper about 6 months ago and its holding up great. I didn't sand a whole lot because I still wanted the waterproofing of the fiberglass gel coat to be in tact. I used 4 cans and got about 3 coats on it. I'll see if I can post a link to my photobucket album in a minute, so you can see how mine came out.

[jasonmotox]

See if these pics help
Mobile Photobucket

[shawn474]

I was thinking the same thing about not wanting to compromise the waterproof shell. If I just rough up the surface and use an acetone type cleaner to get a really clean surface, do you think that would work? Also, I am not too interested in spraying. I know it would be easier but dont like the way it runs and stuff. My plan is to maybe rough it up with sandpaper, clean well and use a roll on or brush on bedliner. Any disadvantage to doing it that way?

[jasonmotox]

I will eventually use the roll on stuff for the roof of the topper, just because I didn't want to waste that much of the spray on something I don't ever see. I like the rustolium spray, its easy to use, coats nicely and is not a thick texture look. Of course you have to tape everything off but stay nice and light with the coats and you shouldn't get runs.
I did a test spray on the roof without sanding or wiping down with spirits, and an hour later I couldn't scratch it off with my thumb nail.
Good luck!

[KING_Polaris]

Originally Posted by shawn474

I was thinking the same thing about not wanting to compromise the waterproof shell. If I just rough up the surface and use an acetone type cleaner to get a really clean surface, do you think that would work? Also, I am not too interested in spraying. I know it would be easier but dont like the way it runs and stuff. My plan is to maybe rough it up with sandpaper, clean well and use a roll on or brush on bedliner. Any disadvantage to doing it that way?

Personally I don't like the roll on stuff, it comes out looking way too blotchy and uneven. To each its own, also bedliner is super easy to clean up after you've put it on, just go out to your local autozone and pick up a bottle of McGuire's tire shine and makes the bedliner look brand new again!

[EDDIE FONZARELI]

i just got the ARE LSII Lid and i bedlinered it lastnite. color match will follow when i get the funds.