Vanagon Bedliner Project

KAYAKWESTY.COM

Vanagon Bed liner Project:

“Go Westy Spray-0n Bed liner on a budget.”

I wanted to copy the look that GoWesty had going on with their blackout look, and I wanted to complete my seam rust project. I finally got some time, and the seam rust was stopped. After two years of observation, my previous POR-15 project worked …NO RUST! And it was time to finish it up. Also kayaking out of a vehicle is like working out of one, before long they get beat up. My Brother went hog wild on his Dodge pickup with bed liner material, and it’s tough as a bowling ball now, and I was envious of that.

Cargo Area

I was getting tired of seeing the back of the cargo area looking a little tired, after 24 years I thought it might be time to spruce it up

Before

During

Notice the Green 3M Tape

After

Bottom of Van:

Okay I wish I took some shots the prep work, but to be honest I was way too busy, I did it outside, and I had one eye on the van, and one eye one the weather, I wish I had shop.

I removed the bumpers, lower grill, mud flaps and all the other junk in the way.

Side Shot

Notice the brick, living in the hills of Tennessee and pushing on the van with sandpaper I didn’t want to chance it.

Notice the brown seams, and many coats of touch-up paint, the seams want to STILL crack. Bed liner material on it might be next. I’m sooooo sick of worrying about it.

Fighting front seam Vanagon Seam Rust…Bedliner…Masked and primed

This was the last area of seam rust, time to get cracking, my other seam rust is stopped , so time to hit it head on.

Here I used more POR-15 rust products; I used the Marine Clean, Metal Ready and POR-15. BUT I also
Used POR-15 Primer, it’s loaded with solids and actually sticks. My final coat, I used the Dupa-color bed liner

On my seams, then used POR-15 Primer, then tried to match the brown paint as best as I could. My thinking was the rocks
from the road might ruin my work and I’m over trying to make it perfect. Stopping rust comes first…I’m sick of it.

It’s time to stop this once in for all. Opening seams are what causes it. I also think the darker paint jobs
Are more critical to opening up; due the van getting hotter during the day then cooling off at night and causing contractions.

My other van from a previous life was only 6 years old and it was a rust bucket. VW dropped the ball.

Lessons Learned:

Sand you’re a$$ off all the way to mask line, use masking tape, , sand it, ruin it and then replace the tape with fresh tape and then use the bed liner paint.

Only use the green automotive masking tape, and only keep on there for a little bit, don’t let the bed liner marinate on it, it is solvent rich and will bleed thru the masking tape.

Use a ground cloth drop cloth, this stuff gets every where. Lay it down on your driveway.

You cannot use enough newspaper to mask. <Insert mental picture> Imagine your kids with a milkshake on a double dog dare it won’t get on the carpet.

Use the GoWesty link to show you, where to mask, print them off before you start work. I went a little higher in the back. It helps protect the seams and from rocks. I think this is why GoWesty really started blacking out their vans. It’s bomber once and for all.

Materials Used:

Dupacolor kit

1 GAL of Dupa-color roll on bed liner kit for a pickup bed I paid $50 something dollars.

One small can of wax remover (THIS WAS NOT IN THE KIT) although it stated it was. I had to run to supply store

Owner Furnished

1 pack (24 ea) artist brushes for detail work

4 each cheap 2 inch bristle brushes

3 ea plastic paint trays

3 rolls of green 3m 2” masking tape

2 rolls of green 3m ¾” masking tape

One small can of wax remover (THIS WAS NOT IN THE KIT) although it stated it was.

1 pack lint free rags

1 small can of lacquer thinner

1 Pack of tacky rags for the last little bit of clean.

Handful of Wal-Mart plastic bags, keep your brushes in these while not in use so they won’t get hard. Keeping the air off of them, helps them last.

5 gal bucket to sit on to save your back.

6 Weekend’s worth of the Sunday Paper.

Cost:

Just under a $ 75 dollars …

Time:

2.5 days…you must take your time and prep the body or it will not stick!

Questions and Answers can be found here.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3293902#3293902

E-mail :

If you use this page and tackle this project yourself please feel free to contact me, only cost…send me a picture on how it turned out

My email mark(at)waldensridgewhitewater(dot)com

Please put Vanagon Bedliner Question in the subject line so you don’t go in the Junk Mail folder, I’m pretty brutal if I don’t have you in my address book.

GOOD LUCK!