Tube Steps = Undercoat?

[zgw8]

I have the painted silver tube steps from DeeZee on my '05 Tacoma DC which is also Silver. I was thinking of undercoating the tube steps to help protect from road rash from rocks, etc. Does this sound like a good idea or a mess waiting to happen? I would mask off and only do the bottom so you couldn't see it from the side. Your feedback is appreciated.

[Johnny Law]

Are they aluminum? I would say go for it if they are. If they are steel, I say forget it. On the older cars they used to undercoat, it actually trapped moisture in and still rusted.

[rickgrimes2]

Originally Posted by zgw8

I have the painted silver tube steps from DeeZee on my '05 Tacoma DC which is also Silver. I was thinking of undercoating the tube steps to help protect from road rash from rocks, etc. Does this sound like a good idea or a mess waiting to happen? I would mask off and only do the bottom so you couldn't see it from the side. Your feedback is appreciated.

I just ordered these tube steps from my toyota dealer. How do you think they look?Being that they are powdercoated,they should at least as durable as the paint finish on the truck

[tguil]

Originally Posted by rickgrimes2

I just ordered these tube steps from my toyota dealer. How do you think they look?Being that they are powdercoated,they should at least as durable as the paint finish on the truck

I've been considering these tubes too. Durability is a concern. The finish had better be than the paint on the truck. I'm looking for some that are stainless.

Of course when the powdercoat goes you can just get out the rattlecan.

Tom

[zgw8]

I have the Silver Streak Mica DC and the silver painted tube steps look fantastic in my book. I wouldn't have the truck without them and there is no red on my neck!

The finish is really nice. I was just thinking of the gravel on the roads in the winter kicking up on the bottoms.

You'll love them. I was pleasantly surprised. I got some Helo Maxx 6 wheels in chrome and boy an I glad I didn't get chrome tube steps. The painted ones look much better IMO.

[Triple BB]

If you want something that won't chip off in the first hundred miles, take them in and have the bottom's Line-x'd.

[Two4X4]

Originally Posted by zgw8

I have the painted silver tube steps from DeeZee on my '05 Tacoma DC which is also Silver. I was thinking of undercoating the tube steps to help protect from road rash from rocks, etc. Does this sound like a good idea or a mess waiting to happen? I would mask off and only do the bottom so you couldn't see it from the side. Your feedback is appreciated.

NO, not undercoating--do not undercoat them. The undercoat is soft and not very attractive. Here is what we do, we have them coated with the bedliner brand known as Line-X. This is extremely tough. The powder coating will cheap and eventually the steel bars will rust, mine certainly did. I took my rusted bars and bead blasted them and then had my local Line-X dealer spray them
If your on the cheap you can buy bed liner in an aerosol spray can at auto stores. It is not nearly as tough as the real deal but it actually works very good as an extra protective coating over the powder coat.
Trust me, undercoating belongs under the car if even there and not on your new side tubes, bumpers etc.

[zgw8]

Thanks for the advice. Where do I find the Line-X?

[Tiggyboot]

I have the same tube steps and I too have considered undercoating them to protect the underside. However, when I ordered my set the first pair arrived slightly damaged. One side was dinged underneath. The funny part was that the paint they use must not be the right type for aluminum because it completely flaked off. There's next to no adhesion. For those that don't know, aluminum needs a special primer to adhere. So if you put undercoating on top of that lousy paint, chances are it will be off in no time. Just my opinion. A better move might be to put the 3M stone gaurd film there.

MK

[Two4X4]

Originally Posted by zgw8

Thanks for the advice. Where do I find the Line-X?

I actually am a mechanic and stuff like that in addition to many other things, trust me, aluminum can be painted very nicely, powder coated or coated with the bedliner material such as Line-X.
You can find a Line-X dealer in the phone book under automobile heading or look under bedliners etc. They do not sell it i a can!!!! It is expensive, they do the spraying. That is whyI mentioned that you can buy "bed liner" in a aerosol can from most auto supply stores. It is not as tough and durable as the real product but it actually looks nice sprayed over powder coat as extra protection.
Also, the bed liner buisness is very competitive. The first was Rhino, the Line-X and now there are many others. Some of the "others", also in the phone book, work just fine and their services are much cheaper than the better known Line-X. I would not use the Rhino brand on my tubes/bumpers, I feel it is to soft and thick.
Also, bed liner can be bought in a can that can then be applied with a roller, brush or spray rig from auto supply stores, catalogs etc, if you have facilities for spraying that is always best.
The Line-X is super tough, it will run probably 250 dollars, it will out last the truck, yep, when all the cheap paint is chipped off the truck and the plastic bed has gone to the recycle bin, the Line-X on the tubes will still be rocki'n.

[Tiggyboot]

Originally Posted by Two4X4

I actually am a mechanic and stuff like that in addition to many other things, trust me, aluminum can be painted very nicely, powder coated or coated with the bedliner material such as Line-X.
You can find a Line-X dealer in the phone book under automobile heading or look under bedliners etc. They do not sell it i a can!!!! It is expensive, they do the spraying. That is whyI mentioned that you can buy "bed liner" in a aerosol can from most auto supply stores. It is not as tough and durable as the real product but it actually looks nice sprayed over powder coat as extra protection.
Also, the bed liner buisness is very competitive. The first was Rhino, the Line-X and now there are many others. Some of the "others", also in the phone book, work just fine and their services are much cheaper than the better known Line-X. I would not use the Rhino brand on my tubes/bumpers, I feel it is to soft and thick.
Also, bed liner can be bought in a can that can then be applied with a roller, brush or spray rig from auto supply stores, catalogs etc, if you have facilities for spraying that is always best.
The Line-X is super tough, it will run probably 250 dollars, it will out last the truck, yep, when all the cheap paint is chipped off the truck and the plastic bed has gone to the recycle bin, the Line-X on the tubes will still be rocki'n.

Bare aluminum CANNOT be painted with what ever you want. It must be cleaned with proper solvents first, then and most importantly, it has to be primed with a special aluminum primer. The DeeZee tube steps were not primed and thus the paint is barely sticking on there. Once the steps get kinked, the paint simply comes off in sheets. As I stated above, I have first hand experience on this one. FYI, the reason aluminum doesn't rust or oxide as much as steel is because it is continously giving off an oily residue. Wipe your fingers across a bare piece of aluminum and your finger tips will be black. That is the big problem with painting aluminum. Obviously it can be done, but it's a special process and not easy. So, if you spray the beloved Line X on top of the silver paint. You are wasting your money. When the paint starts coming off, so does your investment in line x. Oh, I'm an engineer, trust ME on this one.



MK

[strtlgl2]

Originally Posted by zgw8

Thanks for the advice. Where do I find the Line-X?

Here you go


http://www2.line-x.com/dealersdb/default.htm?AppID=385