Day 55: Painting White Bedliner on Camper Van Exterior

Projects

Painting White Bedliner on Van

Project Status

Nearly completed. Touch up is needed

Time Spent

10AM to 1AM - 15 Hours

Steps Taken

Tape off borders of all areas not to be painted
Apply plastic sheets over all areas not to be painted
Sand areas to be painted with orbital sander and 60 grit sandpaper
Dust off all sanded areas with compressor and air attachment
Degrease and clean all sanded areas
Mix clear bedliner with white tint
Spray van with white bedliner
Wait for bedliner to dry
Remove tape and plastic sheeting

Plans For Tomorrow

Install Roof Rack

Tools And Materials Used

U-POL UP0726 Spray Gun

This spray gun applies U-POL protective coatings from a connected coating container. An air supply drives the spray during bodywork and bedliner application.

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Bostitch BTFP02012 Six-Gallon Compressor

This oil-free pancake compressor supplies regulated compressed air from a six-gallon tank. It is an alternative for compatible pneumatic tools used during a camper-van build.

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JASTIND Air Blow Gun

This air blow gun connects to a compressed-air line for directed cleaning. Its nozzle concentrates airflow on dust and loose debris around parts.

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Scotch Rough-Surface Painter’s Tape

This painter’s tape masks rough surfaces during painting work. It defines paint boundaries and covers adjacent areas while a coating is applied.

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MyLifeUNIT Tape and Drape, 6 Pack Masking Paper for Automotive Painting Covering (66-Feet, 3 Sizes)

This tape-and-drape masking material covers surfaces during painting. It could protect nearby camper-van panels and furnishings from overspray during build or repair work.

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DEWALT 20V MAX Orbital Sander, 12,000 OPM, Brushless Motor for Extra Long Run Time, Bare Tool Only (DCW210B)

This cordless random-orbit sander uses a hook-and-loop pad and adjustable speed. It helps smooth camper-van cabinetry and panels before finishing while reducing dependence on a nearby outlet.

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Diablo 60-Grit Sanding Discs

These round sanding discs use a hook-and-loop backing for attachment to a matching sander pad. Their coarse abrasive surface removes material during initial surface preparation.

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Simple Green Industrial Cleaner And Degreaser

This cleaner and degreaser removes dirt and oily residue from washable surfaces. It is a surface-preparation supply for cleaning components before further work.

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Rust-Oleum 340452 Automotive Truck Bed Coating, 1 Quarts (Pack of 1), Clear

This clear Rust-Oleum coating protects suitably prepared truck-bed surfaces. It offers a clear-finish option for compatible van exterior projects.

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BEHR Ultra Pure White Satin Exterior Paint

This white exterior paint provides a satin-finish coating. It is applied as a liquid topcoat during painting and refinishing work.

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Notes

Taping off and putting on the plastic sheets took a very long time, around 8 hours. Making the tape exact on all the lines is time consuming, and it's a large van.
The lines didn't come out perfect after finishing painting and removing the tape. I have to do some touch up.
I used the Rust-Oleum Bedliner for this, and I wasn't very happy with it. The Raptor bedliner is thicker and doesn't pool up on the van when I spray it. The Rust-Oleum bedliner pools up in places, and then drips, leaving a bad finish. It also tends to quilt when sprayed in areas. The Raptor bedliner is more consistent when sprayed and finishes more consistent. Raptor is also two or three times the price.
Part of the touch up I have to do is where the Rust-Oleum pooled up, clumped up, and dripped and I tried to fix it with a paint brush, which just made it worse and removed the bedliner from the glossy OEM paint surface I was covering. I'm going to touch it up with a foam roller, which comes closer to what the sprayed on bedliner looks like.
In the future I won't use the Rust-Oleum, only the Herculiner and Raptor bedliner products.