Hi all,

Managed to get a good price on a patriot roof rack and a howling moon from a friend (didn't realise it was such a good deal until I sat down and worked it all out last night).

However, the roof rack and access ladder are bare naked aluminium. I think i'd prefer them to be black to match the car. The question is, should I get them powder coated? Or would a laptop type spray/paint be better? Or, I have a friend that is a SMART repair type chap, I wonder if he's got something up his sleeve? I'm sure the cheapest but probably not the most durable solution would be to do what I did to my wheels and use a few cans of plasticoat?!?

Cheers in advance

Dont go painting aluminium before learning about etching primers....

If youre just wanting it to look pretty, and its not a corrosion issue, then rattle cans might do you. Powder coat might end up cheaper though, but im not a fan of powder coat really.

I might plastidip the ladder first (from a rattle can), just to see how it goes and what the durability will be like. It will just sit there the very vast majority of time and not actually get much rigorous wear and tear.

I just read that Patriot offer a lifetime warranty even if sold on second hand (amazing) - but only to modifications and/or repairs authorised or carried out by themselves... so this could be a good compromise as plastidip easily peels off.

Cheers

Powder all the way. It's the most durable finish you'll get commercially.

Sting Ray said:

Powder all the way. It's the most durable finish you'll get commercially.

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Until it chips and water gets underneath it. Then the metal disappears and everything still looks perfect until it is too late. At least with paint and other finishes you can see the corrosion to treat it before it is too late.