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Okay, so getting back to the subject at hand, suggestions for keeping the bodywork looking new?


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2004 Kawasaki Prairie 360 4X4

25" ITP ATRs mounted on ITP C Series Aluminum wheels
Warn 2500ci winch

 

Buy an enclosed trailer ( I wish I had done this right from the start ), as I had some serious corrosion issues & a few electrical, as well, from open trailering, through 2 ice storms last winter... ( road salt )

If you want it to look nice, just polish it, & don't ride it... although thats not why I bought it....

I competed in an ATV show & shine contest ( I'm obviously not the show & shine kind of guy... I hate polishing anything ), but there was a red white & blue late 70's Honda 3 wheeler that should have won... it had been totally restored, & was really sweet... I will be judgeing that show & shine contest next year, as last years judges didn't know what they were even looking at...

I know some ( obsesive compulsive...LOL ) guys that completely remove even the body plastic, after every ride, & thouroghly clean everything... these are the kinds of guys that will have equipment, like that sweet 3 wheeler, in the future ...

It was one of these guy's that told me the tip about the heat gun, removing minor scratches & deepening the color, as it fades...

there were some postings a while back, of people using WD - 40... DO NOT USE WD-40 ON YOUR BODY PLASTIC... it is a solvent, & over time, will remove the vital oils out of the plastic, causing it to get brittle...

oh well... I guesss I'm just destined to buy a new quad ( or at least plastic... ) every few years... I kind of like that new SuziKaw yellow anyway...LOL...

 

I have always used Honda Spray but I heard that Plexus is awesome.

 

That is correct about WD-40! Always read the back of the can for its application. There are some lubricants you can use, for example 3M Silicone Lubricant can be used on vinyl and plastic. I use 3M on my boat vinyl interior, especially the stitching along the seams, it acts as a water repellant!

 

A cheaper fix to new plastic might be the stuff that is sprayed into pickup beds.

There are several types, the best I have found is Mega-liner. It comes with a UV top coat and the color doesn't fade with time.

They come in several colors, I'm having my ATV done in black this winter.

I have a new Chevy Avalanche, which I just had all the gray body armor, sprayed black, the paneling that goes around the bottom half of the truck. it looks sweet.

 

Do you have pics of your truck w/that done?

 

I have a few pic's of it as it was being sprayed, could take some now if it wasn't so dirty from the rain and snow we got last night.

Where can you post pic's. I've tried to post pic's on my pic place on the forum, it wouldn't let me do it because the megapic's were to much. I took them in 3.2 meg.

 

Pm your email address, I can send them that way.

 

Sent you my email address. I'll resize them for you once I get them and send them back to you.

 

SHOTGUN... I was going to have that sprayed on my aluminum bumpers etc... last year, but never got around to it... I was also going to do the plastic gas cans, on my rear rack, ( to custom color them ), but the spray tech was concerned about how the spray would stick to the plastic... did you have to rough sand your body plastic ???

they used to spray the inside of the Jeep tubs ( back when I used to jeep ), to help keep them from rusting out, with the top & doors off all the time...

what I remember about most of the spray on liners, is that they are a pretty soft surface, do the UV stabile top coats add any hardness to the liner material ???

I must admit, that it is a good idea for me ( cheaper than new plastic )... if I can stop beating mine long enough to clean it up...LOL...I'm studding up tires this week end for Ice racing...