Wrapping or painting?

[4String.]

Folks.

Finally got round to fitting the "bought on a whim and left in the shed for 18 months..." roofbox to the van:






Hopefully this will sort out storage space in the van when I'm away for diving/wildlife trips, and I'm inclined to think it will, but aesthetically it looks horrendous so I'd like to do something with it. Does anyone know if these grp boxes are the kind of thing that could be wrapped or would it be better/easier to have it painted?

If it works as I hope it will, I might see about making a dedicated roofrack that I can bolt the box to but also has space for a couple of air cylinders and my secondary spare wheel, but I'd rather the box be white instead of black.

 

[Parm]

If you want it all white then I reckon a spray job will be the best, experienced painters on here should be able to tell you how, or just take it to pro spray shop

If you can get the same paint as the van, I think it will look realy good

 

[4String.]

If you want it all white then I reckon a spray job will be the best, experienced painters on here should be able to tell you how, or just take it to pro spray shop

If you can get the same paint as the van, I think it will look realy good

Cheers @Parm.

I have no experience of it so I'm guessing that wrapping would involve computers and stuff, so spraying might be better? Would have it sprayed though, I have neither the time, skill, facilities or inclination to to tackle it myself.

Sometime in the near future when we move to our "forever" house, I intend to make a walk-in box trailer for dive expeditions and have it custom painted with my life. An underwater scene on one side, a heavy haul Scania 141 artic stepframe rig loaded with a huge lathe on the other, and raptors flying over mountains on the back doors. It's been a project that I've wanted to do for many years, so one of these days...

 

[mike os]

im thinking it will be too flexible for paint?

wrapping is not that expensive these days especially if you dont want anything special like mirror chrome etc

 

[grim_d]

Could be wrapped though it would need high quality vinyl and those compound curves on it would be tricky. When I was doing it years ago vinyl could be finicky on bare plastics but I think that's a thing of the past now.

No computer required, just cut to size from the sheet during the job.

Painting would be easy, all it needs is a good scuff up then plastic primer before priming and painting. I don't think it will be too flexible, look how flimsy vehicle bumpers are these days.

Cost and time difference between the two is probably negligible either DIY or pro job.

 

[stuvy]

Could be wrapped though it would need high quality vinyl and those compound curves on it would be tricky. When I was doing it years ago vinyl could be finicky on bare plastics but I think that's a thing of the past now.

No computer required, just cut to size from the sheet during the job.

Painting would be easy, all it needs is a good scuff up then plastic primer before priming and painting. I don't think it will be too flexible, look how flimsy vehicle bumpers are these days.

Cost and time difference between the two is probably negligible either DIY or pro job.

that would be awful to wrap

what about upol raptor as it’s flexible and strong as

 

[grim_d]

that would be awful to wrap

By a first timer definitely, a pro would manage.

With the fancy pressure sensitive adhesives and amount of stretch the vinyls can accommodate without distorting the colour these days is truly remarkable, obviously doesn't work for printed designs.

 

[mr haynes]

Tbh i think it matches the rest of the plastics on the van.
White duct tape? Go faster stripe?
Painting would be easier, basically scuff and shoot

 

[badabec]

Hello, leave it as it is.

 

[Ton-up]

As stuvy says Raptor would do it ok.

I think it looks ok, if it was white it would look like a fridge unit!!

 

[colnerov]

Hi, How much gear have you got that you need an loft conversion? Bigger van?

Colin

 

[frank horton]

is it GRP...? most are some kinda plastic.....
biggest prob I had was where to keep the STEPS whilst travelling....dohhhhh.
Mine was on a Voyarger.....in the end sold it....
got fed with the fag of loading unloading and the wind buffeting....
besides it would make a home for a family of migrants these days...oooop's....sorry

 

[4String.]

Hi, How much gear have you got that you need an loft conversion? Bigger van?

Colin

The Nissan nv200 isn't huge to start with, and almost half the space in mine is taken up with the bunk, albeit with storage room underneath.

Throw in 3 air cylinders, 2 big drybags, a 3'x2'x2' gear box, a bag of clean clothes, a deckchair, and numerous other sundries, and there's no room left for me. However, we're in the middle of selling OH' Mum's house that she left us when she died last year, and OH has said that if it all goes through she's happy for me to buy a bigger van, so time will tell.

 

[frank horton]

sorry to hear about your mum.....
get a decent van and think of her everytime you use it.....she'd like that.....
when I moved to France I took me mum....it was a watermill n farm.....
got her feeding the lambs etc.....sadly I have nothing of her's....but I do have me Granny's occ table....hahaha...

 

[tom2207]

The Nissan nv200 isn't huge to start with, and almost half the space in mine is taken up with the bunk, albeit with storage room underneath.

Throw in 3 air cylinders, 2 big drybags, a 3'x2'x2' gear box, a bag of clean clothes, a deckchair, and numerous other sundries, and there's no room left for me. However, we're in the middle of selling OH' Mum's house that she left us when she died last year, and OH has said that if it all goes through she's happy for me to buy a bigger van, so time will tell.

thought for a new van , especially if your diving , buy one you can stand up in with a wee bit of head room , yep they look ugly , but they are fantastic when kitting up , and humping cylinders about.

 

[keithski122]

Every time I've seen anything wrapped its always looked really bad, air bubbles on inner angles, badly cut edges, overlapped edges, peeling edges, dirt under wrap.

 

[Ashley Burton]

I think shorter roof bars would be a good start & I would definitely get it painted the same colour of the vehicle to match

Never been a fan of roof boxes personally, But needs must