You expect your truck to serve you longer in helping you to haul materials from one place to another. For this reason, you need its truck bed to be resistant against corrosion, rust, scrapes, scratches, and other such damages.
This is why we created the Raptor Liner Review to provide you with more information. However, even the toughest truck cannot have a strong truck bed that can withstand such damaging agents for long. This is true if you use it to transport heavy machinery at tools.
That's why you need a bed liner to protect your truck bed and other exposed parts of your vehicle. Beds, floors, undercarriage, and sheet metal are just a few of the areas that a bed liner can protect. If you really care about your vehicle, you need not look further than it to provide it with the coverage it needs. It can also guard your vehicle against rusting by filling scratches, dings, and dents on it.
In all Raptor bed liner review, one fact stands out. It is currently the best cover for truck beds in the market. You must be wondering what it is, how it works, how it is used, and even whether it is worth your hard-earned money. In this Raptor spray-on bed liner review, we are going to break down all these down for you so you can make an informed decision.
What is Raptor Liner?
By the time you go through the raptorliner review, you will have the answer to this question and many more. Developed by U-pol, liner is a durable, tintable, and tough urethane coating applied on a surface to protect against rust, scrapes, and scratches.
The product was developed to withstand the toughest abrasions and extreme climatic conditions. It is Ultra Violet resistant and wouldn't fade even when exposed to the sun for several years.
Raptor can guard surfaces against rust because it is water-resistant. This makes it a great product for use on surfaces that often get into contact with moisture, and even saltwater.
It's very versatile, making it suitable for use on nearly all surfaces. You can roll or spray it on areas vulnerable to damages from strains or scratches to provide protection. Its unique formulation enables it to bear strong impacts and remain unaffected. This is the main reason why many drivers like to apply it to their truck beds.
Raptor liner isn't like other protective coatings or bed liners. It dries faster and is less expensive compared to other commercial coatings and bed liners. It's quite easy to repair when it gets a scratch (which is very rare because it is tough). All other protective coatings and bed liners are not easy to repair.
Raptor protects both the small surfaces you use on your day to day activities and also the roughest and rugged industrial surfaces exposed to very tough conditions. It looks great, is durable, and easy to clean.
You can use it on your lighting, hardware, side rails, bumpers, and even Jeep fenders. It also works well as an undercoating to protect your car against water splashes.
Since Raptor liner is sprayed on a surface, you'll not lose any cargo space when you spray it on your truck bed. The liner's chemical composition allows it to bond with a variety of pigments and dyes, meaning you can choose what color you want to use on your vehicle.
Raptor Liner Review - Is It Really Works
Brand: | U-POL |
Weight: | 11.8 pounds |
Dimensions: | 10 x 10 x 10 in |
Folding: | No |
Color: | Black |
Special Features: | Waterproof |
How Raptor Liner Works
The main reason why you apply Raptor liner on a surface is to provide protection. The layer is usually thick enough even to dissipate pressure caused by dropped cargo or objects. It slows the rate of change of temperature and also deadens noise.
U-pol recommends that you apply a minimum of two coats, each of a thickness of about 7 to 10 mil. According to their specifications, the overall thickness of the coats should be at least 18.5 mm. The Raptor liner is tightly held to the surface using an epoxy primer, which makes it very difficult to scratch off. At the time of application, no moisture should be trapped between the surface and the Raptor liner as this might cause it to peel off due to blistering and rusting.
Being that Raptor liner is elastic, it can protect surfaces against heavy impacts. For example, if you load a toolbox on your truck bed and allow it to move around as you drive the vehicle. Under ordinary circumstances, you'd expect lots of dents at the end of your journey. However, if you had applied Raptor liner, it would just flex a bit with every impact so that no dents would form even if you are driving on a rough road.
Where Else Can Raptor Liner Be Used?
Raptor liner is not only meant for use on truck beds. You can apply this product to any painted or metal surface. It can, therefore, protect heavy machinery, farm equipment, and other outdoor machinery, including gates, lifts, and pumps.
It can also be used on construction equipment and tools. The advantage of Raptor liner is that it is not affected by engine lubricants or animal urine.
What You'll Get When You Buy Raptor Liner
Raptor liners come in varying capacities. The smallest being an aerosol can, and you can also get a 55-gallon drum. So, whatever the area of the surface you want to cover, big or small, you'll always get what you want.
Pol will pack for you everything you need to apply Raptor liner. You'll get a spray gun (Schutz), sandpaper, and many bottles of Raptor liner. The product comes in tintable, white, and black shades. This gives you a variety of shades to choose from.
The gallon and quart kits come pre-mixed. Meaning you'll just buy and apply the way it is. A gallon of Raptor liner can cover about 120 sq. Ft. while a quart can cover about 30 sq. ft. If you buy a gallon, you can use it to cover the whole bed of a pickup.
If you buy Raptor liner in bulk, you have to do the mixing on your own. So, you'll need a hardener, which you'll mix with it in the ratio of 3:1 (Raptor liner: hardener).
There are also solutions used to prepare the surface before you apply the Raptor liner. We have surface cleaners, primers, etchers, etc. U-pol provides all these solutions.
Preparation Of The Surface
The surface on which Raptor liner is to be applied must be prepared carefully to ensure perfect bonding. If there are any dents, you'll have to straighten them up by pounding or filling them. Next, you have to sand the surface to remove any existing finish. You may need to buy more sandpapers because the one provided will not be enough if you have a wide area to sand.
After sanding, use the surface etch, prep solvent, degreaser, or paint cleaner to clean the surface thoroughly. You can then rinse the surface and wipe it to remove all the dust.
If you do not want to apply Raptor liner on the entire surface, you can use masking tape and paper to mask the areas to be spared. These areas may include trim, lights, mirrors, windows, etc. Apply masking tape along break lines to ensure you have a sharp ending.
Tinting and Mixing Raptor Liner
After preparing the surface and masking the areas not be painted. Mix the Raptor liner in readiness for the application. If you want completely white or black color, no tinting would be necessary. Again, if you bought the pre-mixed Raptor liner, there would be no need for mixing or tinting.
In many U-pol Raptor liner reviews, it is recommended that when you are buying this product, ask for one with no binder so you can get Raptor liner with more intense pigments. Mix the Raptor liner with a binder on your own using the recommended ratio. Tinting is a complex process that needs the hands of an expert to get the right color. If you can't do it on your own, ask for help from an expert.
Applying Raptor Liner
There are two methods of applying Raptor liner: using and spray gun or an ordinary paint roller. A roller can be used when working on a relatively flat surface without any dents or curves. Spraying works well on any surface, whether it has dents or curves.
Do it Yourself Spray in Bed Liner
Spraying is something you can do on your own because U-pol will give you all the necessary items. However, you need to buy some protective gear like a hood, goggles, and a respirator. You will also need a compressor, jitterbug, orbital sander, and sanding boards and blocks. These items aren't expensive, and you can get them from your local store.
Screw the sprayer gun onto the spray bottle then attach the airline from the compressor to the back. While spraying, keep the gun at about 12 - 16 inches away from the area you are spraying to give a good finish.
Make overlapping sweeps to get a thicker coat. Once you are done with the first coat, wait for about 30 minutes before applying the subsequent coats. For a Raptor liner smooth finish, the product should be applied at low pressure. But for a rough finish, you need a pressure of about 50 PSI. Very high pressure can cause the product to peel off.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long does Raptor liner last?
When applied well, a Raptor liner can last for several years. In as much as it is resistant to damage, you'll still need to take good care of it to serve you longer. No product can ever be 100% resistant to all forms of damaging factors. For Raptor liner to last longer, you need to cure it well after application.
Bake it at 140°F for about 30 minutes to speed up the curing process. Give it about three days to cure before you subject it to heavy usage. When spraying or rolling, allow 30 minutes to elapse before applying the next coat. Wait for the Raptor liner to cure fully before you place any heavy loads on it.
2. How strong is Raptor liner?
Apart from resisting and distributing pressure, Raptor liner also prevents objects placed on it from moving around because of its rubber-like surface. Raptor liner gives a tough finish. For a smoother finish, a pressure of between 30 PSI and 100 PSI would work.
3. Can you clear coat over Raptor liner?
Yes. If you've cured your Raptor liner well, you can easily touch it up. Clean the area you want to touch up, sand it, clean it once again then apply the product as usual. Do not sand the surface to the bare metal. This is because it will require that you have to prime once again.
4. What is Raptor liner made of?
Raptor liner is basically made from urethane materials that give it the ability to withstand UV and weather damage. It is a rubber-like, elastic bed liner that, when sprayed on a surface, forms a hard-coated, textured layer on the surface.
5. Can you roll on Raptor liner?
The roller produces a fine texture of the Raptor liner. However, you must take care when rolling because if you make it too thick, there will be an occurrence of some softness in some parts.
Is Raptor Liner Worth Your Money?
Of all the coatings used to protect surfaces, Raptor liner stands out as the most durable and affordable. It is easy to use and can be applied to a variety of surfaces. Given that it is elastic, it makes any object that falls on it to bounce off, thus not causing any dents. From raptor liner review, you'll learn that this product is the best when you are fond of exposing your vehicle to very tough conditions. Not only your vehicle but even your farm machinery and equipment. Therefore, it is worth giving it a try.
