Protect Tanks with LineX?

WillyB · 08-23-2021, 03:23 PM

Since these tanks, without spray foam, are fully exposed to Rocks, Bolts, Twigs and Armadillos flying up and doing damage, has anyone ever had LineX spray their heavy duty bed liner on the exposed areas of these tanks for protection?

LineX is tough as nails.

They seem to be able to spray that stuff perfectly without slopping it all over the place.

Vermilye · 08-23-2021, 03:27 PM

I wonder if the expansion/contraction between empty & full tanks would cause a problem with a LineX coating?

WillyB · 08-23-2021, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vermilye

I wonder if the expansion/contraction between empty & full tanks would cause a problem with a LineX coating?

Didn't think out that but now I've got to find out. LineX sure seems like a great way to protect from road damage.

Chotch · 08-23-2021, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillyB

Since these tanks, without spray foam, are fully exposed to Rocks, Bolts, Twigs and Armadillos flying up and doing damage, has anyone ever had LineX spray their heavy duty bed liner on the exposed areas of these tanks for protection?

LineX is tough as nails.

They seem to be able to spray that stuff perfectly without slopping it all over the place.

🤔 the tanks themselves are pretty tough. Has anyone had an issue with the tanks getting damaged? Was just under my 2017 50TA and they look great.

Jim Bennett · 08-23-2021, 03:32 PM

There really is no issue, or at least very little, wear from road debris. My 19, after 6+ years had tanks with no wear, in great shape. The entire underbody was good. Only the wheel wells showed a bit of wear, and it saw lots of gravel roads.

HABBERDABBER · 08-23-2021, 03:52 PM

The tanks are molded of either polypropylene or polyethylene plastic. Neither of those plastics behaves well with adhesives or coatings. They are hard to adhere to, sometimes very hard. And compared to a metal substrate, those plastics expand and contract around 13 TIMES more than metal with temperature changes. I'd put any money for the cost of a coating in the bank and wait & see what happens. You may be fretting over shadows in the dark. There are few reported problems, although Jon did puncture a tank.

A better protection would be a steel "skid plate" as are used on off-road vehicles. Tougher, stronger, bolted on to the frame (in some fashion) and bullet proof......or at least highly armadillo resistant.

WillyB · 08-23-2021, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

A better protection would be a steel "skid plate" as are used on off-road vehicles. Tougher, stronger, bolted on to the frame (in some fashion) and bullet proof......or at least highly armadillo resistant.

I thought about the skid plates as well. The LineX thing seems so simple and durable.

The local LineX guy said he would have to "encapsulate" them first. When I asked what he would encapsulate them with he said LineX. Sounded way to confusing so I stopped asking questions.

**Donna D.** · 08-23-2021, 06:19 PM

Hummm, isn't Line-X rock hard? Not rubbery? Seems like it could be an issue, if a projectile hit hard enough, it might crack the tank and then there would be no way to fix it.... like plastic weld.

Brian B-P · 08-23-2021, 09:00 PM

Line-X is intended to withstand direct contact, in a truck box, so its flexibility is limited. If it would adhere (and I doubt that it would) an undercoating/rock guard coating would likely be more suitable. But any of these coatings are intended to protect a painted surface from chips and scratches, not to protect a structure from cracking due to a stone hit. I think a panel (like a skid plate, but of course not actually dragged over obstacles) or mudflaps would be more effective. I ran a row of rubber mudflaps across in front of my trailer's grey waste tank.

Doug2000 · 08-24-2021, 05:09 AM

Our local LineX dealer is really expensive. I had asked for a quote for the 2007 17B to get the wheel wells sprayed and the front section below the belly band. His quote was $1200. I figured that was the I don't really want your business price.

If I was concerned about damage to the tanks. I would make up sheet metal guards. This would also help with aerodynamics.

meekhotglass · 08-24-2021, 09:47 AM

I was chatting with my brother about this - he's into Jeeps & offroading and he recommended I look into UHMW polyethylene. It can be purchased in sheets of varying thickness - might be a good alternative to sheet metal for home-made "skid plates"

Vermilye · 08-24-2021, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chotch

🤔 the tanks themselves are pretty tough. Has anyone had an issue with the tanks getting damaged? Was just under my 2017 50TA and they look great.

I had a piece of a pallet strike the underside of the truck & trailer driving on an interstate at 60 MPH. Damaged a fiberboard engine cover on the truck (why fiberboard on an Off Road truck is another matter) then punched a 1" hole, a 1/2" hole & a crack between the two of them in my gray tank. I repaired it by plastic welding & epoxy with a finish coating of Eternabond tape. It has held up on two trips so far...

I have already added 2" foam board to much of the bottom of the trailer; I may add a piece in front of the gray tank that is attached to the trailer, but not the tank.

Centex · 08-24-2021, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meekhotglass

I was chatting with my brother about this - he's into Jeeps & offroading and he recommended I look into UHMW polyethylene. It can be purchased in sheets of varying thickness - might be a good alternative to sheet metal for home-made "skid plates"

A source if interested .... Grainger - UHMW Polyethylene - Slippery Impact-Resistant Sheets & Bars

Brian B-P · 08-24-2021, 03:11 PM

I think that for this purpose I would use HDPE rather than UHMWPE, for better strength:
HDPE vs. UHMW
Grainger and similar suppliers have both. I haven't compared pricing or availability.

HABBERDABBER · 08-24-2021, 03:33 PM

A sheet of rubber, 1/4" thick, available at farm storms for machinery or animal stalls. Anything.....would be better than nothing. 2" foam as Jon used would help, especially when encountering a road armadillo.

I haven't done a lick of any of my suggestions. Low, low probability of the event. No problema.....until it is one.

Centex · 08-24-2021, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

..... I haven't done a lick of any of my suggestions. Low, low probability of the event. No problema.....until it is one.

I tend to agree with you .... in the big scheme of things this topic strikes me (

) as a solution looking for a problem.

Damage of the sort Jon Vermilye's tank suffered as a result of his admittedly unfortunate encounter with road debris seems extraordinarily rare, there's other places I think I can expend my energies and treasure to better benefit. YMMV.

WanderBred · 08-25-2021, 09:06 AM

what about the idea of putting that stuff inside the wheel wells to protect it from rocks?

gbaglo · 08-25-2021, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WanderBred

what about the idea of putting that stuff inside the wheel wells to protect it from rocks?

That was suggested back in 2009. I posted, why not wait until there are rock chips and do it then to cover the damage? It's 2021 and I'm still waiting.

WanderBred · 08-25-2021, 10:54 AM

Your far more patient than I am. LOL

**Donna D.** · 08-25-2021, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbaglo

That was suggested back in 2009. I posted, why not wait until there are rock chips and do it then to cover the damage? It's 2021 and I'm still waiting.

Yeah, my 2014 still looks good, other than a bunch of road tar. I guess if someone was to coat the inside of the wheel wells, white wouldn't be the best color to use.

YMMV

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