Rubber Pad for Top

wander · 09-06-2021, 05:58 PM

Does anyone know where I can get one of these for the right side?

Thanks!

Twoxentrix · 09-06-2021, 06:59 PM

subscribed - Never seen this before - do you have the same on the rear? makes sense on the front to help keep water & debris from migrating under the pop-top (and its rubber seal) while driving, so interested in any replies you receive.

Steve C · 09-06-2021, 07:01 PM

Why bother, it didn’t work for the left side? Sorry I couldn’t help myself…

Your van’s roof looks like mine did before I applied Raptor Liner along the entire perimeter. Actually my van’s roof was down to bare metal at each of the four corners. My solution was to apply about a 4” wide strip of the liner from the drip rail inward so that the top rides on the bed liner material and not directly on the metal. I ended up using the Raptor recommended primer on the bare metal first. Can’t say how long it will last, but two years and 10,000 miles and all is good. So far…

wander · 09-06-2021, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve C

Your van’s roof looks like mine did before I applied Raptor Liner along the entire perimeter. Actually my van’s roof was down to bare metal at each of the four corners. My solution was to apply about a 4” wide strip of the liner from the drip rail inward so that the top rides on the bed liner material and not directly on the metal. I ended up using the Raptor recommended primer on the bare metal first. Can’t say how long it will last, but two years and 10,000 miles and all is good. So far…

"Why bother, it didn’t work for the left side? Sorry I couldn’t help myself… "

Yeah, I get it, and no problem. The kind of comment I would make.

I'll have to check out the Raptor Liner solution. It sounds like you applied it yourself.

Thanks!

natalie · 09-06-2021, 08:15 PM

https://www.mcmaster.com/8990K61/wea...ts-and-strips/

gahamby · 09-07-2021, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natalie

https://www.mcmaster.com/8990K61/wea...ts-and-strips/

Did this work for you? How well does it bend?

wander · 09-07-2021, 11:43 AM

I’m thinking about doing the Raptor Lining, but I’m concerned it will chew up the rubber seal on the bottom of the penthouse. How’s that working out?

Steve C · 09-07-2021, 01:16 PM

Terry on my van the rubber seal seems to be showing no adverse effects after 10,000 miles. Others here have much more time/miles on their rigs after adding bed-liner to their roofs so hopefully someone else can chime in...? I think that the rougher surface of the bed-liner actually keeps the top from shifting and rubbing (maybe?).

In the meantime, my choice to go with the bed-liner was made easier by the fact that I was already refinishing the pop-top so had extra material. Since my pop-top had rubbed down to bare metal my choice was to 1) leave it as there was no rust due to constant rubbing 2) paint it and then use the SMB tape or 3) Use leftover bed liner as others here have reported doing.

Since I didn't have access to a compressor rated high enough to spray the liner, I just rolled it on. I purchased my rollers from Moonstaliner and those rollers make the texture pretty course. If you can spray the liner, I'm sure you could get a much smoother texture or go with different rollers. You could also try a local bed-liner application business such as Line-X that can color match and select a fairly smooth finish. (My nearest Line-X dealer wanted absolutely nothing to do with refinishing the top with the added issues of the rubber gasket and tracks).

The Raptor liner I used was in a kit of four bottles and I got another quart of Baja Tan from Sherwin-Williams in order to color match. My RB pop-top took about 2 1/2 bottles and the top of the van's roof took 1 bottle (all with two coats). When I went to prep the van's roof I took pictures of all areas that had rubbed to bare metal just so I could show to any future owners that there was zero rust before coating the roof. As I said earlier, I treated the bare metal with Raptor liner primer after speaking with their representatives. The Raptor web site has a bunch of videos and product descriptions to help you out.

Hope this helps you out?!

Cheers!

wander · 09-07-2021, 01:34 PM

Thanks for the great reply, Steve C! I’ll go with the bedliner, then.

Youngster · 09-07-2021, 03:12 PM

I used Monstaliner
Black Repair Kit (includes 8oz liner + catalyst, mini roller, foam block) ML90REP $24.70
Monstaliner do-it-yourself roll-on truck bed liner

The price was right and I had plenty to do the front corners with 3 coats.
It's holding up well over the past couple years and the roof gasket doesn't show wear. I do spray a bit of sillicon on the rubber now and then.