Anyone sprayed the Roof Rails black?

[T5SUG]

I have a set of cheap Alluminium roof rails on my van which I'm thinking of spraying black.
Just wondering if anyone has done this before and if you did any prep work to them beforehand rubbing down primer etc or just went ahead and sprayed them and what the results were like ?

 

[T5SUG]

in the end I just decided to go ahead and spray them. Removed all the feet wiped them down and dried them, then after an hour sprayed them with Halfords Satin Black paint spray.
TBH they don't look to bad may just give them one more coat tomorrow. Will post a picture when done.

 

[T5SUG]

Looks ok !!

 

[Gino D’Campervan]

Looks ok !!

View attachment 69500

Hey mate, looks good. I’m thinking of doing the same but spraying black rails orange…just wondered what the results are like 2 years on?

 

[JOG]

Only spotted this thread - the only advice I’d offer is to give the rails a sand to key them, then use an etch primer (available at halfrauds or EuroParts.) this ensures the primer sticks to the aluminium rail and a paint sticks better!

Edit: etch primer has an acid in it that ensures it grips better!

 

[Gino D’Campervan]

Only spotted this thread - the only advice I’d offer is to give the rails a sand to key them, then use an etch primer (available at halfrauds or EuroParts.) this ensures the primer sticks to the aluminium rail and a paint sticks better!

Edit: etch primer has an acid in it that ensures it grips better!

Thanks mate, that’s really useful to know. Out of interest, did you go to all the anti-leak measures when fitting your rails? I’m not very technical but I don’t want any leaks!

 

[JOG]

Thanks mate, that’s really useful to know. Out of interest, did you go to all the anti-leak measures when fitting your rails? I’m not very technical but I don’t want any leaks!

There’s a useful thread on how to do the rails that is leak free - I just can’t find it right now!

 

[The_Lad]

I would 100% recommend using the threaded bar and roofing washer approach as detailed on a thread on here. I used silicon the first time and they leaked refitted again with silicon and after a while they leaked again.

Used the threaded bar and no leaked so far

 

[JOG]

I would 100% recommend using the threaded bar and roofing washer approach as detailed on a thread on here. I used silicon the first time and they leaked refitted again with silicon and after a while they leaked again.

Used the threaded bar and no leaked so far

That’s the one -can you find the thread? (Honestly, no pun intended!)

 

[The_Lad]

That’s the one -can you find the thread? (Honestly, no pun intended!)

Here you go

Roof Rail Leak Free Fixing.

Got some ebay roof rails and did not want to gorm silicone into and around the fixing holes. Instead I got some M6 threaded bar cut a little longer than the bolts supplied with the rails. I then used the rubber washers that came off the blanking bolts together with a washer and M6 nyloc nut...

www.t6forum.com

 

[Long tall John]

Leak free awning rail fitting (I hope)

Fitting awning rails to both sides of the van and wasn’t confident about water tightness. Then found all the horror stories about leaks through the roof rail fittings into the interior of the van. I found this thread which is really helpful...

www.t6forum.com

I think this is the gold standard method. Very simple and very effective

 

[JOG]

Thank you @The_Lad and @Long tall John - that will help @Gino D’Campervan