Before finally signing off on our new Lotus van we have been recommended to protect the underside of the van with a product called Vantec. Would this be something we should do? Or is it not really necessary? Has anyone used this or a similar product?
Our van has formply floor (or similar finish underneath) and I painted the entire underneath except wires, plumbing and chassis with bitumen paint. Has worked well coming up to 6 years old, waterproof under and dust doesn't stick easily.
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I looked it up on the web, looks like another one of those "how to get a few dollars more out of you" products. When I bought the cruiser they said, "would you like paint protection" so I asked if the factory paint wasn't good enough to withstand the normal daily crap that hits it, should have seen the back pedal by the salesman. Sorry, for me, (been in the automotive industry 30 years) if you look after your paintwork by normal washing and cleaning it'll all be good. Underside, if your planning on river crossings etc, then I would say that a good bitumen based product as Baz421 also suggested is good enough. You can buy 20 litre buckets of it from bunnies pretty cheaply and a few hours on your back and it's done.
My opinion, for what it's worth
Mark
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Before finally signing off on our new Lotus van we have been recommended to protect the underside of the van with a product called Vantec. Would this be something we should do? Or is it not really necessary? Has anyone used this or a similar product?
Gday...
Firstly, I had the van Vantec'd when we bought it in 2008 - I travel full-time and it is therefore always out in all weather. I ummed and arghed for a few weeks at the time and finally thought given the 70 grand for a van, an extra grand wasn't gonna matter. It seemed a good idea. I only had the exterior done.
It is now five years down the track and the van still looks like new. I wash it with plain water, even bore water on occasions, and dirt/road grime etc just comes off and it looks great again.
I am very aware of the 'automotive products' that have, over the years, coaxed buyers to protect their vehicles. I too consider them a bit of a waste of time, having seen little difference between a well-maintained vehicle without 'treatment' and one with 'treatment' ... there is usually very little difference.
I think the automotive paints used in recent times are of such high quality, there is no need for any additional 'treatment'. However, I am fairly confident the 'finish' on the aluminium panels that are the skin of vans is not of such a high quality as automotive paint. I often see vans the same age as mine, and younger, living full-time on the road that are 'untreated' and they are just that bit dull already. Despite all that, I guess it still comes down to personal preference.
Finally, check out the Vantec website provided by Mark. I very much doubt if Vantec is suitable for the underside of the van ... and I don't think they even suggest it is so. I have always been even more sceptical of "underside protection" treatments because unless they are applied regularly they will be "sand-blasted" off in a very short period of time anyway.
Cheers - John
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Have a few mates with fibre glass sided vans and the shine is slowly but surely disappearing and small cracks are appearing on the surface. They are all disappointed see their vans are less than 3 years old Won't dare mention the brand but it's a well known one. Not sure if the FG should be polished on a regular basis and what to polish it with
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