"DIY" Lehman GTL Fender Bras ......

[CrystalPistol]

Well....... for a long time I've been intending to do something different for our trike's fender's protection. When we bought it in 2004 it had clear 3M stuff on it but it was lifting and discolored so I pealed it off soon. Then I replaced it with a temporary pair of dark tint window tint static cling stuff, looked OK. I once tried clear as well but it would get water or bubbles underneath and look dirty around the edges.

I installed the cat's eye amber marker lights at the front of the fenders some where back in mid-late 2000s (I have some wire behind there fastened to the screws and running over to the frame to wire tie the lights power sire to, made from about 3/16" dia galvanized steel wire) and I never looked at vinyl snap on bras because I'ld have to have cutouts for the lights ..... and then I'm back to sagging loose looking fit.

Last year or two I have been using more 5% VLT Static Cling tint .... but it just didn't fit so good around the lights, some red showed through, and it was always meant to be temporary.

Some time back, I had purchased a bunch of heavy textured vinyl with adhesive backing
(I saved the vendor, I've purchased from him a few times now, many widths: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stick-on-Vinyl-Bed-Liner-Truck-Gravel-Guard-18-x-10-Sheet-Pebble-finish-/371247684508?hash=item5670161b9c:m:mkbsaCrkYjuQ2Gu fVOnIy1w).
I knew it was tough stuff ..... as I had once used a bunch to cover the top of my Cyclemate trailer where the clear coat had lifted .... had pealed all the loose paint and sanded it and put this vinyl on it. I installed it in sections, using a roller and some heat for corners and it has held up well .... it was intended to be temporary ..... trailer cost more to strip and paint than it is worth so my plan was .... and still is .... to have top side "Line-X" coated. More recently I used it to cover a wooden under seat storage compartment for the back seat of my '07 FX4 and other things .... it's not expensive.

This is the same stuff used for steps .... on utility trailer fenders, truck steps, etc .... looks like the Line-X that's in my '07 FX4's bed actually, just thinner and easier on the skin ...... no grit, just a good deep textured surface. I still have a bit so yesterday I popped the chrome trim off the lights, removed the Static Cling stuff, cleaned the fenders several times with wax remover and water ..... and made a bunch of measurements. When I mounted those lights I took great pains to place them the same left to right, etc. .... and level.

So I decided on size, made these a about as tall and a 3/8" wider, measured and located the light base cutout, used chrome for shape .... drew it all on paper backing of my material .... and cut one out. Tried it on the right which it was cut for and found that it fit perfect .... flipped it over and tried it on the on the left fender next and ....
..... "SHAZAMM!" ...... dang ifin it didn't fit just as good. I used it as pattern for the other one, 1-1/4" radius corners, etc.

Then I used a new razor blade to "just score" the paper backing in a carefully considered pattern with out cutting vinyl so that I could remove sections as I placed it in place .... starting by removing the paper for an inch around the light on each side (top, bottom, both left and right). I then held in place and found that the oval opening fit the light base like it was meant to .... rotated a hair to line up ..... press in place and started pressing pieces in place ..... using a small wooden roller like you use for wallpaper and borders ..... first the upper middle, then the lower middle under light, then pull the paper off the edges and used roller to press and a heat gun on low to soften the stiff vinyl over compound curves.


Roll it all a few times, snap the chrome back on the lights .....

　

[alienwulf]

Came out really nice, now that's using ones head.

[Blueline]

Looks very professional. Nice job.

[Gorilla]

Nice job

[2Paps]

I opted for a clear spray product rather than a bra. It's highly resistant to chipping from stones etc. Won't peel. I believe it's called Armor Coat.

[scribe5]

That's nice and I really like the lights on the fender!

[CrystalPistol]

I posted the above in 2015 but I had done this in 2013 or earlier, I've been sidelined a lot with health issues since June 2016, but thought I'd update to say I really like the look and protection afforded and hiding of a couple of old stone chips, none of which were bad. I do occasionally take a wooden roller like used with wall paper and roll the edges over towards outside. This stuff was intended for steps, it's tough .... but if I get a chance .... may still do Line-X without rubber granules added.

I even used this stuff to cover a wooden under seat storage area I made for rear seat of my F150.

[CrystalPistol]

That's nice and I really like the lights on the fender!

Thanks!

I found the LED teardrop marker lights at a local truck stop, used some 3/16" stiff wire to make a steady point / route to secure light wires out of tires way, below is a photo looking up under fender from floor.

[CrystalPistol]

Well, I made this thread in November of 2015, but today as I was messing around I got to looking at the trike, and it occurred to me maybe a change is due. The vinyl with the texture just looks more utilitarian to me now than it did then?

I'm thinking I might peel the textured vinyl off and go back to the glossier looking bras I previously had that were cut from 5% static cling window tint. In some light, they looked "black" while at other times, the pinstriping showed through. I have a couple rolls stored away and I have the ones I had on the trike before rolled up with the paper separator. Came up, looking at pics, they looked pretty good too. I might make new ones, just a little longer for better coverage, & a little tighter on the lights? The static cling worked well, was easy to clean, even took waxing. I'll just use the 5% and snap the chrome trim pieces off and fit the static cling closer, make sure it gets the bottom edge too, and then snap the chrome back on. Looking at the pics though, fit around the lights wasn't bad … hmmmmm … now I wonder how some black door edge molding would work on the bottom lip?

I wouldn't go with clear as I still recall how it soon got to looking dirty under the edges, and I used some spray on clear on my trucks front bumper a few years ago (after having a new one painted & put on after hitting a small deer) and it slowly dulled up looking flat instead of glossy and while it protected the bumper, it too looked like crap when I laboriously peeled it off too.

Edit 05-01-2020 pm:

Never mind … that vinyl is on there to stay, was easy to see right off the start, not coming off easy, so I applied some glossy looking dressing, it really looks good, so I'm gonna leave it be. Heat gun likely would do it, but after the dressing, I decided to "deep six" this removal idea. I do think the 5% static cling might be a great option for someone looking to protect the fenders cheaply and easily. To apply, just use a small spray bottle of distilled water with a few drops baby shampoo in it, squirt the clean surface, use a credit card or squeegee to work out from middle towards edges.

[CrystalPistol]

Mention was made a few posts up about the fender lights, this post is just to show wire routing.

I was looking under it today, see those tires don't look so deeply treaded now … guess new ones are in order soon. Shame, I love the lettering.

[CrystalPistol]

I opted for a clear spray product rather than a bra. It's highly resistant to chipping from stones etc. Won't peel. I believe it's called Armor Coat.

I used some spray on clear on my truck's front bumper a few years ago (after having a new one painted & put on after hitting a small deer) and it slowly dulled up looking flat instead of glossy and while it protected the bumper, it too looked like crap when I laboriously peeled it off too. Now the trucks bumper looks new again.

I may pull the trike out in the sun one day, let the sun warm the black vinyl good and evenly … and take another stab at removal. No rush.

[Redharley]

Nice job, looks good. I'm going to check it out