Hi everyone,
I've got a shiny new t5 van and i'm thinking of getting a spray in lining for the back to protect it from the 3 litres of salt water and sand I wash through on a weekly basis.
Has anyone had any experience good or bad?
I've had multiple vans all with rust problems at the tailgate and side door from my dirty habit
and as this ones new i thought i might try to prevent it....
I've got a T4 and put marine carpet lining all through the back of the van. Marine carpet is synthetic, so it doesn't go mouldy being wet all the time, and it's rubber on the bottom, which appears to be waterproof as I've had absolutely no problems with rust and the van is probably 6-7 years old now...
Plus its nice and soft so I can put boards on it without boardbags :)
I, and a lot of mates, all have utes and a few have had the spray on rubber stuff I think you may be talking about applied to the ute trays.
I have heard mixed reports on it's effectiveness, with some preferring carpet liners etc. That said I am looking at a new van at the moment and am considering a spray on liner (extreme coatings) for the back for the reason of protection, and that it also cuts down greatly on road and drive line noise in the van.
You may find more reports in these products on www.proutes.com or www.beaututes.com
The spray on lining is the shizit, whilst I have not had it myself a few mates have the Rhino Lining done and there is no wear after a few years, and definitley no water getting in. A ute sees more water through the tray than you intend to put in your van..... 
thanks for the comments,
I've had a rubber mat in the back so far but stuff gets under it very easily and it doesn't protect at the back just inside the door seal where all the salt seems to accumulate.
Anyway looks like i'm up for the 800$ experiment
why dont you just clean your gear a little with fresh water before putting in the van... easy enough to do in most places...
Some people have to rig and derig on beach sand all the time
In winter there is no way to put a sail in dry it will always drip water otu of one end of the bag
"The CAT system works by producing a strong impressed current supplying negative electrolysis voltage to the sheet metal of a vehicle." That sounds a bit like techno jumbo to me - where's this current going? ... and they're targeting the 4wd market. I'd go with fish oil, great stuff, you'll get used to the smell.
""The CAT system works by producing a strong impressed current supplying negative electrolysis voltage to the sheet metal of a vehicle." That sounds a bit like techno jumbo to me - where's this current going? ... and they're targeting the 4wd market. I'd go with fish oil, great stuff, you'll get used to the smell."
I think the idea is that as steel rusts it releases a (miniscule) electronic charge into the atmospheric particles and if you allow that charge to be replenished as it occures you effectivly shut down the rust process as it happens. Simular concept to that of an anode on a outboard motor but kind of reversed, thats why an anode needs to a have a good electrical contact to work.
I hope i got that right.
4wd, van, moped, they all have parts that are gonna rust.
buy heaps of fish oil and spray in all inside of the internal pannels, doors, tail gate sliding door etc. you have to pull the trim panels off but i wont rust, my dad was a auto spraypainter and used to use it on all of our 4x4's none ever rusted, and we used them on the beach regularly, i used it on my 4x4 too, only rusted 12 months ofter it rolled into the local lake , but that was the least of my worries, i use the boat carpet in my van too, great stuff.
i just went and got a quote for marine carpet in my van , there is a cheap one at $40 pm and there is an expensive one for $45 pm , both are 2 mts wide.
i think i am going to make a plywood bottom to fit in the back and i will line it with the marine carpet so i can remove it to be washed should the need arise.
i think having a bit of carpet overhanging all the edges of the wood that i can stick upward to hold any water in the board would be clever too.
well I have to say I ignored most advice and got it sprayed with rhino lining.
I does look fantastic - like a giant grey bathtub!
Bit of liason with the guy also resulted in a few mods at key areas so I am very happy but I guess I should be considering what it cost!
I do lots of beach camping and sand everywhere without washing gear is a way of life. This is my 5th van and I have to say i've tried everything (including ply lined ones and fish oil) and this seems the best so far. I guess only time will tell
If anyone is interested i'll post a photo
