Which vinyl is best for Sled Wraps??

[christopher]

Considering wrapping my tunnel in black vinyl.
No print, just straight black.

And am wondering which vinyl would be the most appropriate for that??

Anyone done and know which vinyl works best over the rivets and curves of a tunnel??

 

[MORSNO]

On one of the automotive forums that I frequent, a guy tried using Avery A9 Matte black vinyl without great success. He was using it on curved surfaces (hood, mirrors, etc) and it looked like a wrinkled mess in his pics. Another guy used 3m di-noc vinyl, and his turned out really well. I don't know if it was due to the product, or installation, but it was probably a little of both.

I think it may be best to stick with quality pre cut products that we have seen work well on here. Guys like Jkinser have wrapped their entire sleds a few times and theirs seem to go over the rivets and curves very well.

 

[Watts24x]

Jordan at Arctic Fx will hook you up with the tunnel wraps.

 

[yz400ex]

Considering wrapping my tunnel in black vinyl.
No print, just straight black.

And am wondering which vinyl would be the most appropriate for that??

Anyone done and know which vinyl works best over the rivets and curves of a tunnel??

I was considering doing this as well.. I dont want to spend the $$ for a sled wrap just to have black on my tunnel and I dont want to tear it all down to PC it. Maybe using a heat gun on the bends and rivets might help.. Thats how I seen the graphic company here applying decals n stuff to cars.. Anyone have an idea of where to buy sheets of vinyl?

 

[ACMtnCat]

I work with this stuff every day. What you guys want is a vinyl that has air escape and a clear laminate to add strength/protection to it.

The air escape makes the vinyl bubble free and easy to apply. 3M, Avery and Orical make a version of air escape. It's usually only sold in white printable, but you can find it in colors now.

You should be able to get black with a lam for about $9.00 a square foot. I would sell a black tunnel wrap for $150 to $200. Custom design on the wrap for $200 to $300 depending on art time.

 

[snowmobiler]

i cant believe anything but paint will look any good over rivets.any close up pics out there?

 

[ACMtnCat]

The right type of vinyl and lamination will look sweet for years! Repels ice pretty good too!

The down side is you cant wrap the boards. So it looks like vinyl panels applied to the tunnel. Its not as complete looking as a powder coated tunnel. IMO

 

[christopher]

I work with this stuff every day. What you guys want is a vinyl that has air escape and a clear laminate to add strength/protection to it.

The air escape makes the vinyl bubble free and easy to apply. 3M, Avery and Orical make a version of air escape. It's usually only sold in white printable, but you can find it in colors now.

You should be able to get black with a lam for about $9.00 a square foot. I would sell a black tunnel wrap for $150 to $200. Custom design on the wrap for $200 to $300 depending on art time.

I would be up for buying a tunnel wrap, BUT, with the mods I have done for the Under the Tunnel Exhaust, the new Skins Seat and the new Air Frame boards , it would have to be a one-off wrap that is measured and cut custom just for my sled?

And so far I have not found anyone interested in doing that for me.

So I was just thinking of taking a stab at it myself

 

[Watts24x]

I would be up for buying a tunnel wrap, BUT, with the mods I have done for the Under the Tunnel Exhaust, the new Skins Seat and the new Air Frame boards , it would have to be a one-off wrap that is measured and cut custom just for my sled?

And so far I have not found anyone interested in doing that for me.

So I was just thinking of taking a stab at it myself

id say talk to Jordan he will probly cut it out for your sled so it fits. just give him dimesions. The dude can do anything!

 

[ACMtnCat]

I would be up for buying a tunnel wrap, BUT, with the mods I have done for the Under the Tunnel Exhaust, the new Skins Seat and the new Air Frame boards , it would have to be a one-off wrap that is measured and cut custom just for my sled?

And so far I have not found anyone interested in doing that for me.

So I was just thinking of taking a stab at it myself

Pretty easy to do a custom one that would work for you.

 

[christopher]

Sweet.
Tell me what you would need to make it happen.

I have a 2010 Yamaha Nytro MTX SE 162

My thought was to cover 100% of the exposed aluminum tunnel so as to make all the blue powdercoated Skinz accessories really pop.

Let me see if I can get a photo of where its at in the mod process.

 

[christopher]

This was taken BEFORE the boards were removed, but shows the newly exposed tunnel portions.

This shows how the new boards mate up to the lip on the tunnel

And this shows a mock up of the mounting of the new rear end.

 

[ACMtnCat]

If that is where you at with the mods, it's time to do the wrap now before you install the blue stuff. Way easier for you to wrap it now! You want all black right?

All I need from you is a few measurements of the total area you want to wrap. Then I send you three big panels of vinyl big enough to cover everything and you wrap it up then install your blue mods.

 

[ACMtnCat]

If that is where your at with the mods, it's time to do the wrap now before you install the blue stuff. Way easier for you to wrap it now! You want all black right?

All I need from you is a few measurements of the total area you want to wrap. Then I send you three big panels of vinyl big enough to cover everything and you wrap it up then install your blue mods.

 

[christopher]

NOTHING has been installed yet!
All those photos show the parts just laying on the sled, not attached in any manner.

What measurements would you need?

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Polish your tunnel this year. Take it apart in the spring and send it in for powder coating. Do it right and keep the look you want.

Vinyl, no matter how good will wear quickly. Especially on a tunnel, what with boot rubbing, branches, snow melting and the water working it's way in and freezing. Plus when it scratches you can't buff it out and it will basically look like chit! Vinyl on the hood is different.

I replace the vinyl on my bike every year, I had vinyl on my sled and I took it off. Nuff said.

 

[christopher]

I am looking at both options, and want to see what can and can not be done.
It will all depend on Cost in the end.

 

[samiams2]

question for ACMtnCat

A buddy of mine is an AutoTrim guy and puts paint protection film on vehicles, How would it work if a guy put in the time, polished the tunnel to a mirror finish, and then covered it with the clear vinyl protective film?

I've used scraps of this stuff on my phones and other electronics, I have it on the hood of my truck to prevent rock chips and I've NEVER seen it scratch or scuff. Not sayin it couldn't but wouldn't this work to give a guy the mirrored tunnel on a more permanent level. The only reason I haven't done it is b/c after 1 or 2 rides, its trashed.

This idea has me really excited. Waiting for ur answer.

Samiam

 

[ACMtnCat]

Yes that would work. The product is named Clear Bra. I've had it on the sides of my black tunnel now for 3 years. The powder coat underneath the Clear Bra is like new! Works great!

 

[samiams2]

Yes that would work. The product is named Clear Bra. I've had it on the sides of my black tunnel now for 3 years. The powder coat underneath the Clear Bra is like new! Works great!

I talked to my buddy last night and he said that the paint protection film he had would need to be cut out around the rivets. It stretches but it doesn't shrink. Is this true with the Clear Bra also?

I have a 2010 m8 and I am concerned that the vinyl isn't going to like the grid pattern about half way up the tunnel.

any thoughts?