Can I wrap over diamond plate on this trailer?

[Stacey K]

Can I wrap over this? And should I take all the screws out? Theres a lot of them. I usually do remove the screws. Thanks all!

 

[Boudica]

I don't see why not - I would think it would be a PITA, but it could be done. IDK about the screws. I don't think we typically remove screws.
If there are a lot of screws, you could charge them per screw. (just kidding)

 

[unclebun]

We typically leave that part diamond plate and avoid the PITA

 

[somcalmetim]

Checkerplate is PITA but not terribly hard with something like 3M180, some heat and a good roller...
It might tent a bit later on but if you do a line of adhesion promoter around the outside and roll it in fairly warm it should stay ok...
I typically tell the customer the deal and let them decide...sometimes that bar can be worked into the design but sometimes they just end up with this trailer second hand and have a different thing going on already...
We have done the screws both ways...usually fairly big and a pain in the thumb to sink over but its also pain in the ass to remove the vinyl later if you remove screws to install...sometimes putting the screws back can twist the vinyl or you can break/strip screws...If its a long term non brand specific trailer decoration or horse trailer I might bother to remove the screws but if its a commercial wrap with logos/lettering/etc that might change with the wind, I would go over the screws and make it easier on future you if this is a long term customer...its kinda nice to install with no screws but then you have a bunch of screws in your design...

 

[Precision]

We don't usually wrap the diamond plate. You can though.

We would use a printable cast vinyl with an overlaminate or a colored cast vinyl. We prefer 3m and find Ij175/8418 or the 2080 series.

For the rivets/screws we use a heat gun or a torch and a rolly pro hand tool.

 

[citysignshop]

Only done a couple, but taking the screws out is a HUGE time saver...with all the caveats mentioned. While they are out, you can spray them with a neutral colour so the don't affect the graphic as much as a shiny dot! Re-install with a drill with the torque clutch set way down, and just gently do the final turn by hand. It appears that most of the cladding is also glued to the frame structure, so it didn't pop off when screws were temporarily removed...but I wouldn't drive it down the freeway like that!
If your design is going across white AND black, I'll bet you can accommodate the silver checker element, just as you would a window job across two panes.

 

[Stacey K]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to suggest he keep the diamond plate and we work around it. Of course, he designed the trailer sides with swooshes and his logo in Chat GPT so there's also that LOL

 

[Precision]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to suggest he keep the diamond plate and we work around it. Of course, he designed the trailer sides with swooshes and his logo in Chat GPT so there's also that LOL

I would sure love to know more how you convert the Chat GPT to printable artwork. Please share when you do so! Thank you!

 

[Stacey K]

I would sure love to know more how you convert the Chat GPT to printable artwork. Please share when you do so! Thank you!

Ha ha...I have to recreate the artwork but it's actually not the worst one I've seen so it shouldn't be too bad! But I'll post anyways when it's done LOL

 

[DL Signs]

Don't know if you've ever removed screws in those... If not, one thing, when you remove then it sometimes makes the sheet metal skin floppy and hard to squeegee on, so be prepared for that.

 

[Stacey K]

Don't know if you've ever removed screws in those... If not, one thing, when you remove then it sometimes makes the sheet metal skin floppy and hard to squeegee on, so be prepared for that.

Yup, I have always removed the screws in the past this guy thought that was ridiculous so going over them would be a first for me.