Can you paint PTFE (or whatever these are made out of) plastic?

[MAXII420]

Hi, what kind of plastic are these made out of? Can you paint it and have it be permanent, if so with what? I wonder due to the fact that the plastic flexes so much if this is possible, thanks, Steve.

[amphibious drew]

A Max II as well as most modern aatvs are hdpe. Paint does not stick to it very well at all. Members that are dedicated to constant touch ups have done it, but it's not recommended. Even paints that are designed to "work" on hdpe have proven not to hold up well. If you want to change your color, buy a blemished upper from ri, or show up to Ashtabula this year and someone should have one. Color options are limited with the factory tops, but resale is much better when it's not painted.

[MAXII420]

Thanks Drew, HDPE. High Density Poly Ethylene? Good to know. Yeah the one I bought someone tried to "undercoat" the cargo area and top of the engine cover, and is is not sticking well at all. It also has camo wrap here and there, extra lights, gun and bow racks, and a carpeted platform on a hinge above the cargo area and engine cover, so I would say the ol' Blue Book value has gone to hell on 'er anyways!lol I plan on getting 3-5 AATV's by the time I am done and once I get them they are staying so I am not too worried about the resale value or the "collect-ability" of it. What I AM concerned with is building very reliable swamp crushers, giving them hell, and lookin' cool doing it. I AM pretty good with the ol spray gun and airbrush so a metal flake (the textured surface of the HDPE would REALLY make the flake dance), and pearl, possibly flamed out paint job had come to mind while it is all torn apart. I mean these ARE BOATS are they not?.....Just want mine to look like a BASS BOAT is all! :-) This one will wind up belonging to my 7 year old soon enough (I want a Bigfoot for myself) so there is no such thing as "over the top". I don't mind the clear coat getting all scratched up, but whole chunks of paint falling off would not be cool at all so I will have to do some research on the subject...... So just to be clear, NOBODY has ever painted one and had it last!? EVER?
We have the technology....we can rebuild it, stronger, faster, more awesome, then before.....

[SlimChance]

I had a MaxII years back and tried everything to make the paint stick, NO luck. I even tried roughing the surface with sandpaper. After a few months the paint would just flake off.

[amphibious drew]

Yeah a pressure washer washes it off. Member Lewis has his crush painted, and part of his is hdpe I believe. If I remember correctly the upper on his crush is abs and lower is poly (hdpe), but I could have it wrong. Maybe he will chime in. I think some bumper paints can attach, but cracking and chipping is still a problem, and having it professionally done would probably cost more than buying a new upper and lower. What you could do is buy a cheap scrambler body, or other vintage fiberglass body, and work the frame into it. Scramblers are cheap and being fiberglass, gel coat is made for it. Member Flippy put a Max II frame in a scrambler with out too much trouble.

[MAXII420]

Good to know....the possibilities are endless, MUUUUHAHAHAHAHA!

I have read threads on here talking about heating and re-shaping tubs....THAT is too ballsy of a mod EVEN FOR ME! But, it got me thinking, when you heat it does it get sticky (sticky enough for flake to stick too?) Anyone that has done this know?