Rollpans

All about Rollpans

What is a rollpan? A rollpan is used on trucks and Suv's to smooth the rear of the vehicle. They replace the stock bumper. They smooth the bodylines of the vehicle thus giving it a more custom look.

The most common materials that rollpans are made of are: -fiberglass -steel -ABS plastic

Fiberglass rollpans are a commonly used product just because they can be molded into the body. Molding them into the body gives you a completely smooth tail end of the vehicle. Doing this gets rid of the gaps between the bumper and body. Smoothing the tail end out is a very custom look and very popular with people wanting to put their vehicles in car and truck shows.

Steel rollpans have been used for years to customize vehicles. They are stronger than fiberglass and are much easier to smooth into the body lines. You simply weld them into place, grind down the welds and paint them. Okay..not quite easy but much easier than fiberglassing. Steel is much more durable than fiberglass. If you damage fiberglass it is a long process to fix the problem. Steel can be fixed by pulling out the dents and using body filler.

The most durable rollpan on the market is the ABS plastic rollpans. They are flexible. They resist dents and dings. If you use the right paint products on them they are almost indestructible. I've personally backed up into a post with my plastic rollpan. The only damage was some of the paint from the pole got on my rollpan. I took some rubbing compound and it came right off. The paint didn't crack and there was no damage to the rollpan. The only disadvantage is it is much more difficult to mold an ABS rollpan into the body. Most people paint them to match and mount them up. They can be molded into the body but special products and special painting procedures are required.

Each type of rollpan has its advantages and disadvantages but overall they are all the same for the appearance. They smooth out the body lines and make your vehicle look customized. They are an inexpensive way to change the looks of your vehicle. You choice of rollpans is based on the look you want. If you’re going for a total custom vehicle then welding in the steel rollpan or molding in the fiberglass rollpan is your best option. If your looking to bolt something onto your truck that will change the look in a matter of minutes without all the expensive body work then ABS is your application.

Article Written by: Jon Tuckwood

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