Quote Originally Posted by robot View Post
Roger, 7 coats is interesting.....all three of our powder coaters say that two coats is the max for a quality job.....one coat color and one clear. Seven coats would get really thick.

My rock crawler frame is powder coated and it flexes a bunch with zero issues in 7 years except for locations where it laid on its side on rocks or I hit rocks underneath. My only complaint about powder coat is that, if I want to weld an extra bracket on the frame, it is difficult to reapply the coating OR a pain to match it with spray paint.
Robot,
I agree that I'd never heard of more than two, but one of the biggest fans of Powder Coating on here (Streetwerkz) posted his pictures of a rock crawler frame, saying it had seven - link here Power Coating - see post #5 with the pictures. You live in one of those areas where I believe Powder is a viable alternative - arid and seldom any snow, and even low on moisture in general. Around here my Jeep, used year round in all weather, plus running creeks in the dry times, has powder coating coming off in sheets on my gas tank skid - started wicking moisture at the edge, rusted beneath the powder and once I noticed the loose edge I was peeling pieces off that were nearly a square foot in area. Then the adjacent coating that had not rusted underneath is all but impossible to get off, so paint is now over old powder and bare, rusty metal Also both bumpers are rusting at the weld joints. Powder and snow belt don't match, in my mind.