Thread: To chequer plate, or not to chequer plate... that is the question

Originally Posted by MrLandy

Seriously do you guys really need to walk all over your car? I've been a Defender driver for almost 20 years, I put stuff on the roof all the time, driven all over Australia...never needed to walk on my wing tops, bonnet, sides or anywhere.

Wow, barely a week goes by that I don't walk on the bonnet. At the moment I don't have chequer yet so I have to be careful where I step, but it's definitely on the cards once finances allow.
I'm mainly strapping kayaks on the roof (between 2 and 8 at a time) which definitely requires some clambering around; they don't tend to stay up there by themselves.

Yup me too im just waiting until i have the pennies to get a chequer plate kit for mine as i carry quite a bit of timber on the top and im just not tall enough to get to it from the side steps which will be replaced with rock sliders when the extra pennies allow......

Originally Posted by MrLandy

Seriously do you guys really need to walk all over your car? I've been a Defender driver for almost 20 years, I put stuff on the roof all the time, driven all over Australia...never needed to walk on my wing tops, bonnet, sides or anywhere.

I'm putting in a vote for all the classic look Defender devotees. ...anyway your beer spills if you put it down on chequer plate. Flat wing tops are cool. So is a scrape or dent or three on a Defender.

I agree I've also been a Defender/Land Rover series owner for 40 plus years and never climbed all over them . The guards do seem to be a lot more flexible with less support under them than earlier models . I'm sure that the gauge of metal is thinner too. I have a 1959 series 2 . The front guards seem thicker , plus there designed to run down on the inside making them more of a box , plus dot having those holes for vents . Jim

Originally Posted by Plutei

Wow, barely a week goes by that I don't walk on the bonnet. At the moment I don't have chequer yet so I have to be careful where I step, but it's definitely on the cards once finances allow.
I'm mainly strapping kayaks on the roof (between 2 and 8 at a time) which definitely requires some clambering around; they don't tend to stay up there by themselves.

With the camper on the back the only way I can get to my roof rack is over the bonnet so the chequerplating is a must. I reckon it looks pretty good as well
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Further into my little foray into science...
Turns out the VHB tape will actually peel off fairly cleanly once it comes back up to room temp after freezing / snapping it off.



And Isopropyl alcohol and a rag does a good job on the rest!

So This might be a feasible, non permanent way to affix chequer plate.

Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger

Further into my little foray into science...
Turns out the VHB tape will actually peel off fairly cleanly once it comes back up to room temp after freezing / snapping it off.



And Isopropyl alcohol and a rag does a good job on the rest!

So This might be a feasible, non permanent way to affix chequer plate.

What's your main concern with riveting: Resale value? Change of mind? More points for water to drip or collect?

I see the bonnet guards often come with some kind of foam or rubber gasket - does everyone use those, or are they a risk of holding moisture in, as much as keeping it out?

Originally Posted by Chenz

With the camper on the back the only way I can get to my roof rack is over the bonnet so the chequerplating is a must. I reckon it looks pretty good as well
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Marree pub?

Originally Posted by El Rey

What's your main concern with riveting: Resale value? Change of mind? More points for water to drip or collect?

I see the bonnet guards often come with some kind of foam or rubber gasket - does everyone use those, or are they a risk of holding moisture in, as much as keeping it out?

I'm more concerned with change of mind, and have a m5 hole in a spot on the vehicle. My main reason for the poll was to try sway me one way or the other... im not totally committed to installing them, but I'm also partial to the look.

I've got the wing top chequer plate already, and used the foam gasket. I purposefully made my wing top guards easily removable for this very reason- I want to be able to clean under them and ensure they don't corrode or hold abrasive mud, grit dust etc.