Originally Posted by
4x4mike
While MIG would help I'm in the same boat as you. To make it most cost effective I'd have to go with a big tank and I don't really have the room to store one that big for how little it would actually be used. I've grown to be fine with the flux especially since I'm just doing hobby type welding.
If you spend a lot of time and effort rushing a paint job and find you have work to do it's that much harder. Little areas for tabs and such aren't bad but if you find you've got some flex or vibration you need to brace you'll be stripping a lot of paint. The thicker you put it on the worse it looks covered up.
I like the spray and brush on Rustoleum Hammer stuff, the name escapes me. It's super thick so it lasts plus it goes on everything. I think the only two things I've used primer on for the 4Runner, since I've had it, are my bumper and my axle housing. If I think I need a base layer for whatever reason I use $1 Walmart black and then top with hammer. My sliders get a work out and I've got years of layered paint. When I get in the rock it chips of and leaves a divot from the missing paint. A light sanding then brushed on hammer and it's back in business.