This is why we do PPF

[JayinNJ]

If you're going to do the whole vehicle, better off just doing a colored vinyl for around $5,000 or $6,000 and do the whole truck. Then you can change the color of your truck as you see fit.

$10,000 is pretty expensive. Probably could shop around and find a better price. I've been quoted $5,000 to $6,000 for a complete vinyl job. PPF should be roughly the same. Same basic process. Just, either with clear film or colored vinyl. Definitely would shop around.

The protection from vinyl is much less, but it is a cheaper material. They do have color changing PPF.

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[SurlyBurris]

I wonder if we spend too much money on cosmetics (I am not talking about beauty products). Couldn't we accept the normal wear and tear and love the vehicles for their function? This comment is not related to specific incident started this thread, but a general thought

These are the choices. I have an armored trail rig with dents, scrapes and pin stripes and if I dent it more...so what. I also didn't spend $80k of my hard earned cash for that one

 

[Siguy90]

If you're going to do the whole vehicle, better off just doing a colored vinyl for around $5,000 or $6,000 and do the whole truck. Then you can change the color of your truck as you see fit.

$10,000 is pretty expensive. Probably could shop around and find a better price. I've been quoted $5,000 to $6,000 for a complete vinyl job. PPF should be roughly the same. Same basic process. Just, either with clear film or colored vinyl. Definitely would shop around.

However vinyl is usually much thinner than PPF and doesn't have the self-healing properties of a proper PPF film. That's why a sheet of quality PPF is much more expensive than vinyl. I guess vinyl can offer some protection against light scratches but I've seen rock chips go straight through vinyl with little protection of the paint underneath. It just depends on how much you value protection vs cost/looks.

 

[Quattro Powers]

I've been doing this myself for my last 3 vehicles. Works great and I've spent maybe $20 the entire time on supplies. Small areas take about 15 min for 2 different grain wet sands then appling finishing polish. I've done an entire vehicle in 2-3 hours. So worth it.

Can I get an appointment? When do you have time?

 

[Mcdubjr]

Back when I had a Model 3 there were so many people singing PPF's that praises I kinda felt like I was doing something wrong not getting it. Well a year later my Tesla ended up totaled, and I am very happy I didn't waste my money. That experience has kinda changed my feelings about cars in general. I accept it won't be perfect forever, especially with a truck that will be roughing it.

That being said, I am thinking about buying the TWRAP for the front just so it's easier to get the bugs off. Man the bugs.... ugh...

 

[kizamybute']

$10,000 is just A LOT of money. You can do a pretty nice paint job for that kind of money. If you're off-roading often between bushes all the time, maybe it's worth it to you. But for me, I can't imagine spending that kind of money to put clear film all the way around the truck. The front bumper cover / fascia and other areas prone to rock chips, yes. The whole truck? No, not for me. To each is own.

 

[jemkewl]

Back when I had a Model 3 there were so many people singing PPF's that praises I kinda felt like I was doing something wrong not getting it. Well a year later my Tesla ended up totaled, and I am very happy I didn't waste my money. That experience has kinda changed my feelings about cars in general. I accept it won't be perfect forever, especially with a truck that will be roughing it.

That being said, I am thinking about buying the TWRAP for the front just so it's easier to get the bugs off. Man the bugs.... ugh...

A local shop here will do ceramic for the whole truck for about $450 - 4 coats of 9H (think that is what it was) - guaranteed for 3 years - lifetime guarantee was $1200 - supposedly works great for bugs/bird poop/etc. Is that something worth considering VS twraps DIY PPF (genuine question)?

 

[mini2nut]

I have an R1T and a Cybertruck reservation.

I must admit that the 3mm thick SS exterior of the Cybertruck is extremely appealing to me. It won't need expensive PPF, waxing, ceramic coatings, repels virtually all door dings, etc.

 

[RtOnelove]

Wow, sorry to hear about the scratches. Glad the truck wasn't any worse and the dogs were ok. Good of the dog owner to offer to pay for any damages, not all people are that responsible.

 

[Lawrence-of-Blaine]

Not the dog's fault the owner is an idiot

There are no bad dogs; only bad owners.

 

[SASSquatch]

What many of you PPF haters are missing is that the OP is getting his PPF fixed in a shop lickety split. Why? Because PPF is plentiful and so are PPF shops.

Had he had the paint torn up or more damage, he'd be looking at weeks or months to get it fixed at a certified repair shop.

Your lifestyle will dictate whether to PPF the whole vehicle, just the front high impact areas, or nothing at all. But when you have a vehicle like a Rivian - or a Tesla - where repairs can take months, having something like PPF be a sacrificial barrier is worth it in my humble opinion.

Then again, I'm not so humble...

 

[golden_frog]

My dad has installed air conditioners and furnaces my entire life and has always driven trucks with plenty of dings and scratches from heavy use. This has led me to believe that the fancy shiny trucks you see driving around are typically owned by white collar posers living a working class fantasy.

I've since become a white collar posers myself, but I still prefer driving a well loved truck. Any minor scratch, ding, or dent my truck receives during normal use will be worn proudly. $60 paint touch up pen is going to get a lot of love

 

[ads75]

$10,000 is just A LOT of money. You can do a pretty nice paint job for that kind of money.

Or a Max Pack (in theory for now anyway).

 

[Mcdubjr]

A local shop here will do ceramic for the whole truck for about $450 - 4 coats of 9H (think that is what it was) - guaranteed for 3 years - lifetime guarantee was $1200 - supposedly works great for bugs/bird poop/etc. Is that something worth considering VS twraps DIY PPF (genuine question)?

Yeah, probably close enough in price to think about. The TWRAPS I was looking at to cover most of the front runs about $250. I don't personally know which is better for making bugs easier to remove...

 

[RexRemus]

If you're going to do the whole vehicle, better off just doing a colored vinyl for around $5,000 or $6,000 and do the whole truck. Then you can change the color of your truck as you see fit.

$10,000 is pretty expensive. Probably could shop around and find a better price. I've been quoted $5,000 to $6,000 for a complete vinyl job. PPF should be roughly the same. Same basic process. Just, either with clear film or colored vinyl. Definitely would shop around.

Vinyl is typically a fraction of the thickness of PPF - it's for purely cosmetic uses, and offers only a minor/incidental level of protection. The added thickness makes PPF more difficult to apply properly and prevent corner peeling and such, so product cost is more and labor is more. I'm not saying I think $10k is a "good" price, just saying there ARE legit reasons PPF != vinyl - they are NOT interchangeable as far as "protection"

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