Is anyone's front end peppered with rock chips?

[Hans Moleman]

I know I shouldn't be complaining because it's and off road vehicle but it really bugs me.

My bumper, hood, and windshield keeps getting peppered with rock chips on the local freeway because of the dump trucks that keep dropping rocks and dirt all over the freeway. I can't keep up with the touchup paint anymore.:mad2:

The ironic thing is I took a 1000 mile road trip a few weeks ago and I did not get any new rock chips on that long trip. :banana:

I should have gotten paint protection film early on but now it seems pointless.

 

[DriveT4R]

I have clear guard on the hood, fenders, and mirrors. It definitely helps but still have some even higher up than the clear guard on the hood. And the front bumper and headlights are peppered.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[Orc]

One reason I have a 4Runner is because I drive on the country roads. Interstate racetracks with semis and yes dumps with rocks and flatbed that dont clean the crap off will kill you. Years ago a flatbed dropped a rock the size of a small dog! It bounced higher than my roof line but when I hit it it was below the bumper. Scary af

 

[2000GM]

I've always had a relatively long highway work commute so I'm used to fighting this battle. I usually buy a good touch-up pen, but after the first couple of years I just sort of give up lol. Paint seems to be thinner these days as well.

 

[DiscoCam]

Hood deflector helps a lot for me.

The plastic bits on my front end are only ceramic coated and it seems to be protecting the paint quite well.

I wouldn't worry too much about the plastic bits, just get them repainted a few years later. That's what I've done for rock chipped bumpers in the past. If you have a good paint shop, it will match perfectly.

 

[Tejas]

Yup it has always been an issue on every Toyota I've ever owned. I have a few chips on the hood in just six months time and today we took a rock to the top edge up near the roof line and it formed crack 8" long. Now await the descent to the bottom or across my line of sight before I have to get it replaced.

Paint is definitely thinner these but it's on all makes, not just the Japanese stuff. Environmental constraints and all lol.

 

[Friggin Idiot]

First week I had the truck, I had a reputable shop cut a custom 3M Clear Bra for the entire front end, headlights, fog lights, and everything painted that wasn't covered by the pitiful Toyota kit. Almost 5 years later, the rock chips haven't made it to the paint, and the headlights show no oxidation.

 

[LandCruiser]

Not "peppered" but have my fair share after 6 years of Colorado gravel in the winter. The new clear bras that they're putting on seem to be very good quality and you can't even tell they're there without looking.

I'm out in the North Bay Area a lot, and I've not seen 4Runners peppered with rock chips, in fact unless they've been beaten to shit in SF they're some of the best preserved examples in the country.

The only time I've been peppered is if I followed a gravel/salt truck too close, not from debris being thrown up from the road.

 

[bamma]

Not "peppered" but have my fair share after 6 years of Colorado gravel in the winter. The new clear bras that they're putting on seem to be very good quality and you can't even tell they're there without looking.

I'm out in the North Bay Area a lot, and I've not seen 4Runners peppered with rock chips, in fact unless they've been beaten to shit in SF they're some of the best preserved examples in the country.

The only time I've been peppered is if I followed a gravel/salt truck too close, not from debris being thrown up from the road.

I think you meant "a-salted" instead of peppered.

 

[Ghostrider]

Yep and not happy with the cheap soft paint everyone uses today. One thing I miss about my 2001 was the chrome bumper. Really wish some manufacturer would decide the front bumper does not need to match and offer a black plastic version

 

[johnbt]

"Paint seems to be thinner these days as well."

I'm 68 and started driving in 1965 - legally anyway. The paint is definitely thinner and doesn't seem to stick to the metal as well as it used to.

It costs the manufacturer less for the product and for the application, and it reduces the weight of the car and every little bit helps when you have to meet mpg regs. Think about the weight of a quart of good metalflake paint. A pound here a pound there.

Or maybe they're just cheap clowns. :zoom:

My wife's 2016 Avalon Touring is taking a beating too.

 

[LandCruiser]

"Paint seems to be thinner these days as well."

I'm 68 and started driving in 1965 - legally anyway. The paint is definitely thinner and doesn't seem to stick to the metal as well as it used to.

It costs the manufacturer less for the product and for the application, and it reduces the weight of the car and every little bit helps when you have to meet mpg regs. Think about the weight of a quart of good metalflake paint. A pound here a pound there.

Or maybe they're just cheap clowns. :zoom:

My wife's 2016 Avalon Touring is taking a beating too.

It's mostly for environmental reasons. Paints need to be more "eco friendly" through out the entire life cycle of being applied, when they're actually on the vehicle, and as they degrade and the vehicle returns to the earth. Can't have toxic materials either directly from the paint or the application process going into the environment.

Modern cars are in every way better, more powerful, more reliable, and safer than old cars, so it'd make sense that the paint would be better if not for a legislative/environmental one.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

When you drive around Montana, most of the cars on the road have cracked windshields. Drive anywhere near a snow plow on the highways and you’ll get showered with gravel. We’re staring at replacing our 3rd windshield on a 2014. Just the way it is.

 

[BchBum]

In the past year and 17k miles I definitely have my share of rock chips. On the bumper, a -pillar, and a few towards the back fender where my wider wheel/tire setup has kicked rocks.

In the next 2 months I plan to get my car wrapped. Doing a complete color change.

 

[mteolus]

You can only squeeze so much power and efficiency out of a gasoline engine, thus weight loss, better transmissions, and better aerodynamics are the only other things you can do. Technology has almost reached its limit. If the CAFE standards continue to become more strict, SUV's will be on the chopping block. No more 4-wheeling.

I don't really think the paint is worse than it was in the 90's. I remember cars with white paint peeling off in chunks to leave the primer visible. Also red and black paint would fade really badly. And I still don't believe that the white on 4-Runners is single stage.

 

[Tuc4R]

I stopped taking the freeways on my commutes to work because of this. Our freeways around town have soooooo much debris on them. :ybrick:

 

[Matt_in_MI]

Yeah, the font of my 2011 has tons of chips in the clear-coat all over the hood. A bug guard/hood deflector probably would have prevented 90% of them, but they were there when I bought it.

 

[samwhich]

Yeah, the font of my 2011 has tons of chips in the clear-coat all over the hood. A bug guard/hood deflector probably would have prevented 90% of them, but they were there when I bought it.

Hood deflector has worked great for me, at first I hated the look but it has grown on me. Definitely a function over form thing though!

 

[Tejas]

If the CAFE standards continue to become more strict, SUV's will be on the chopping block. No more 4-wheeling.

When the mass majority of auto makers are cutting and almost altogether eliminating cars/sedans from their lineups I can't agree with your statement. They will continue to push for better fuel economy so we will likely see more hybrid and electric tech in them and more and more crossovers and emphasis placed upon aerodynamics and lighter materials, but the death of the SUV is not something that is coming. An overwhelming majority of consumers want a pickup or SUV/Crossover these days, they are here to stay.

 

[Jbellah]

3m, xpell or any other brand will be the best way to avoid this. I do it on every vehicle I buy. It’s not cheap but with keeping everything looking nice and piece of mind knowing your brand new or old vehicle doesn’t have a bunch of crap on hood, bumper, grill. . I can’t stand the rock chips and if your like me when buying a used car you can get a little more money out your vehicle. I would pay more money for flawless paint.