Paint or Wrap

[SCMountaineer]

OK, forgive the kindergarten-level 'shop job, but I've about talked myself into blacking out the fender flares and grille on my 4Runner. Would you recommend having it vinyl wrapped or painted?

 

[jhguth]

1) what's your budget

2) how long do you want/need it to last

 

[TeeDub21]

Don't do the fenders (my personal opinion). if you want the grill black buy the TRD Pro parts or have them painted. The shop that tinted my windows wanted almost the same money to wrap my bumper garnish pieces as I could buy the TRD Pro parts for.

 

[SCMountaineer]

1) what's your budget

2) how long do you want/need it to last

I'd rather do it right than do it cheap, but don't want to throw away money either.
If I liked it, I'd want it to last however long I keep the truck. (would love to keep it til the wheels fall off it.)

 

[SCMountaineer]

Don't do the fenders (my personal opinion). if you want the grill black buy the TRD Pro parts or have them painted. The shop that tinted my windows wanted almost the same money to wrap my bumper garnish pieces as I could buy the TRD Pro parts for.

Good call on the grille...I just assumed it would be a lot cheaper to wrap or paint it. But definitely would prefer that route if the cost is similar.
The reason I'm thinking of doing the fender flares, is because I saw a trail version from 2013 like this one and thought it looked sharp:

 

[TeeDub21]

Yeah, but those are much smaller and a textured plastic. Our "flares" are smooth body paint and so wide it may look clownish when done.

 

[SCMountaineer]

Yeah, but those are much smaller and a textured plastic. Our "flares" are smooth body paint and so wide it may look clownish when done.

Good point. Thanks for the input!

 

[SCMountaineer]

Here it is...vinyl wrap in satin black.

 

[SoAZ4Runner]

View attachment 316079

Here it is...vinyl wrap in satin black.

For others that may be interested, what did you end up spending?

 

[SCMountaineer]

For others that may be interested, what did you end up spending?

Probably too much--$600. I had a quote for around $500, but wasn't confident that company could do a flawless job.

 

[Bill_B]

Probably too much--$600. I had a quote for around $500, but wasn't confident that company could do a flawless job.

That sounds about right to be honest... wrapping is not cheap. I had a company quote me about $300 just to do the roof of my VW Passat, this was while they were doing my window tint so it was supposed to be a "deal". I opted not to do it.

I like it, looks great imo.

 

[RCFJ]

How did the fender flares come out? Do you expect it to last a long time? Id like to do the same thing. I plastidipped mine and after about 6 months they were already peeling.

 

[SCMountaineer]

How did the fender flares come out? Do you expect it to last a long time? Id like to do the same thing. I plastidipped mine and after about 6 months they were already peeling.

I was told I could expect 5 years. I'm sure that would be less if I were doing a lot of off roading or if it was outside in the elements more. I am very pleased. Here's a closeup. The lines are sharp and they are very smooth looking.

 

[TB_T4R]

Here it is...vinyl wrap in satin black.

Looks awesome! I've been debating wrapping the fender flares on mine as well. The satin black is the perfect balance between gloss and matte. Wrapping is nice because it gives you the freedom to remove it if you change your mind.

 

[SCMountaineer]

Looks awesome! I've been debating wrapping the fender flares on mine as well. The satin black is the perfect balance between gloss and matte. Wrapping is nice because it gives you the freedom to remove it if you change your mind.

The satin was an almost dead match to the factory "black pieces" between the windows and below the doors. I went in thinking matte, but the shop rightly convinced me to go satin.

 

[Barcelona4runner]

I think it looks sharp! Did you end up wrapping the front too or getting trd pro parts ?

 

[lukeskywalker]

The satin was an almost dead match to the factory "black pieces" between the windows and below the doors. I went in thinking matte, but the shop rightly convinced me to go satin.

Personally think it looks better without. :/

 

[donlapalma]

Looks like good work. Did I miss the thought-process for choosing to go with the wrap over paint? Did it just boil down to $$?

 

[SCMountaineer]

Looks like good work. Did I miss the thought-process for choosing to go with the wrap over paint? Did it just boil down to $$?

Really just because I was afraid of committing to something I couldn't (easily) undo.

 

[SCMountaineer]

I think it looks sharp! Did you end up wrapping the front too or getting trd pro parts ?

the front is wrapped.