Protecting your paint when off-roading

[kolelt]

So wanted to start a topic that I'm not sure if it has been talked about on here or not.

Most of us, including me do not want to scratch our 4runners. After all. It's very nice to own a clean well maintained vehicle. But once you put money into your suspension, armor and all. You just want to wheel it. But in the back of your mind. No one really want to scratch the beautiful well maintained paint. Especially on branches. Some times you just simply can't avoid it. Me personally I always try to avoid trails with branches. Some might say well.. If you put all this money into it why would you not wheel it. Because simply my heart won't let me destroy my truck. But I do wheel. Just I try whatever it takes to avoid scratching. Once the truck becomes a rust bucket. I'll wheel the piss out of it.

However, I wonder if there are products that can help protect the paint or body of the truck when wheeling.

I read somewhere that magnetic panels. Could help protect against trees.
Looks like jeeps have it
http://www.extremeterrain.com/rr-ma...dium=shopping&utm_term={keyword}&XTID=J103988

Any ideas, tips, secrets. Let's hear it

 

[Muskrat14]

I've wondered this myself. A guy in my Bronco club suggested that "crash wrap" they use at body shops and tow shops to protect the vehicles.

Plastidip? I think that would be expensive.

Like to hear some other thoughts.

 

[NWFLBowhunter]

I wheel on some tight trails, I care about my runner, but I don't let a pin stripe ruin my day. I buff mine after every outing and 90% of them go away. Unless you line-x your rig, I don't think anything else is going to hold up. Lots of elbow grease.

 

[kolelt]

How much can you buff ? Eventually you can burn through the clear coat , can't you ?

I'm not talking about pin stripe scratches. But even those , hurt me lol.

But I see your point. Just , you never know when a large branch will put a big scratch. However.

So far. I see magnetic panels as a very solid solution. Especially that our doors don't have have the shit that keeps do. Would be very easy to make

 

[mtbtim]

I seem to add a few scratches every trip I take. I was in Stanley, Idaho and scraped my passenger side on some branches. While I do appreciate a good looking 3rd Gen 4runner, and I'm not looking to damage the outside of my truck, I pay much more attention to my trucks maintenance than the aesthetics. If you "Really Use" the truck for what it was intended for, minor damage like scratches are going to happen.

I actually like seeing rigs with battle scars. It means their rig isn't just some pretty thing to look at and they're getting out there on some adventures.

 

[diverscale]

I seem to add a few scratches every trip I take. I was in Stanley, Idaho and scraped my passenger side on some branches. While I do appreciate a good looking 3rd Gen 4runner, and I'm not looking to damage the outside of my truck, I pay much more attention to my trucks maintenance than the aesthetics. If you "Really Use" the truck for what it was intended for, minor damage like scratches are going to happen.

I actually like seeing rigs with battle scars. It means their rig isn't just some pretty thing to look at and they're getting out there on some adventures.

Same here, my truck is white, and I fixed some scratches through paint and rusted areas with black anti-rust Tremclad by masking neatly with tape after a good prep. The thing is a truck not a ferrari so as long as it's generally looking good, is not rusty and well maintained, I think it's ok.

And there is some limit to how much you can mechanically buff your paint, you will eventually go through at some areas. And if you hand buff it each time you wheel, well you are extremely patient.

 

[kolelt]

Good points guys. Understand it's not a Ferrari and some scratches will eventually show up.

But still I'm interested in protecting and having fun and just want to see if people have tricks or anything to share.

 

[theesotericone]

If my rigs not scratched up or chipped it means I haven't been playing hard enough lately. Come to think of it I might go add a couple more right now. lol

 

[T4R2014]

The crash wrap is a good idea. Plastidip as well. Something needs to be done, since you can't be buffing after every outing. That's a sure way to burn through your clear coat, or base coat if you already went that far. Ask my 4Runner's previous owner how he knows...

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

I think the best thing to do is to keep a fresh coat of good wax on it. At least that way, the branches won't dig in as much; they should slide along easier.

 

[kolelt]

The crash wrap is a good idea. Plastidip as well. Something needs to be done, since you can't be buffing after every outing. That's a sure way to burn through your clear coat, or base coat if you already went that far. Ask my 4Runner's previous owner how he knows...

Is a simple hand wash and spray on wax safe ?

 

[T4R2014]

Wax won't do jack to protect the paint from branches. A hand wash and spray wax every so often shouldn't harm anything. Honestly, I'd consider it maintenance. Probably the most enjoyable thing I could call maintenance as well, considering I hate getting my hands dirty underneath.

 

[atalarico]

You could try a thicker paint protection film too.

Honestly though, if you're not OK with trail damage, then you should consider not taking it on the trail. You can do everything possible to prevent it, but stuff happens, and will happen. It's just part of the act of off-roading.

Get PPF to prevent what you can, and then just learn to accept the rest?

 

[kolelt]

Wax won't do jack to protect the paint from branches. A hand wash and spray wax every so often shouldn't harm anything. Honestly, I'd consider it maintenance. Probably the most enjoyable thing I could call maintenance as well, considering I hate getting my hands dirty underneath.

Lol it is actually enjoyable. Your right about the spray wax not doing jack to protect against scratches.

I was referring to how you mentioned that previous owner messed up your paint.

Because I like to wash my car. I was it with dish detergent because it's a good degreaser. And then I use spray wax and micro cloth to clean it/wipe the wax

I'm tempted to make magnet templates.

 

[habanero]

For those stupid little pinstripers a little wax does at least seem to help. I use the paste kind. The big ones not so much but I'll take all the help I can get around here.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Wax won't do jack to protect the paint from branches. A hand wash and spray wax every so often shouldn't harm anything. Honestly, I'd consider it maintenance. Probably the most enjoyable thing I could call maintenance as well, considering I hate getting my hands dirty underneath.

I disagree... Wax creates a smoother paint surface. When the surface is smoother, branches or anything else will slide off the paint instead of grabbing as much. Conversely, more friction when scraping with branches will cause more paint damage. This means, over time, there will be less damage when good wax is used. Additionally, a waxed vehicle does not hold as much dust on the paint surface. Rubbing dust into the paint is a good way to create scratches; no dust to rub into the paint means less scratches, or at least less impact of the scratches.

*Edit: Spray wax is not a good or effective wax. I was referring to a GOOD rub-on, hand-wax.

 

[Kotrin]

So I speak from personal experience and you can see on my old 5th gen build thread and my 3rd of how bad I've pinned stripped it. A good hand wax before and after does amazing,now I personally can't do that anymore so will be going to a body wrap as time progresses. Now on my last overland trip I did way more conservative and did good on my brushy trails. Now I understand both of the sides, build it and don't wanna wheel it and build it and wince when it gets scratched.

Now back to the topic, the wraps are almost 1200 but can be abused and pulled off later. This quote was almost 3 years ago and need to get it repriced.

My paint is getting worse and having less desire to keep it up, though I should. I have been wanting to do sone thing and depending after court dates I may get the wrap done after that, just want an epic design

 

[kolelt]

Found this. This has been on market for a while

3M Paint Defender Spray Film - AutoZone.com

What you guys think

 

[MONTYMTB]

Because I like to wash my car. I was it with dish detergent because it's a good degreaser. And then I use spray wax and micro cloth to clean it/wipe the wax

You do know that dishwashing detergent will remove any current wax you have on it, right?
A spray wax is better than nothing obviously, but is mostly for added protection between good wax jobs and isn't going to last very long - especially if that's all you ever use. IMO you would be better off using a paste wax occasionally, then using a wash specifically made for vehicles (these won't strip wax) with a wax in it.

 

[kolelt]

You do know that dishwashing detergent will remove any current wax you have on it, right?
A spray wax is better than nothing obviously, but is mostly for added protection between good wax jobs and isn't going to last very long - especially if that's all you ever use. IMO you would be better off using a paste wax occasionally, then using a wash specifically made for vehicles (these won't strip wax) with a wax in it.

Yes sir I do know that dish detergent will remove wax.

I think any car soap product will to. I just use Luca spray wax. Does a really really good shine. Do you guys think spray wax/hand detailing can cause demage to clear coat compared to buffing where you could burn through clear coat ?