Protecting your paint when off-roading

[A.Wilson013]

In order to protect my paint I made friends with a fellow 4Runner enthusiast that happens to have access to all sorts of professional detailing products, and the knowledge to use them really, really well.

Usually gets all buffed out twice a year.

There are a couple scratches that will never disappear, but other than that he's able to get my paint looking like new.

DSC_0007 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr

 

[kolelt]

In order to protect my paint I made friends with a fellow 4Runner enthusiast that happens to have access to all sorts of professional detailing products, and the knowledge to use them really, really well.

Usually gets all buffed out twice a year.

There are a couple scratches that will never disappear, but other than that he's able to get my paint looking like new.

DSC_0007 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr

Looks awesome sir. I noticed how shinny your 4Runner is on your build thread.


Anyone about the 3M paint defender ?

 

[MONTYMTB]

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 ?

Just making sure, you'd be surprised how many people aren't aware of that.

Not true - good quality car wash solutions are specifically designed not to strip wax from the vehicle.

True wax is simply a protectant, and will not damage clear coat/paint. Certain products with abrasives in them could do damage when used by hand, but it would take a good bit of effort.

 

[jgue467]

Cut em'!

...
Most of us, including me do not want to scratch our 4runners.... Me personally I always try to avoid trails with branches. ... Could help protect against trees.
...Any ideas, tips, secrets. Let's hear it

I too don't like to scratch any vehicle if I can help it.

Well this may seem like an unconventional solution to this problem, but I take along a couple branch pruners (on atv also), a larger one like this for 2-3" branches:Shop Corona Bypass Hand Pruner at Lowes.com

and a smaller hand-held one like this for the smaller stuff (bigger one works just fine on small stuff too to save space or $): Shop Corona 10-in Folding Pruning Saw at Lowes.com


Works like a charm and I get to see the flora upclose to boot plus no scratches for me or those behind! :cowboy:

 

[wake_rider]

Crash Wrap seems like it could be the perfect solution. Application is easy, it's very resilient, and peeling it off is not too much of a chore. Mind you it won't hold up to rock rash, but it will certainly help out with gravel chips, tree striping and grit getting mashed into your clear coat.

For those saying that you should just get over having a nicely painted truck that you take on the trail, I say opposite. Damaged paint quickly leads to exposed metal, and we all know how that beautiful patina treats body panels in time. I think of good paint as being good body maintenence; the benefit is both vanity and function.

 

[Scramble]

I'm short on time here so I'll make bullet points. Obviously I love my 4Runner.

1- Dont be a P***y :bigok:
2- Scratches will happen offroad
3- 17 years of ownership & I treat her like a truck, not babied.
4- I get pin stripes when on narrow wooded trails
5- Suck it up
4- Polishing with a buffer will get the scratches out of the clear coat
5- Burning through the clear coat will only happen if you stay in one spot too long, follow the directions
6- Spray waxes are for touch ups after a real wax job before you go to a car show
7- There are different grit polishes for different depth scratches
8- See Griot Garage products on Amazon
9- Use a polish, wax & then a sealer.
10- Yes it's a lot of work but you have to pay if you want to play.
11- I dont do trails that will cause body damage (yes I'm a P***y :bigok
12- Waxing does not take out scratches, polishing does
13- Read up on the 3 step system
14- Shooter & Alex W know what they are talking about

Pinstripes happen, this was from a narrow side trail at Stokes St. Forest, NJ that I probably shouldn't have gone down, but they also buff out...

 

[TXLX1]

I would try some kind of spray on vinyl designed for autos like ElastiWrap or PlastiDip. I have so many scratches I can't even tell when I get new ones.

 

[kolelt]

3M paint defender seems legit

 

[white_n_slow]

I went through this with my pristine rust-free freshly painted FJ62. The solution? Sell the looker, buy a beater and enjoy life

 

[kolelt]

I actually been looking for one. But on some serious note. Jokes aside.

Here's I have in mind.

•custom magnet pannels
•3m paint defender ( it's spray on see through plasti dip)

 

[kolelt]

Check this.

1984 Toyota 4runner 4x4 mud truck

 

[Scramble]

I actually been looking for one. But on some serious note. Jokes aside.

Here's I have in mind.

•custom magnet pannels
•3m paint defender ( it's spray on see through plasti dip)

I do magnetic signs for business vehicles at my print shop. If the paint isn't spotless they will scratch your paint or clear coat.

 

[Scramble]

Check this.

1984 Toyota 4runner 4x4 mud truck

Looks like you'd be buying someone else's headache.

Why put thousands of dollars into your T4R & not use it for what it what it was built for?
Last trip to Rausch Creek I received ZERO damage. Wooded trails are wide & I crawled over everything. I only did Green & some easy Blues.

 

[T4R2014]

Check this.

1984 Toyota 4runner 4x4 mud truck

It pains me to see these trucks get so molested, especially knowing how hard it is to find a first gen, let alone a factory solid axle one.

 

[atalarico]

I do magnetic signs for business vehicles at my print shop. If the paint isn't spotless they will scratch your paint or clear coat.

Yeah, that thought just occurred to me as I read that magnetic panel idea. Even if he puts it on a completely clean paint surface, if the magnet takes an impact and gets pushed around, wouldn't that also scratch the bejesus out of his paint too?

I understand what someone else was saying as the paint being a functional protectant against rust and what not, but all of the little dings and scratches I've accumulated from off-roading over the years haven't led to any rust spots as far as I can tell. I mean, yeah, major trail damage would, but I think we're talking more about the branches and flying rock kind of stuff.

It sounds like it's very important to OP, so with that comes an investment in time. Do what others have suggested in that case and invest in good home detailing kit and be ready to prioritize a day for that (instead of spending the day on the trail). Don't get me wrong, I'm just as anal about my paint job on my Golf R, so I get where you're coming from.

 

[kolelt]

It pains me to see these trucks get so molested, especially knowing how hard it is to find a first gen, let alone a factory solid axle one.

I agree. 1st gen are beautiful trucks. But those are Chevy rears

 

[Unner]

Can't see the pinstripes if it's covered in dirt

I won't take mine out on trails that will cause body damage either, because it's my daily driver and most of my miles are on the highway and it spends most it's time parked on pavement and not on dirt. But small little scratches I don't fret over, but a deep one might bug me for a couple weeks and then I'd forget about it. Mostly I try and stay away from big branches that will cause deep scratches, the small stuff usually doesn't do anything.

What color is your truck OP? Mine is black so every little scratch will show, but a color like Scramble's wouldn't be so bad.

 

[kolelt]

Can't see the pinstripes if it's covered in dirt

I won't take mine out on trails that will cause body damage either, because it's my daily driver and most of my miles are on the highway and it spends most it's time parked on pavement and not on dirt. But small little scratches I don't fret over, but a deep one might bug me for a couple weeks and then I'd forget about it. Mostly I try and stay away from big branches that will cause deep scratches, the small stuff usually doesn't do anything.

What color is your truck OP? Mine is black so every little scratch will show, but a color like Scramble's wouldn't be so bad.

It's tan I believe ?



Close up

 

[Supermoney]

Nothing you can do beside avoid the tighter woods trails (which I sometimes do), or buy a dedicated trail rig.

I'll admit sometimes its a nice thought to be able to have a 100% dedicated rig to just be able to blast through trails and not worry about damage at all lol, until then I'm going to keep my daily in good condition and stay off the super tight stuff. Not too big of an issue here in MT but I can see the east coast when most trails are heavily wooded illegal trails it being an issue lol