spencenasty
New member
My knife clip in my pocket likes to eat up my doors when I get in.. Oh well.
Scratches way too easily!!!
- Thread starter WTERUNNER
- Start date
Formidable
New member
Calm down. It was a joke.
If you don't understand why it was said, or the context in which it was stated, I don't have the time to explain it to you.
I will say, as the owner of a metallic gray 4runner, my paint gets marked up fairly easily as well. I think Toyota went light on the paint and clearcoat on these 5th gen 4runners for some reason.
Then again, I am taking this truck places I have never even dreamed of going with my other cars, where trees, rocks are much more likely to contact the body surface...but still the paint seems thin.
wfo9
New member
I won't get into the insult game... I updated my post before your reply (look at the dates). It had nothing to do with you.
~99% of cars mfg today have a 2+ stage paint, so I just assumed it was like all the rest. Then I did a quick search and found that Toyota super white is single staged. Pretty rare, but I still don't think it makes it any less durable or maintainable. To me, it is the best color choice for a 4runner that is used offroad (and I don't have white so no bias...).
I do know that mag gray sucks and I assume all the paints are thin. Go to any forum on any modern car and you will see similar complaints. I think it has to do with the move to water based factory applied paints.
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Normally I don't get this 'down the rabbit hole' and cause scratches. But I was doing my first overland exploration trip and the trail kept getting skinny. The trail did finally open up but it was to late. I know now not to use this section of trail when I do this trip again in September. I was able to buff/wax it out to a fair degree and unless your closer than 5' its hard to see it.
But I haven't thought of an Xpel film. Someone suggested I just wrap it completely and rip the wrap up after I scratch it pretty good.
Jetboy
New member
Ive thought about it. Not sure how much it would help. I've never really used it before. (edit: I was thinking xpel was a wax coating - yeah, I think a film on the sides would work great)
My other thoughts are plastidip down the sides for a long trip, or if I were doing a lot of offroading in brush and stuff, I'd probably just do a clear bra type film from the beltline down all the way around. That should do an excellent job of protecting the paint for a very long time. And probably be around $3-500 if I install myself with rolls of raw film.
I did put a clear bra on the front the first weekend after I bought it. Well worth it IMO to keep the front end clear of rock chips. They're pretty easy to DIY if you're reasonably handy.
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Where do you buy your film at? I may have to do this..
That's what I would do. I would Xpel both side of the truck and the front bumper and hood. When it gets beat up, pull it off and redo it. Not cheap but a hell of a lot less than a new paint job.
Jetboy
New member
You can buy film from local suppliers by searching 3m or one of the other manufacturers websites for a distributor, or just buy it on Amazon or Ebay. That's where I bought mine.
The key to easy instal is 1 prep correctly, 2 clean work space, 3 hot day. Get those 3 things right and it'll go on really nicely.
For the front a pre-cut kit is pretty reasonable. Maybe $300. Rolls of film are pretty cheap compared to precut kits. I keep a roll around for lots of other uses. I usually cut 4 or so 6x6" squares and just keep them in my tool box. Then if you load something you think is going to rub the paint - just stick one on temporarily and it makes a great protection where the rub point would be.
I'm getting my hood, fenders and mirrors done first and then may do the side of the truck depending on the cost. Well worth it IMO.
ccapman670
New member
Do you have a price range of how expensive the hood, fenders and mirrors will be?
I just bought my 4Runner Saturday, in white, now I'm scared...
I had a Blue Ribbon Metallic Tacoma that showed scratches very nicely and was hoping the white would be a little better.
Fortunately, I let the dealer sucker me into the film coating and duracoat so it's all rolled into the cost of the rig now. Now to keep my fingers crossed nothing scratches it before it gets applied...
I had a Blue Ribbon Metallic Tacoma that showed scratches very nicely and was hoping the white would be a little better.
Fortunately, I let the dealer sucker me into the film coating and duracoat so it's all rolled into the cost of the rig now. Now to keep my fingers crossed nothing scratches it before it gets applied...
Jetboy
New member
If you don't do the wrap yourself, it can get pretty pricey. I think $4-5k for a full body wrap would be about the going rate. At that price, I'd probably just drive it, and have it re-painted in 10 years. It'll be cheaper and the white 4runner should be easy to repaint in white.
That was my plan, Not sure my body could handle doing that. After doing a wax/buff I'm pretty much out of commission for the next day.
