Ceramic coat Vs Clear Bra

Anyone have experience with both? Took the Taco on the first few runs through the woods and came back.. un-dented.. but scratched toooo hell. Considering getting a paint correction and applying a Ceramic coat or Clear bra along the sides of the truck and probably the whole front end.

Alternatively, what other options are there? I know you can get the "body armor", but I don't really like the idea of spending that much money on something I'd have to take on and off, etc.

 

Use XPEL film, paint completely protected. Add ceramic coating on top of paint protection film for easy washing of truck. Ceramic coating alone will NOT protect your paint.

 

Ceramic coating won’t help at all with scratches from bushes / branches and such, clear bar will to an extent. But a stiff branch will fuck up clear bar. Body armor will simply scratch the paint from dust getting behind the magnets that hold it on.
Clear bra would be you best bet, but really depends on how hard / where you off-road.

 

I gather that the best solution is to simply install two large rotating machete's to the front of my car and just clear the trail as I go...

Definitely will have to check out the Xpel. That is what my dealership uses as well.. Unfortunately they don't like to give big employee discounts when it comes to protective films..

 

QUICK ADD TO THE TOPIC..

I have an Off-road, which Toyota decided to put plastic fender flares on.. I love it cause it means less things to have to have painted if it gets destroyed.. but I hate that it is that much harder to get the scratches out with your typical solutions.. I guess technically you could just replace the pieces of plastic..

 

I’ve had both. It’s expensive to the point you’re almost better off saving the money or wrapping the truck. I’m good friends with my guy and still paid $2600 on my cement (I was madly in love with the color and obsessed with protecting it) to have the front partial, rocker panels and rear panel rockers / bumper ppf’d with suntek 10 year stuff followed up with ceramic pro silver (coat of 9h followed by light). Truck before that I ran just ceramic pro as I had prior experience with it. Honestly Ill never do it again. You’ll still find dings, chips, paint issues in places outside the wrap. It’s costly to fix if you get in an accident and let’s be honest it’s a Tacoma not a Ferrari. It does make washing a breeze, but if your half decent at detailing yourself nothing outside what a good sealant /wax every few months won’t do. Chime the ceramic fanboys...

 

Now you've just convinced me to let it be and just wrap it later down the road when it really gets banged up. Thoughts? Probably would cost me around $3,500-$3,900 depending on the wrap, design, etc.

 

Dude so glad you’re not making the same mistake I did throwing money away on a daily driver / something you’re taking off road. And you can definitely find a wrap inside that price point when your tired of looking at the trail battle scars, but you earned em and just shows you actually use your truck. In the meantime you could always just try a consumer grade ceramic coating yourself to help a bit with any light scratches while wheeling.

 

True! Each scratch gets me +1 respect with the other TW members out there

I have been browsing while checking TW and found this from Xpel.. our store doesn't offer this, but definitely should.. It's thick as hell and looks to be a lot cheaper by-the-foot compared to the Xpel ultimate. Plus it only covers some of the high impact points. Kinda looks dope too?

https://www.xpel.com/shop/paint-protection-film/armor

Not sure how I'd do it personally, but I kinda like the look and think it could also play in to the Black out aesthetic if you're into that.

 

Cool, like rhino lining, think it would look cool, but its an Xpel product (expensive) and I bet trickey to apply, at least I've heard. But might be worth looking into man!

 

Says 12"x20' is only $94... that'd definitely be enough to cover the bottom of the door paneling and the quarter panels in the back! Might just have to pull the trigger.. right after I get that steel bumper I want... and those Blacked out Depo headlights... I'll get back to you when I'm finished with the mods and sleeping in my truck on the streets of Portland.. lol

 

Just spend less time on TW and you’ll be alright lol, ya man that’s cheap I’d try it out for sure, can’t be too hard, but I suck at applying the decals on my bikes so I’d probably fuck it up.

 

I'll pull the trigger and get a roll to try to cut out and apply myself. Seems to be cheaper then buying their pre-cuts. Won't be for a week or so, but I will give you an update!

 

Cascade mountains in Oregon and Washington mostly.. Lots of Blackberry..

 

Apples 2 oranges

 

Got the wrap installed. I’ll send a pic on my lunch. Kinda invisible in some lighting on the dark gray, but let me know what ya think! Covers up all the normal spots smacked by rocks

 

Sweet!

 

My Taco is my has been in the shop 3 days getting entirely wrapped. Getting it back tomorrow, I’ll post a few pics.

 

Get both if not off roading. If not wrap later when get bad damage the paint