Front end protection

I commute 100 miles a day 5-6 days a week. Is there some sort of spray we can put on the front end of the 4Runner for rock chip protection? Kind of like a clear bra but something that could cover the entire front end?

 

A spray?? Okaaaaay.

 

Just do PPF. It can be expensive but nothing works as good ime.

I couldn't justify the price to PPF the whole rig but if I was just worried about rock chips instead of trail damage it would have been cheaper. (PPF front vs PPF entire vehicle)

Instead, I just got decent with touch up paint and an orbital polisher.

 

No spray, but a huge snow plow may work.

 

You need PPF (Paint Protection Film). For about $500 - 700 you can get the entire Bumper, Hood, Fenders and A pillars wrapped. It won't protect you from ALL rock chips, but it will with the small ones and help protect the paint overall.

There isn't a cheap option. If there was, we would ALL have it on our trucks. I commute just as much as you do, daily. I have rock chips on my lower front bumper, small ones, but they are there. I installed a bug guard/bug shield a few months ago and that helps with rocks and rock chips.

 

one should never use protection, just sayin.

 

Nah. You are in new-bumper territory now. With all that driving every day I would just armor up and be done!

 

hahaha, looks like he knows whats going on!

Good looking rig, so do you just do your own touch up and then polish it?

haha, I am sure that would keep the front end safe and give me the best MPGs I could get

Is there a kit, or is this best to have a body shop or detail shop do?

hmmm how many kids do you have?

I have been looking at them, might be the best solution, seems to be the same price as all the others as well!



Thanks guys!

 

Google “ppf near me”, make sure location services is turned on. You’ll get a list of detailer shops near you. Call them and they will give you a quote.


I wouldn’t recommend doing the entire vehicle, just the hood-bumper-front fenders.

 

Thanks. Typically yeah. Touch up paint for small chips and trail damage. Wet sand trouble areas. Compound, polish. Then turtle wax ceramic spray to finish.

It’s honestly not difficult but silver makes it easy…. Hides most imperfections by itself.

just keep in mind touch up paint won’t make it look new again. It’s just to seal the panel and protect against rust or paint continuing to chip. However, it’ll look good from about 4 feet away.


last time I did a proper detail^ (woah this was a while back. Old roof rack... old apt... I need to find time to do this again lol)

if you have perfect paint now, and want to protect it, just get PPF.

 

Its not quite perfect, I bought it from my dad when he could no longer drive. Its also black, so maybe those little rock chips wont be so hard to cover up then do the PPF... considering repainting the hood currently just to have it done.

 

Copy. If you're serious about it, shop around and get some opinions of local professionals. Explain what you want and they'll point you in the right direction. Black is going to be difficult to polish properly (its kind of infamous for that)

I think having a professional detail and PPF application is going to get your rig new looking and protect it for years to come. It will won't be cheap... But good detailing takes time, and time costs money

 

Oh I am aware of the difficulty polishing it, its getting ready to get the passenger door repainted from the paint work that was done a few weeks ago as its pretty hazy, so they will re do the paint for me. thanks!

 

https://www.narrowtrax.com.au/

but its not permanent. I've been toying with the possibility of using it as a grit blast quick masking for shop use.

 

There's always Line-X Ultra. Tacoma owner in my local off-road club did it up to the A-pillar.

 

congratulations, 2024 is a solid investment.

 

hmm thats interesting

 

I’ve thought about that as long as I can keep it shiny and the texture isn’t too rough.

 

I’ll upload some soon!

 

Hah
You’re a good sport

goodluck with the ppf

 

I like my Xpel film and did a ton of research. This is what it looks like new if you can tell. It’s hard to see. I had my front end done. The only tricky area for them is near the fog lights. They explained it’s such a tight area and pulling I let them create the seam in last pic. To me it’s not there unless I really look.

The added bonus of Xpel other than chip protection is bugs. Man do bugs wipe off easy.

Xpel also makes a thicker ppf if needed when the factory plastic along bottom edge of doors go.

 

I second Xpel!! Their authorized installers have to meet Xpels high standards in order to use their products. I have my entire front done including the lights and still looks like new.

If you dont go with Xpel make sure you go down to shop and look at their work before you agree to them doing work. Many good brands out there with good warranties but also a lot of bad products. Also, make sure they wrap the edges otherwise its pointless.

 

Good point about the wrapping edges they did that for me as well.

The nice thing about Xpel also is that they have custom print layouts for the 4R trims, so there is less manual adjustment for the installers. As I mentioned they just tweaked and made one seam near the fog lights since it was so tight to prevent bubbling.

I am a fussy guy when it comes to fit and finish and it looks awesome. Sometimes I debate doing the whole vehicle but where do you stop spending I guess. I knew I wanted the front end and hood done since it’s most likely area to get knocked.

I looked at some high end cars at my shop that looked sweet and that sold me.

I even did my old Accord Headlights with it. This stuff prevents that crappy yellow haze on the headlights. Three years and running on those headlights

 

Man that looks really good. Thank you guys for all the suggestions.

 

So I did xpel on the entire vehicle. I knew I would be shipping it 5k miles, live in high UV/ salt air areas , keeping it forever so for me personally it was “worth it”.

4K road miles later, the vehicle and xpel look like new - is that a good thing? Idk. Almost feel like it’s better to get some chips and scratches so you stop treating it like a new car. I actually enjoy driving my 13 Tacoma more just bc I don’t care if someone swings their door into it (mainly bc I’ve been sitting in it when people have done that…)

 

Finally snapped a cpl. Little dirty as we got a tiny amount of snow this weekend. Thinking about taking the rack off and going with out or getting a sleeker one.

 

love that red!!