Hey Guys,
I had a question specifically for those of you who own a Platinum edition Super Duty. I am curious to how your painted front an rear bumpers are holding up against chipping from stones. I am trying to decide between buying a Platinum and Lariat, but don't want the Platinum if I have to worry about re-painting the bumpers every year or so because of stone chips. The winters up here in NY are tough with all the salt and dirt that gets dumped on the roads. Any help you guys can provide would be great!

 

Maybe you should ask anyone that has or had painted bumpers instead of just platinum owners.

 

I agree. I'm pretty sure all K/R bumpers are painted.

 

I had an '05 F150 with painted bumpers. After 8yrs I had quite a few rock chips that I touched up. My wife has a '12 F150 with painted bumpers and she hardly has any rock chips but the newer bumpers have less metal facing forward than the one I had.

If you don't follow too close that will really help but there is no way to prevent rock chips outside of applying a clear protective tape to the bumper.

Only way I'd go with a painted bumper again is if it was sprayed with bedliner.

 

I think Ford did start offering K/R models with chrome bumpers. They were the single color trucks instead of the two tone.

 

Painted Bumpers are sole reason I drive a Lariat Ultimate over a King Ranch or Platinum models.
Here in the South, twice a year we get what we call Love Bugs. When you hit them they are extremely acidic and will remove to your paint if you don't wash it off every day. That said, there is a Clear Mask from 3M that you can have installed over your painted areas of your vehicle. It does an excellent job protecting your paint from bugs and road chips. Each time my wife gets a new car we have it applied to the front bumpers, mirrors, windshield header and hood.

 

In the immortal words of Johnny Carson, "I did not know that."

 

Just over 2 yrs into my Platinum and yes there are some chips. I have not driven in winter after road treatments so for me that's a non issue. I think anywhere or season you travel you're bound to get chips. Is it something that would need to be repaired every year or two, I don't think so but if you a bit (OCD) you might want to. My current plan is to check once a year and by year 4 if it's bad by my standard then I will take to get repainted and clear coated.