My last truck had painted bumpers and I was always fixing chips. The truck I now have has chrome bumpers but I always planned on getting a deer bumper and having it bedlined black to match the rest of the trim but didn't want to spend the money. I think painted(or black)looks better but it's high maintenance.

My wife's last two F150s have had painted bumpers and the '12 held up pretty good but on her '18 I've already fixed more chips in the 9k it has than the entire 85k we put on the old one.

 

 

Sorry to see your bumper. I happen to love the look of painted bumpers, but yes, I did have the 3M clear bra applied within a few hours of taking delivery. But even that ride home before the 3M I was nervous... Kept plenty of space between me and the next vehicle...

 

I'm having a clear bra installed on my new F350 tomorrow. My installer indicated he cant do it over the Super Duty letters. He has to cut around them. I was surprised to hear that, but didnt argue. It's also getting a ceramic wax immediately after the clear bra install.

 

Would you happen to know what material they used on your clear bra? My installer indicated he will have to cut out around the letters. It's getting installed tomorrow.

 

The material used was XPEL™'s Ultimate Plus which was installed by Zenith Auto Works in N. Houston, Tx..

Note: they never stated a need to cut around the SD stamped lettering in the hood and just did it (all one piece and part of the full hood section of material).

They also CeramicPro™'d the truck (Gold package) and had the truck for a total of 8 days to complete everything. Looks Great!

I'm picking the truck up today and will take and post some photos when time permits.

 

 

Yes, all exterior glass & mirrors including pano-sunroof.

 

Thank you for choosing XPEL to protect your SD! Don't hesitate to reach out should you ever have any questions or need anything.

 

I do like XPEL for cars but trucks that are driven where I go lasts about 2 to 3 trips before it looks like scratched up shrink wrap on a on a package. It is just too soft.

 

I would hate to see what your bumper and hood look like without some sort of clear bra then. I have had great luck with the XPEL. Colorado passes in the winter are pretty nasty and really take a toll on painted surfaces. I spend a lot of time on the roads chasing snow\snowmobiling and travelling back and forth to Denver. I have had better luck with the XPEL than the clear bra materials I have had in the past. Maybe I am getting a different product than what you are talking about. I know on vehicles without it I have owned the painted bumpers and hoods are pitted like crazy after a winters worth of driving.

Sam

 

Off road --- on road is easy peasy. Yes keep carnauba on it once a month use Pinnacle Black Label Synergy for that, try to do like I did today and apply it the day before I go to the ranch. My fender flares do get scratches just because the plastic is softer than the mesquite, cedar etc. some alive some dead I have to drive over and through. Paint looks awesome but the front air dam has a couple of holes and some whacks in it lol. Maintaining a vehicle is one of my hobbies. Have many thousands of dollars in equipment used on custom painted cars to motorcycles. Do not show anymore but the truck gets polished, sealed and waxed like everything else. You would be surprised how much damage is prevented to the finish that way.

Took this in town after driving back into Carlsbad. Note the front air dam up close. I always treat the plastic as well with dressing because it cleans up so much easier and helps prevent scratches. 24k on this truck in 8 months will be almost 26k in 4 days....

 

I think the new paint is much softer. I am not happy with it either.

 

My 2019 Platinum has some nice paint chips with only 7k on it.
I regret not getting a clear bra on it immediately.

 

It's not too late. You could get the existing ones touched up and then protected with clear bra to prevent even more. You'll get the protection you want but you'll be surprised at how much easier the film is to clean than your paint. Bug guts, bird droppings, etc will come off much easier.