Vinyl Wrapped AD

[Sethmark]

Has anyone got any pics of a fully wrapped AD? I'm considering going that route to play with some colors instead of dumping 7-10k in paint.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
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[47 Fasttoys]

Noooooo, please don't do it. It's a passing fad with no shine. Not tho mention the labor to remove later.
Rob

[Sethmark]

All things custom automotive are passing fads. Restomods to restorations, murdered out to $50k paint jobs, there's no timeless solution.

I have old, dead paint that needs a lift. Vinyl doesn't have to be matte or satin.
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[mphudak]

If that is your truck, leave it alone. That thing is beautiful!

[Sethmark]

Kind words, but the paint is trashed. It photographs way better than it looks in person. The paint is nearly 20 years old and its water spotting badly, it's too thin to buff anymore and it's just past it.
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[1project2many]

I'm sorry but I do not have pictures of any fully wrapped trucks.

I hope you have not already decided to pursue this path. We put wraps on some of our buses for advertising so I have some experience with it. The "pros" who do the installations know that most folks aren't going to see the details. They'll make sure the bus looks good from 10 feet away and that's what ya get. But the truth is, making vinyl stick and stay in corners and around edges can be challenging. Most folks greatly understimate how much cleaning is required to make this happen. In addition, pieces of flat vinyl applied to curved surfaces can require extra work to apply correctly. Bubbles and overlaps are tought to avoid if you have limited experience. Then, when it's time to remove the vinyl for a new wrap or a body repair, we have to spend quite a bit of time. The vinyl gets brittle after just a few months in the sun. Removal means dedicating a lot of time with a heat gun, an "eraser," and in some cases chemicals to remove old traces of adhesive. A good vinyl guy can do a decent job with application but you should also know that printing and applying simple graphics to the flat sides of our buses ranges in the neighborhood of $3000 to $12000. It is _not_ a simple and inexpensive replacement for a paint job ime.

[Sethmark]

Thank you for the insight. I appreciate the expertise and knowledge. I'm not committed to anything except for I can't afford to spend $10,000 on a paint job for this truck at this point. It's neither worth it nor will I see the return in investment.
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[_Ogre]

who pays $10,000 for a paint job?
diy

[Sethmark]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

who pays $10,000 for a paint job?
diy

In a perfect world I would. Painting a car in an HOA controlled neighborhood in south Florida is a bad idea. It's enough that I have a lift and wrench on it without hesitation. It's my problem and I created it.

However I'm not going to scuff and squirt this truck. I want quality.
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[MARTINSR]

Drive it and enjoy it the way it is. A super nice paint job is great, but a car with a few flaws you can drive and park outside a store is a treasure!

Brian

[Sethmark]

I drive it daily. It's done 10k miles in the last year. It's beat on like a redheaded step child. It doesn't look the way I want.
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[57chevyman]

for me, i am happy with my single stage enamel paintjob. a local shop painted my whole truck for $1,000.00 with a small amount of body work also included.

[Fiftee3]

Frank,
HOLY CRAP!!! 1000.00?? Your truck looks amazing. I would paint car in my driveway where you went! Looks great. Drive safe...Phil

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Sethmark

In a perfect world I would. Painting a car in an HOA controlled neighborhood in south Florida is a bad idea. It's enough that I have a lift and wrench on it without hesitation. It's my problem and I created it.

However I'm not going to scuff and squirt this truck. I want quality.
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Look around you might be able to find a shop with a booth you can rent for a weekend. That is the route I am going. Basically renting the clean epa approved environment, I bring my own guns and consumables. Leave it in the same condition I found it.

[mphudak]

I'm not the smart guy, but am pretty sure the "paint" is the cheap part of a paint job. What you end up paying dearly for is all the prep work and clean up/buffing after its painted. If your willing to do any of that yourself you can save a good bit.

I feel you on the HOA. My old hood a couple members on the board were trying to figure a way to force me to sell my rock crawler (2 door cherokee on 37's). It was immaculately kept/clean and and always garaged unless i was driving it. ( Mind you I was the first person in the hood to help anyone and had the best kept house/yard. You could putt a golf ball on my lawn.) Once I found out about all their issues I kept it in the driveway and joined the board. Let's just say it kept things interesting.

[1project2many]

i am happy with my single stage enamel paintjob.

Automotive paint today has little resemblance to what was being used when TF trucks were new. The price has risen dramatically to match the current state of the art. Many folks don't realize that "old technology" is still available to different industries. Industrial finishes and "sign paint" are often much cheaper than automotive finishes and can be found in plain vanilla single stage enamel or single stage urethane. If you find the right guy and the right paint it shouldn't cost anywhere near $10k for a refinish.

Once I found out about all their issues I kept it in the driveway and joined the board. Let's just say it kept things interesting.

lol... I wonder how many times they threw out the minutes for the meetings?

[iowaboynca]

Personally, i believe paint is still the way to go. I would think that after a few years in the sun, the vinyl would look pretty faded and dated. Then you'd be out more money just to fix it.

I'm sure you could find a local shop to do a quick sand and spray to get it look as good as a wrap. You're truck looks pretty straight so not a lot of prep.

Lastly, looks like you're going with a 'classic' theme on your truck. I think a wrap would take away from that.
I hear what you mean about HoAs. I specifically told the wife no HoAs when we bought the current house.

Good luck which ever direction you go in.

[Sethmark]

We didn't have a choice on the HOA. Three days to buy a house ain't much... But it's part of the deal. We move a lot.

The theme on that truck is sort of a retro rod. Plenty of power and modern capability wrapped in an old school exterior. I daily drive it (easy in south Florida)... And the little old people give me lots of space. It's old. But it ain't slow.

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by Fiftee3

Frank,
HOLY CRAP!!! 1000.00?? Your truck looks amazing. I would paint car in my driveway where you went! Looks great. Drive safe...Phil

thanks Phil! yep, only $1000.00. i think i got a great deal for what it is. no drip marks either lol i also forgot to mention.. i had the truck painted a year ago... and i can drive it around with worrying about it too much.

I can give you the shops number, in amityville NY if you want

[hogfarm]

I just bought the materials for my paint job. $450.00 a gallon for the paint,plus primer and sealers.walked out of the store with a $2000.00 bill

[1project2many]

Originally Posted by Sethmark

Plenty of power and modern capability wrapped in an old school exterior.

Oh, no you didn't...

[57chevyman]

my paint was around $110.00 for a gallon

[tmoble]

so was mine, but it's single stage India Ivory.

I really wanted the copper/bronze/gold like on some Vettes and Dodges. I was quoted $860/gal, need 2 gals. "Excuse me sir, is that the door I came in?"