Pinstripe protection - looking for a temporary solution

[SamJ3]

I am planning a wheeling adventure with the 2022 JT Sport this fall in a location that is known for narrow trails and pinstripe scratches. I'd prefer to avoid the expected scratches and am looking for temporary protection ideas. So far, I've identified these methods:

• paint protection film (PPF)
• vinyl wrap
• track tape - a form of temporary PPF
• blue painters tape
• self-adhesive armor panels
• temporary roll-on PPF

PPF and vinyl wrap are beyond my budget before the trip, so I am looking for a lower-cost temporary solution.

Track tape looks very durable, but is a bit pricey compared to painter tape.

Self adhesive armor panels (like Action Shield body armor) are temporary (or can be left on for a while), colorful, and very protective - but they are more costly than tapes and films, yet less pricey than a full PPF or wrap.

I was also considering (thinner at 3.5mil) 'crash wrap' film as temporary protection, maybe in combination with painters tape.

What do others do (beside honoring the scratches as badges of honor)? Also, note that this Gladiator has black plastic fenders, so bonus points to solutions that work on that soft, not-smooth surface.

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[Silverator]

I did a full rear fender PPF and hinges PPF for the gravel getting tossed up, and it has worked fairly well, and was cheap in comparison to a full wrap/PPF - which locally is up over $6,000. Not doable for me. I also did mud flaps which helped as well. Of course those don't help with the pin stripes, but they do help with poking tires and gravel/rocks. On the pin stripes, I've come to terms that jeeps without pin-stripes are jeeps that never get used - so I'm trying to embrace the AZ pin stripes. LOL

 

[PW45]

any body panels that you don't want scratched can be removed and stored to protect from damage. it's super easy, barely an inconvenience.

 

[ScoutVet19D]

Just my 2 cents worth but my experience has been a branch strong enough to leave pinstripes will scrape through film, fiberglass (older hardtop), Kevlar (HMMWV), and any kind of paint including CARC paint on wheeled and track vehicles.

It might be somewhat less with a layer of film but its more driver skill trying to tiptoe through trails than the film stopping pin striping. It’s also common that when your avoiding brush or branches that the one you didn’t see on the other side gets you lol.

So I think the protective film products are more for keeping street vehicles from getting marks from small debris.

There is a reason most of the offroading community jokes about it’ll buff out.

 

[AmishMike]

Ask your local wrap guy if he just has some white to put on for temporary. Maybe even find some on Amazon etc..
OR a couple of layers of wax works wonders, use a 'high tech' wax covered in good ole carnauba. Make sure your fenders, roof, bumpers, other black plastic are treated with whatever to help branches/briars slid off.
@J19D2O is right, on a trail that I should know, I was avoiding a rock and caught my rear fender on a tree root (slightly off camber).
Doing your best to avoid scratches is okay, but you can drive home with scratches. Worrying about a branch and doing under carriage damage instead is bad. It's like an off-road threat assessment, biggest threat first.

https://www.amazon.com/VViViD-Paint...a5a-94b5-1897d73bdeb6&pd_rd_i=B00L3O73Y8&th=1

 

[SamJ3]

any body panels that you don't want scratched can be removed and stored to protect from damage. it's super easy, barely an inconvenience.

Rrrriight. Ironically, that has become part of my plan - I do intend to remove the doors (and mount the tube doors) before that ride. However, there is still the matter of the sides of the bed, and the fenders - those aren't coming off.

 

[DBravo]

I am planning a wheeling adventure with the 2022 JT Sport this fall in a location that is known for narrow trails and pinstripe scratches. I'd prefer to avoid the expected scratches and am looking for temporary protection ideas. So far, I've identified these methods:

• paint protection film (PPF)
• vinyl wrap
• track tape - a form of temporary PPF
• blue painters tape
• self-adhesive armor panels
• temporary roll-on PPF

PPF and vinyl wrap are beyond my budget before the trip, so I am looking for a lower-cost temporary solution.

Track tape looks very durable, but is a bit pricey compared to painter tape.

Self adhesive armor panels (like Action Shield body armor) are temporary (or can be left on for a while), colorful, and very protective - but they are more costly than tapes and films, yet less pricey than a full PPF or wrap.

I was also considering (thinner at 3.5mil) 'crash wrap' film as temporary protection, maybe in combination with painters tape.

What do others do (beside honoring the scratches as badges of honor)? Also, note that this Gladiator has black plastic fenders, so bonus points to solutions that work on that soft, not-smooth surface.

I've seen the magnetic ones on Extreme Terrain - in the $700 +range depending on pattern:
https://www.extremeterrain.com/4x4-...shRo4kb5PlqjIWe-NKwaAr3IEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[SamJ3]

I've seen the magnetic ones on Extreme Terrain - in the $700 +range depending on pattern:
https://www.extremeterrain.com/4x4-attitude-jeep-gladiator-action-shield-body-armor-grey-bomber-asbomgreyjt.html?utm_content=XT Armor - Body Armor|4x4 Attitude&T5_Var4=JG23523&utm_campaign=XTG+Gladiator+Vehicle+Medium+LTVMiddle&dialogtech=ppc&utm_source=google-pla&utm_medium=shopping&T5_Var2=shopping&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2ou2BhCCARIsANAwM2HcIHksMorP1pLuOp0CwxgM0Oe-v7I3YNmwshRo4kb5PlqjIWe-NKwaAr3IEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I appreciate the suggestion. These are in fact the 'self adhesive armor panels' that I listed. Fun fact: most of the Gladiator body is stamped in aluminum - only the bed is ferrous (magnetic)! So, for JTs and JLs, the 'magnetic armor' solutions are really held with a temporary adhesive.

BTW, I really like this, but for half the cost, I can put on tube doors and tape up what remains - so that is what I am most likely to do at this point. Thank you all for the suggestions and comments.

 

[BearFootSam]

I am planning a wheeling adventure with the 2022 JT Sport this fall in a location that is known for narrow trails and pinstripe scratches. I'd prefer to avoid the expected scratches and am looking for temporary protection ideas. So far, I've identified these methods:

• paint protection film (PPF)
• vinyl wrap
• track tape - a form of temporary PPF
• blue painters tape
• self-adhesive armor panels
• temporary roll-on PPF

PPF and vinyl wrap are beyond my budget before the trip, so I am looking for a lower-cost temporary solution.

Track tape looks very durable, but is a bit pricey compared to painter tape.

Self adhesive armor panels (like Action Shield body armor) are temporary (or can be left on for a while), colorful, and very protective - but they are more costly than tapes and films, yet less pricey than a full PPF or wrap.

I was also considering (thinner at 3.5mil) 'crash wrap' film as temporary protection, maybe in combination with painters tape.

What do others do (beside honoring the scratches as badges of honor)? Also, note that this Gladiator has black plastic fenders, so bonus points to solutions that work on that soft, not-smooth surface.

Honestly, a good coat of hard good quality paste wax provides a decent level of protection against pine branches. Up here in the PNW we have some tight trails through dense pine that mean getting brushed over in spots. You can hear them sliding over the paint but after a fresh wash and wax it looks no worse for wear.

Have you considered that damaged or old PPF looks worse than scratched paint? Afterall, it is a jeep and a few brush marks serve to remind the full size crowd you can fit where they can't.

 

[jac04]

What about something like this?:
$9.99 for 18" x 20' roll
https://con-tactbrand.com/products/clear-cover™-acid-free-self-adehsive

 

[SamJ3]

What about something like this?:
$9.99 for 18" x 20' roll
https://con-tactbrand.com/products/clear-cover™-acid-free-self-adehsive

Interesting - looks promising. Have you tried this? I wonder how 'removable' it will be. Can't beat the price

 

[AustyPosty]

You could always just polish your paint afterwards with something like scratch-x, it gets rid of 90% of a scratch to the point you can’t really see it. Its rarethat any scratch that doesn’t break through the clear coat. I’ve wheeled down so many tight trails over the years, it’s very rare to get a scratch that goes deeper than the clear coat unless you are being careless. I just polish the paint like twice and year and it looks great. A little pinstriping just shows you use your truck!

 

[jac04]

Interesting - looks promising. Have you tried this? I wonder how 'removable' it will be. Can't beat the price

No, I haven't. It just looked interesting. I also wonder how flexible it is (as in, can it be wrapped around corners).

 

[KevinC]

As someone who has spent his whole driving career in the Ocala National Forest I can offer what I've done. Most of the 4x4 trails that have any level of difficultly seem to be made for a motorcycle, not a Jeep. Scratches are going to happen, period.

Blue painters tape. Easy to apply, easy to remove without any residue. Thick enough to withstand a good oak tree branch sliding across it. You can add another layer of protection on top of it while in the field. Cheap. Remove once done and no one will be the wiser and make fun of you.

 

[SamJ3]

Honestly, a good coat of hard good quality paste wax provides a decent level of protection against pine branches. Up here in the PNW we have some tight trails through dense pine that mean getting brushed over in spots. You can hear them sliding over the paint but after a fresh wash and wax it looks no worse for wear.

Have you considered that damaged or old PPF looks worse than scratched paint? Afterall, it is a jeep and a few brush marks serve to remind the full size crowd you can fit where they can't.

Sounds like a great step. Even if I do use temporary films, the fresh wax is recommended.

As someone who has spent his whole driving career in the Ocala National Forest I can offer what I've done. Most of the 4x4 trails that have any level of difficultly seem to be made for a motorcycle, not a Jeep. Scratches are going to happen, period.

Blue painters tape. Easy to apply, easy to remove without any residue. Thick enough to withstand a good oak tree branch sliding across it. You can another layer of protection on top of it while in the field. Cheap. Remove once done and no one will be the wiser and make fun of you.

My planned trip is in fact going to be in the Ocala National Forrest. So this is very apropos. Thanks.

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