ridewrapper

Just wrapped my 4runner looks pretty good. But the thing that I'm most Surprised about is the durability of the vinyl wrap while offroading. I've been on 4 trips so far. The usual IFS type a trips..... nothing hardcore, but as much mud as the truck can handle, rocks, dust and branches were all involved though. The wrap is holding up rather well. The material was just under $400 and I installed it. The finish is much much smoother and even than a rattle can job and the shine is better than a MAACO type of fish eyed job. If anyone wants to try it I can help with advice on installation or prep.

2003mikem

iTrader: (1)

More info on what you used and where and price and prep etc

ridewrapper

I Used Hexis brand Vinyl. It can be found on Ebay all day long for cheap. 3M is much better and easier to work with. I chose the cheapie route though. For the prep I'd suggest taking off any molding, lights, racks etc... You get a much much better install result. You can tuck the vinyl better into the recessed spots and will look much cleaner. This also allows you to change the color of your molding while its off if desired. I did the door handles and chrome around the fenders in black. I used plastidip on one side and vinyl on the other side. I again prefer the vinyl. Just my opinion of course. The clear coat was shot as with most other 2nd Gen Yotas. I sanded it smooth. Just the clear and not going all the way down to bare metal so the vinyl looks smooth too. nothing major just hit it with 400 sand paper. Wash it thouroughly with dish soap to get any left over grease and grime off. Then wipe it clean again with rubbing alcohol. That promotes great adhesion when the vinyl is set for a couple of days. The better you prep the easier and cleaner the insatall goes.

85TurboRunner

Don't be lazy. Its too difficult to click links.

ridewrapper

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85TurboRunner

Not correctly posting a pic is like not having a pic in a craigslist ad. 90% of people won't even bother looking at it.

ridewrapper

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ridewrapper

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ridewrapper

Thanks for the Advice!

Orion22rte

Hey man, that looks excellent for a DIY. I have some 3M flat black and fire engine red vinyl that I'm going to wrap my truck with . Yours looks awesome tho, really good work

ridewrapper

carefull on the matte colors with vinyl. If you stretch it too much it turns greyish. also oils from your hands or from working on your truck make it ugly pretty quick. use a mguires quick detailer to clean it up after its washed.


I do work for a place called gatorwraps on the side. you can check out their site they have a lot of cool projects they wrap there. I've done baja truck panels but I never knew how it holds up to a race I think they trash all the fiberglass so I wanted to see how vinyl would hold up on my daily driver/offroader vehicle.

gatorwraps.com

Nervo19

That looks good. What was the final price on all the wrap. How hard is it to get off if you change your mind? I was thinking about getting some for a small off topic project (fake wood grain 60's dashboard).

ridewrapper

The entire wrap was almost exactly $400 I also have left over for damaged panels.
It was $188 plus tax for 11yds. It came in only 11yd increments so I needed to buy 22yds.
Rubbing alcohol is $1 You can go to any sign shop and pilfer their scraps of black. They'd be glad to give it to you if you ask em nicely. The scrap black will do the door handles and chrome on the fenders.
It comes off easy if you treat it as you would paint. The longer you leave it on the harder it is to get off. If you garage it the wrap last longer and removes easier. If it is in the sun all day and in the elements (california elements) Id say take it off in 5 years and you'll be okay. That in itself is kinda a double edged sword. 5 years may not be a long time to some. Then again in 5 years you may decide your tired of the color you picked and want to have a new color vehicle.

rbuchmann

That is about way cool. Cheaper than a Repaint and it looks great. Great Job.

2toys

Do you wet it with lite soap solution? (Heard that somewhere)
And what special tools would you recommend i buy? I have a heat gun. I'm definitely gonna wrap my 90 truck I've had my new panels for a while just haven't put it together because I don't want to roll around with a tricolor truck and paint is a pain in the a$$.

ridewrapper

No soapy water. If it's wrap vinyl it has an air release adhesive its hard to get bubbles. The soap and water will make it too hard to put it around curved spots. Dont be afraid if it lays down and sticks a little just pick it up and do it again. If you have a friend helping you it is easier. I did mine alone....well with the help of my 2 and 4 yead old girls (its un-help actually) just remember to keep the tension tight and don't be scared to heat and stretch. The vinyl is designed for it! Loook up heat and stretch wrap vinyl on youtube it will boost your confidence in the vinyls abilities and improve yours.


Tools:
Don't use an exacto! Use a utility box cutter knife with snap off blades for your cuts. You have more control. Make sure it is sharp all the time
Put some felt on one end of a vinyl applicator squeege and keep one side alone.
Rubbing alcohol to prep
Micro fiber rags
Keep your heat gun plugged in and ready. (I use a torch, but it's not for the noob it fires up faster and gives more control though )

JohnnyCanuck

Looks pretty darn good..GJ.

2toys

Nice thanks for the tips ridewrapper I checked out a bunch of you tube videos on it think I might go with the 3m brand seems like its easier to work with.

Chickenman

It looks good.

ridewrapper

2Toys if you get around to wrapping your truck post pics on the progress and keep us updated I'd be more than happy to assist you in your project as much as I can. Well anyone else for that matter.