My reality is when I hit the trails my trucks get scratched. My 550 is not an exception (but the paint polished out nicely).
So, I have asked the different shops around me about PPF (Paint Protection Film) and all of them have given a consistent response - it will help, but it is not designed for pinstripes and they can’t guarantee it will hold up. I appreciate their candor and direct answers. Given their feed back and $$$ of a full vehicle PPF I decided to go back and look for ‘Goat Armor’ which is a magnetic armor that I had considered for my Tacoma. Turns out they went out of business.
I’ve found another magnetic armor firm in San Diego (MEK Magnet) who has magnetic applied paint protection kits for Bronco, 4R and Jeeps. They do not have a kit for GX or LC250. But in talking to them they said tell us what you want and we will consider if there is enough demand. To show demand they asked me to register as a potential customer.
www.mekmagnet.com
So, sharing here. I am NOT affiliated with them in any way. If it works out and they have good product, cool. If not, I might have to consider the PPF route.
Gratuitous paint violence photo evidence included.
www.mekmagnet.com
I’m open to the solutions others may have. No, I’m not ready to hit the GX with Rhinoliner.
Post comment - Yes, the GX paint buffed out nicely. Yes, I will end up with more pinstripes, that’s just the reality of the trails where I live. Yes, my wife asked me why I bothered to buff out the GX paint when I will just scratch it again. Yes, she is right. But for now the paint looks fantastic (again).
So, I have asked the different shops around me about PPF (Paint Protection Film) and all of them have given a consistent response - it will help, but it is not designed for pinstripes and they can’t guarantee it will hold up. I appreciate their candor and direct answers. Given their feed back and $$$ of a full vehicle PPF I decided to go back and look for ‘Goat Armor’ which is a magnetic armor that I had considered for my Tacoma. Turns out they went out of business.
I’ve found another magnetic armor firm in San Diego (MEK Magnet) who has magnetic applied paint protection kits for Bronco, 4R and Jeeps. They do not have a kit for GX or LC250. But in talking to them they said tell us what you want and we will consider if there is enough demand. To show demand they asked me to register as a potential customer.

Request Your Rig Registration Form requesting vehicles not yet covered
Using MEK Magnet's Request Your Rig Registration Form you can officially register and request the next vehicle MEK will create Armor for. Each form registers as a vote.

So, sharing here. I am NOT affiliated with them in any way. If it works out and they have good product, cool. If not, I might have to consider the PPF route.
Gratuitous paint violence photo evidence included.

MEK MAGNET - Removable Trail Armor
MEK Removable Trail Armor protecting your rig's paint from scrapes and scratches in overgrown trails so you can adventure on!

I’m open to the solutions others may have. No, I’m not ready to hit the GX with Rhinoliner.
Post comment - Yes, the GX paint buffed out nicely. Yes, I will end up with more pinstripes, that’s just the reality of the trails where I live. Yes, my wife asked me why I bothered to buff out the GX paint when I will just scratch it again. Yes, she is right. But for now the paint looks fantastic (again).
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