Wrapping the Rig - Before and ...

[techsis]

My 95 LC finally made it to the point that I needed to take action. The once pristine black exterior had been updated to include a mildly dented silver hood, a green fender, miss matched mirrors and general road/trail rash. The good news is that all the damage was caused by the old girl saving my arse.

I will post a before and in process pictures of the update (hope to have her home in a few days). There is a new ARB bumper sitting in my driveway ready to be installed once she returns home. On the exterior todo list... ARB roof rack, roof mounted spare, rear bumper... Well, here she is in mid dressing...

 

[thatcabledude]

Well that certainly looks better. I have had wrapped company trucks before and I can tell you they are pretty tough.

 

[Danimal92sport]

Curious; why did you choose to wrap instead of paint? It looks great, but I've heard that it can run upwards of $4,000 and has to be redone every few years? I'm guessing that's not the case, however.

 

[techsis]

Well that certainly looks better. I have had wrapped company trucks before and I can tell you they are pretty tough.

It is killing me to not see it yet in person, but the pictures have me floored.

Curious; why did you choose to wrap instead of paint? It looks great, but I've heard that it can run upwards of $4,000 and has to be redone every few years? I'm guessing that's not the case, however.

You can get 5+ years out of a wrap and if cared for you can get more. My price was south of $4000, but only by 15%. The cost of a good paint job left me at the point that I was better off buying another rig and swapping out my extras & selling the rest (lots of time involved). This option left me with my old girl in new clothes.

 

[BlacknBlue2002]

looking good so far

 

[alltel05]

Awesome... Except for what they are watching... Ugggggg. The agony of defeat.

 

[JCruse]

So how much does it cost, how long does it last, and are there any issues of moisture getting underneath and causing rust?

 

[techsis]

Awesome... Except for what they are watching... Ugggggg. The agony of defeat.

Very painful outcome in the game, but an amazing display of goalkeeping.

So how much does it cost, how long does it last, and are there any issues of moisture getting underneath and causing rust?

For wraps range from 3-4k, 5+ years life (the key is not leave the rig cooking in the sun), no issue with the rust unless visible punctures made into the material.

This is not the best option if you want to power wash your rig at 2000psi. Just a different option than the dip, rustoleum and bed liner cover-ups.

I will reserve my opinion on the outcome of this project until I get to see the finish in person. As for the longevity... this wrap will remain in place for 8+ years even if I am forced to duct tape it in place...

 

[techsis]

The interior story on my girl & part of the reason I could justify this spend...

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/interior-rehab-lots-of-pics.509832/

 

[techsis]

 

[maxamillion2345]

Looks nice.

 

[B Point]

I've been racking my brain over whether to wrap or paint my daily driver...(not a LC). My 80 still has beautiful paint so I'll leave it alone. It looks like you wet sanded the truck down like you were getting it ready for a splash. If that's the case, wouldn't just having a shop prime it and spray it cost similar or less even than a wrap?? Which wrap did you use? ...3M I suspect for that kind of cost. Looks great BTW!

 

[techsis]

I did in fact wet sand the entire rig. I attempted my painting skills on the reclaimed fender and hood. After three self paint attempts, I realized I should cut my losses and turn the project over to a pro.

Prior to the wrap I had a few dent pulled and primmer applied to leave no metal exposed. This all stems back to an icy afternoon that I had a run in with a highway median dividing wire that snapped and scratched my girl pretty good. The wet sanding was needed even for a wrapping to avoid indentations.

I went with 3M Scotchprint metallic finish. For paint, I was looking at 5k+ for a solid and even more for a color change (metallic).

My first choice was a zebra print, but after the shop supplied some renderings my family pulled their support for the project . I went with my 2nd choice.

 

[UnderDawg]

That looks slick man... but IDK I think I would have saved a few more bux and painted. You could get a lifetime out of a good quality paint job if taken care of. Looks great though and really like the color choice.

 

[techsis]

That looks slick man... but IDK I think I would have saved a few more bux and painted. You could get a lifetime out of a good quality paint job if taken care of. Looks great though and really like the color choice.

My wife let me sell her LX570, so making this rig "acceptable" to her to drive for the cost of the wrap still leaves me in the clear. With the extra cash from the LX570 sale I was able to purchase a real tow vehicle for our work in progress 1975 25' Airstream (1999 F350 Dually 7.3L Turbo Diesel). The Ford has been a project itself with a trans rebuild, fuel injectors, exterior 2007 upgraded look and the retrofitting of a King Ranch interior into the old girl.

So the FZJ80 for real camping and the Ford + Airstream for hotel like camping. My son will venture out for the real camping trips while my better half and daughter stay home.

I am looking forward to the roof rack and the roof top tent.

 

[B Point]

I did in fact wet sand the entire rig. I attempted my painting skills on the reclaimed fender and hood. After three self paint attempts, I realized I should cut my losses and turn the project over to a pro.

Prior to the wrap I had a few dent pulled and primmer applied to leave no metal exposed. This all stems back to an icy afternoon that I had a run in with a highway median dividing wire that snapped and scratched my girl pretty good. The wet sanding was needed even for a wrapping to avoid indentations.

I went with 3M Scotchprint metallic finish. For paint, I was looking at 5k+ for a solid and even more for a color change (metallic).

My first choice was a zebra print, but after the shop supplied some renderings my family pulled their support for the project . I went with my 2nd choice.

View attachment 913463

Wow..5k...!! I thought that if you did all the body prep and most of the masking you'd be looking at only the cost of the paint, booth time and someone with spray experience to splash it. Times have changed since my last spray job I had done....25 years ago..

 

[techsis]

Wow..5k...!! I thought that if you did all the body prep and most of the masking you'd be looking at only the cost of the paint, booth time and someone with spray experience to splash it. Times have changed since my last spray job I had done....25 years ago..

I was quoted over 2k for the paint supplies alone. I was up in the air on a $1500 dip or the wrap. If the cost went any hire I would have searched for a clean 40th anniversary that was already sorted and sold my girl for parts (but she has served me so well, I wanted her to stay in the family for the kids to drive).

 

[JayS80]

Has anyone had any experience with these wraps out in the desert? Brushing against sagebrush, trees, cactuses, etc... leaves scratches in my paint... I have been considering a wrap, but I'd like to know hor durable it is.

 

[jfz80]

@Beowulf

 

[bluecruiser]

Has anyone had any experience with these wraps out in the desert? Brushing against sagebrush, trees, cactuses, etc... leaves scratches in my paint... I have been considering a wrap, but I'd like to know hor durable it is.

I spoke to a local guy that does media wrap on many vehicles and he advised not to wrap if I'm really wheeling. I.E. Go down trails with brush and other unknowns. He told me it rips fairly easily. I took his advice and didn't wrap.