Rockguard vs 3M Film on truck

[thundergrey]

Hi all,

Wondering everyone's thoughts on truck protection vs rock chips and rusting. My bumpers have seen better days and are showing signs of rust 10 years later from rock chips damaging the 3M film and paint under it.

Is rockguard or line-x or whatever a better option? Or just get them blasted and repainted with more 3m?

What is your experience?

[skidderman]

Planning on rock guarding the lower parts of my truck. My view is that 3m has it's place but as well it's limitations. Neither is cheap to get it done right. If rock guard, armourthane, linex or whatever is done right in my view it enhances the vehicles looks and adds a layer of protection. Only 32 k on my truck & thinking to get it done early might be best.

[gunluvr]

Originally Posted by thundergrey

Hi all,

Wondering everyone's thoughts on truck protection vs rock chips and rusting. My bumpers have seen better days and are showing signs of rust 10 years later from rock chips damaging the 3M film and paint under it.

Is rockguard or line-x or whatever a better option? Or just get them blasted and repainted with more 3m?

What is your experience?

One difference is appearance. The smooth transparent film applied over paint is less visible and IMO looks better. Another difference is durability. Urethane bed liner, properly applied is more durable. It can be tinted to same as body color, painted over, or both.
My 2017 GMC had/has the 3M film applied over paint at the factory in strategic locations along the bottom but was mostly worn away by gravel by 100,00km. despite having both full mud flaps and running boards.
Your bumpers are painted steel. It would be tedious and ineffective to apply film over the curved surfaces so I'd recommend Urethane bed liner, tinted to whatever color you prefer. Sandblasting, which requires bumper removal isn't necessary. They can be sanded and refinished in place.

[Smokinyotes]

If you plan on putting 3M on the lip of wheel wells, the gravel will beat it off. I put Linex on the rockers of my Jeep and all around the wheel wells of my pickup and it still looks like new.

[Big Grey Wolf]

I use rock guard on my 21 year old dodge. When trucks cost $25K they had real chrome protection good for 30-50 years, now they cost $125K and they use paint or plastic for rock protection.

[jstubbs]

Linex makes your truck look like a covered up rust auction special. Most rust comes from the inside out so the linex isn't really saving anything besides holding in the moisture even more as it rots. Run 3M until it deteriorates, then have it removed fully and reapplied.

Also, make sure you have actual good mudflaps. If you do a lot of gravel especially the slightly offset style on the front tires works wonders to save the paint.

To each their own however!

[Gade81]

3m is nice if you don’t do gravel. If you do gravel it gets worn off in no time. I line-x’d my bumpers front and rear and wheel well lips on my tundra right after I bought it new. The stuff lasts as long as your truck. I do a lot of gravel and that’s the key to rock chips. Along with good flaps and boards

[roy9525]

Originally Posted by thundergrey

Hi all,

Wondering everyone's thoughts on truck protection vs rock chips and rusting. My bumpers have seen better days and are showing signs of rust 10 years later from rock chips damaging the 3M film and paint under it.

Is rockguard or line-x or whatever a better option? Or just get them blasted and repainted with more 3m?

What is your experience?

just a note that 3M should be put on new paint because on old paint any little deformities show up.