PPF (XPEL) or not? Brush Guard or not?

Snuff · May 9, 2019

I am planning to order a 2019 Silverado RST Crew Z71 with Standard Bed. I have been researching local prices on PPF (XPEL) in Austin, Texas area. Is it really worth spending another $1500-$1800 for a front end, hood and fender PPF job? My wife says no - just drive it and take care of it best you can.

She also is trying to talk me out if the Ranch Hand Brush Guard because she loves the front end of the new RST. I must say I love the Ranch Hand products but I am 66 years old and have never hit a deer.

My current 2011 Silverado paint held up pretty good for 195,000 miles. I did a Mossy Oak front bumper and rocker panel wrap 3 years ago and it looks great.

I am leaning towards saving the $$ and just driving it and hope for the best. If it turns out to be a great truck and I decide to keep it a long time I can always paint it or wrap it later.

What are your thoughts?

eppieguy · May 9, 2019

I highly regret not getting XPel on my HC, it's so chipped up in the front already at 6,000 miles, thinking of having the bumper and hood re-painted and then getting it installed this summer

L86 All Terrain · May 9, 2019

My 2015 had three large chips in the bumper in 10,000mi. I don't run gravel roads, ever, and I don't ride peoples butt. These stones must have been thrown off tires of passing cars. The bumper is what will chip easiest. The plastic grille and bumper trim are surprisingly resilient. The hood lip on my truck also has a chip. I would say you could get away with doing the bumper and hood lip only. Perhaps the roofline would be smart as I had a 2010 Sierra that bubbled and peeled from a stone chip above the window. The paint on these late model GM's is extremely thin, and is damaged easily. Once you get some chips, it does not take long to start peeling.

mafd2 · May 9, 2019

I'm with the wife on this one. Why spend that much on PPF? If, and IF it does get that bad where the front end would need to be repainted, a repaint would be way cheaper than $1500-$1800 spent on the PPF so there's no point. Wouldn't put the brush guard either... My opinion

econometrics · May 9, 2019

Get a PDR package from the dealer's finance office. You can wheel and deal with them on this. I paid $300 for mine. One of the provisions is a complete front bumper rehab for free 1x in a 5 year cycle.

I have had my RST (Satin Steel) for about 1.5 months and 1500 miles. I notice zero chips or scuffs on the bumper paint so far. But I'm driving mostly on roads where this kind of material is not as found on the roads (around DFW interstates / side roads in the burbs)

Snuff · May 9, 2019

Thanks to all for your replies. I have never heard of the PDR package. What all does it cover? Some type of warranty protection? Thx

econometrics · May 9, 2019

6 minutes ago, Snuff said:

Thanks to all for your replies. I have never heard of the PDR package. What all does it cover? Some type of warranty protection? Thx

It's called Paintless Dent Repair.

Here's a copy of the coverage from my policy (5 years):

BlkSS · May 9, 2019

I highly recommend the Xpel especially if you have any color besides white or silver. Yes it is pricey but as soft as the paint is on these newer vehicles, it doesn't stand up to much as I've seen too many front ends on the K2s that the paint has "blistered" off from small rock chips so I assume the T1 would be the same. I had a black color-matched 900 series truck and it got sand blasted at a mere 4,000 miles due to a semi drifting off into the shoulder on a 2-lane road I was traveling on. My paint never "blistered" but all the white specks made me invest in the Xpel for my black K2. I've been caught behind a few semis which have pitted my windshield but all my paint still looks great. The self-healing property of the Xpel does work as I had spots visible in the film immediately after getting caught in those situations but after a couple days, they disappeared. The warranty that comes with the Xpel will replace the film if it becomes majorly damaged.

I live in a rural area so the roads I regularly travel on are 2-lane and have more fine to medium gravel on them so I had Xpel installed on the full front end including the grille, lights, full front fenders, larger hood protection along with the a-pillars, roof, mirrors, and rocker panels on my 2016 Silverado at 7,800 miles. It helps hide the few blemishes that I had already obtained and my pickup looks better than my brothers white 2018 Sierra which has substantial chips. Again, it is pricey but the protection is amazing and I will do it again for my next vehicle if it has a painted bumper/front end. Also, with how much these cost nowadays, I wanted to keep mine looking as good as possible for as long as possible as I will have my K2 for the long haul which is why I also invested in paint correction and ceramic coating.

Regarding the brush guard, I'm a no-go as I personally don't like them but it's your pickup.

quicksilverc5 · May 10, 2019

You can order the pieces from Invisiblemask and do it yourself. you can order just what you want. The hood cover is pretty straight forward and they provide the installation tools as well.

L86 All Terrain · May 10, 2019

Here is another option for a little more protection but cheaper than Xpel/3M. https://exclusivedetail.com/ceramic-coating-for-cars/

XPEL · May 22, 2019

Snuff,

We may be a bit bias, but we vote XPEL all the way. Brush guards won't protect against rock chips and scratches like a clear bra would. Just like a clear bra won't protect against certain things like a brush guard would. The Silverado is in the top 5 of our most protected vehicles in the country. Fellow Silverado owners like yourself see the need for protection and are getting it. The other benefit of the XPEL is that it's much easier to clean than your paint due to the films low surface energy. This means that bug guts and bird droppings will come off much easier. Win win.

Let us know if we can answer any questions or help in any way.