Paint On Truck Scratches Easily

Triki_Dick · June 4, 2008

Now, I bought a pickup to use it as a pickup. I use 4wd atleast once a month, not because I need it but becuase I'd rather use it to not get stuck.

So, I had my pickup for a week, drove it down thorugh a field that had the trees cut off and I ran over a root, which jumped up and run a line down the side of the truck (I have GM big steps on the side). Well, it's put a nice scratch all way down the truck, pretty deep too.

A couple of weeks later, I lean't up against the truck to get something out of bed and some dirty on me but a swirl in the bed.

A couple of weeks later I was driving down a path and a little stick sticking out the tree touched the truck, it was tiny and I never thought about it so I kept trucking. Got out and another pretty scratch on the bed.

Basically my $36K looks like I drove it thought the woods now and I'm a little miffed. I don't know what to do, I've rubbing compound but the next step is wet sanding it and getting another coat of Clearcoat painted on.

I dont' care about de-valuing the truck, I'm gona have it a while, but in another year it's gona look like shit!

Is there anyone else with this issue? Am I the only one? How should I approach the dealer about this problem.

Basically, I'm just disappointed that I can scratch this truck as easily as I can. It's really starting to look like shit.

Kanima · June 4, 2008

Its not the truck of the 96 era for sure. I doubt the dealership will help at all. I had to get a buffer kit just to get out the factory swirls out of my black. The paint is thin as hell, orange peeled and the clear is thin. Too be honest I wish I would have gotten a white truck. If I would have paid a little more attention to the trucks with dark colors I would have but that is my on fault. I was tempted to getting it painted but there at not many paint shops that will remove everything to paint. Most just tape over stuff and that looks like sheet IMO.

robertbick · June 4, 2008

Basically my $36K looks like I drove it thought the woods now and I'm a little miffed.

Well, you did say that you drove it through a field and along a treed path... not much different then driving through the woods.

It's not just GM making cars with thin paint layers... they all do it now. Everything is being made cheaper & cheaper or you wind up getting less & less for the same price.

95Sierra2500 · June 4, 2008

Basically my $36K looks like I drove it thought the woods now and I'm a little miffed.

Well, you did say that you drove it through a field and along a treed path... not much different then driving through the woods.

It's not just GM making cars with thin paint layers... they all do it now. Everything is being made cheaper & cheaper or you wind up getting less & less for the same price.

Or more appropriately, less and less for an ever increasing price.

Triki_Dick · June 4, 2008

You never know until you try.

I don't want to paint the truck, heck no, but if I can find some clear coat that's tough as hell I would't mind putting some of that shit on there.

unit731 · June 4, 2008

2008 GMC Sierra Regular Cab Long Bed 4x4

I, too, am surprised at how easily the paint scratches - as compared to my 1990.

I meticulously take care of my pride and joy. I never park near other vehicles. Always wash. Never loan out truck. Never been thru a car wash.

I have minor scratches where the truck has never touched anything. I live in a very rural area - so it ain't kids walking by nor neighbors. Nor animals.

Granted, my scratches are hard to see by most from a distance. But when I do wash truck - I SEE THEM !

Do I sense a Ford F150 for my next truck?

But then again, my 1990 Chevrolet 1500 was 18 years old before I sold it.

asilverblazer · June 4, 2008

Mine scratches very easily. I kept my '99 scratch free and figured tis one would be the same.

slimjim2525 · June 4, 2008

Mine has scraches in it that i have no idea where they came from.

peteking · June 4, 2008

Yeah mine has patches of swirl marks around the body and a few scratches, even though I am meticulous in my washing habits. Modern factory paint sucks...from any car maker. It's the same philosophy as with other vehicle components. If you want better shocks, go buy a set of Bilsteins. If you want better paint, visit a shop. Sad but true.

VMax2007 · June 4, 2008

I am beginning to think either I got really lucky and got a "freak"...or...The Auto Butler paint protection my dealer sold me for $99 when I bought my truck is really as good as they said it was. I was skeptical and was no way going to pay $499 for it, but for $99 I figured what the heck. My paint is still flawless after 15 months and a LONG MN winter of salt and slush....AND I used the full-serve, non-touchfree car washes alll winter long.

It doesn't make any claims to protect against scratching, only contaminants and UV damage, but who knows?

www.autobutler.com

June 4, 2008

I'm glad i have white, luckily i haven't noticed any paint issues, i'd rather have a paint issue than engine problems that the 5.4 fords have. My boss has went through hell with his cam phasers on his truck.

punmax · June 4, 2008

I can scratch my paint using my fingernails..

Bostonsfavson · June 4, 2008

The dealer won't be able to help you out Richard. Automotive paint today is much more "eco-friendly" than in the past. That is to say, many harmful ingredients are no longer used. The problem is that many of those same ingredients are the ones that made the paint harder and more durable. It also seems (although I don't know for sure) that the paint is thinner than before. So that leaves us with weaker, thinner paint, which in turn leads to more scratching. The price of progress, I'm afraid.