Here's a quote I received from a dealer in my area. I would like to keep it around $500.00, so I'm leaning toward the 18" hood & fender kit and the upper bumper kit. Thoughts?

Hood, Fenders, Flares & Optional Mirrors (24” Kit P0559AQ-U)= $395.00 total
Hood, Fenders, Flares & Optional Mirrors (18” Kit, variation of P0559AQ-U)= $295.00 total
Hood, Fenders, Flares & Optional Mirrors (12” Kit, variation of P0559AQ-U)= $195.00 total
Xpel Mini Hood & Fender Kit- Leading Edge (P0559AW-U)= $150.00 total
Headlamps & Fog Lamps Kit (H0559-1-U)= $100.00 total
A-Pillars & Roof Impact Kit (P0559AU-U)= $150.00 total
LS & RS Upper Bumper- area surrounding Head Lamps (from Kit P0559AT-U)= $150.00 total

 

Click here for a link to Xpel, which shows what's available for our trucks. Be sure to click on "show with images". Keep in mind, the prices shown reflect buying directly from Xpel and installing it yourself. An authorized dealer can cut the material and control their own pricing. I hope the link works. First time doing that.

 

I got a quote from a somewhat local company (I'd have to drive about 45 minutes through the concrete jungle). They want to charge me $525 for the entire hood and bumpers. I was trying to ballpark it through emails. I plan on sending some pictures of my truck with the areas I want highlighted. Speaking of, anyone know a cheap/free Mac program I can use to do it?

I talked to an old man with a 15' Mustang yesterday and he had it done. I honestly wouldn't have known it was there had he not said something. He had the entire hood, front grille, and all 4 fenders and said it ran him $700 from the same company.

 

What happens after a larger rock dents the body or similar damage that the film cannot hinder? Seems to me your back to a repair via film removal/replacement? Thus it adds to the cost not helps?
I may do the front leading edge of the hood where most small chips happen or I may continue with a periodic touchup via a tiny artist brush and white paint, My recently sold truck was bought in mid 2009 and only a few tiny chips on that hood front and all easily touched up.
I don't get the notion of a full hood film job. Certain areas near wheels is also worthy of extra protection-I earlier mentioned New VW Beetles as one mfg that has OE film from the factory on fender areas that get gravel kick-ups. I know cause I had to buy it after repairs were made. It did show some as not thin and edges are noticeable.

 

Yea basically. But it costs nothing to remove so it will only cost you more money if you decide to replace it. Depending on the size of the rock, the film might even mitigate the damage to just a dent as opposed to a dent + paint damage.

 

With that question I could snowball into "what happens if you wreck into a tree? What happens if a meteorite falls on it?" All it does is preserve the paint and mitigates smaller rock chips. I believe getting it on the headlights would prevent the yellowing that occurs as well.

For me it's not a "should I press the red button or not press it" issue. I believe in the stuff, seen it work, so I'm gonna go for it. Just looking for a provider/installer for a decent price. The company I'm looking at makes most of their money from the vinyl graphics you see on company cars. Like radio stations and Army recruiters. They just also happen to do clear as well.

One thing that stood out to me was the woman asked me if I wanted clear, graphic, or a color change. Apparently I could change the color of my truck with a vinyl sheet. I guess thats how a lot of these guys do a camo two tone on their trucks. Never thought about it until she mentioned it.

 

I know the 3M quoted from the dealer has a lifetime warranty on it. If it gets dinged up from anything outside of an accident or crash, they fix it.

 

Now that's some rationale. Costs nothing to remove justifies installation cost or use?

Trees and meteorites aside my point was, and I stand by it, that a thin film of plastic is of no logical use in covering a whole hood, as compared to the frontal areas where rock chips are very common to occur.
No doubt the film is easily removed-I have done so. I can also say that you "buy it again" after pulling it off. It does not prevent heavier impacts than superficial impacts was my point!
" Mitigate the damage"-matters not if you are removing the film, making a common repair via grind out and repainting which is what you do with a "bigger rock" or a serious impact. I don't mean to be demeaning here but this is a silly argument-this big rock vs. common rock chips thing going on-and then we have it turned into an attack form space or hitting trees?
How about a reasonable discussion about plastic film?
The guy with obviously deeper pockets than me that covered his whole car hood had more $dinero$ than car/commonsense, IMO.
I ride MC's and it's popular lately to "vinyl" a gas tank on a bike. I've seen comments like how it protects the paint from this or that and how cool it looks,etc.. My previous MC covered some serious ground and the black "painted tank"! still looked great with no film. Many do it to "black out" a bike, 'going stealth" like the bomber their choice, not mine, as I'm into "conspicuity" when I ride, not trying for a Batman look.

Let car insurance fix the big dents? Meanwhile, touch up the little fellers with a fine tip artist brush.

 

Like golf ball hail on my CTS4 2 yrs ago? Another personal dent story: I had an aluminum hood MGB in the 60's that caught a truck lug nut on I-70. It hit the hood (big dent) then ricocheted and actually penetrated the W/S glass and landed in the car on the rear perch area that holds the folded top. Is that a film thing or an accident?
I live 1.5 miles from a rock quarry where many truckers are too damn lazy to use their bed covers (required by law,FWIW) and the loader guy there is also messy( also has a bad temperament,ask around ) and many leave with spillover out the back, tailgate top edge. I'm talking real world here and the rock sizes vary.
What size rock would they cover with their lifetime warranty?
Write it down, I'm a "non-believer" other than very specific spots on a vehicle.

 

Once you guys have it done, post some pics. Especially on that KR

Short of living next to a rock quarry, seems like it will work for most chips.