XPEL PPF install on my 25 Marsh Gray Ranger Raptor

[Patriot1]

I see you also own a 4Runner TRD Pro, great color!! I also own a 2020 TRD Pro and it’s a keeper. I had XPEL installed on it as well. Not the entire truck as they no longer have a pattern for the doors. I did have the entire front done and the rear tail gate. Big fan of XPEL, its all about the install and the installer. Love the 5.7 V8.

Sponsored

 

[ScoMay23]

I see you also own a 4Runner TRD Pro, great color!! I also own a 2020 TRD Pro and it’s a keeper. I had XPEL installed on it as well. Not the entire truck as they no longer have a pattern for the doors. I did have the entire front done and the rear tail gate. Big fan of XPEL, its all about the install and the installer. Love the 5.7 V8.

Yep, love the sound of a V8. The Toyota has a hybrid 4 and the sound is almost embarrassing. Traded in my Ram 1500 Rebel with a V8 Hemi to get my RR. I noticed the dealership had immediately sold that beast! Loved that truck!

It occurred to me that my PPF is STEK. Similar to XPEL in that it has a 10-year warranty, but I believe it has ceramic impregnated into the outer layer thereby making ceramic coating unnecessary- but I am not totally sure on that. Made me wonder if the Boost product in my case would be unnecessary or possibly even harmful to a different manufacturer’s product.

Any opinion on that? Are there any warnings like that on the BOOST label?

 

[Patriot1]

Yep, love the sound of a V8. The Toyota has a hybrid 4 and the sound is almost embarrassing. Traded in my Ram 1500 Rebel with a V8 Hemi to get my RR. I noticed the dealership had immediately sold that beast! Loved that truck!

It occurred to me that my PPF is STEK. Similar to XPEL in that it has a 10-year warranty, but I believe it has ceramic impregnated into the outer layer thereby making ceramic coating unnecessary- but I am not totally sure on that. Made me wonder if the Boost product in my case would be unnecessary or possibly even harmful to a different manufacturer’s product.

Any opinion on that? Are there any warnings like that on the BOOST label?

Not sure if Boost would harm STEK, I would check with your installer. STEK may even have a similar product that they recommend. I do like using the Boost product after every second hand wash. It really keeps the XPEL PPF looking great. I just read the label and do not see any warnings about using it on other brand PPFs. My Tundra has factory installed PPF on the hood and mirror caps and I use Boost on these areas with no adverse effects. Water beads up, runs off and it really does make a super slick towel slide off finish. I also use Boost on our 2014 Honda Accord EXL, I really think it has really extended the life of the PPF. It still looks like the day we had it installed. No expert here, but I have had many vehicles over the years with XPEL installed and am sold on It. I always say it’s all about the install and installer.

 

[ScoMay23]

Appreciate the reply. And it is good to know that with reasonable care the film can easily last beyond 10 years!

Take care of that new RR and yourself!!

 

[Patriot1]

Installed these decals from Zicmoto.com - I like the fit and finish. I might install PPF over the decals to keep the UV off.

 

[whale]

I just bought a Ranger Raptor and was told by my PPF guy that they have to remove the decals and some of the badges. (The decals will not be reusable. The badges are reinstalled afterwards.) If you don’t remove them, you get air trapped under the film around the perimeter of each decal. Maybe others can do it, but he does not.

So I went for a RR that did not have the full $750 decal package - just the RAPTOR decals on the rear fender areas. I will replace them with aftermarket items.

I bought a pair of “RAPTOR” decals from Rocky Mountain Graphics and “RANGER” tailgate lettering from Amazon.

I was watching this thread to see if anyone had anything different to say about this question.

Well, I removed factory raptor rear fender decals thinking it would cleaner, but soon after I installed the Rocky Mt Graphics version(no PPF) and they look really good. The light grey outer edge is slimmer and a cleaner look,,, maybe less cartoonish.

 

[ScoMay23]

Well, I removed factory raptor rear fender decals thinking it would cleaner, but soon after I installed the Rocky Mt Graphics version(no PPF) and they look really good. The light grey outer edge is slimmer and a cleaner look,,, maybe less cartoonish.

Beautiful! Black with subtle gray border on a white truck ALWAYS looks great to me.

Any trouble installing them? How did you make sure they were placed precisely (horizontal and just the right distance from the fender end)?

I’m kind of worried about that…

 

[STEVE_K]

Damn... those 455hp stickers look good. That's a $1k upgrade I just might have to do.

 

[whale]

Beautiful! Black with subtle gray border on a white truck ALWAYS looks great to me.

Any trouble installing them? How did you make sure they were placed precisely (horizontal and just the right distance from the fender end)?

I’m kind of worried about that…

The placement it pretty easy because you have the character line just above, that helps you place it parallel, and you know to go almost to the end of the fender. So don't worry , and trust you eye, because the solution you spray on the fender allows you to adjust, if necessary.

 

[ScoMay23]

The placement it pretty easy because you have the character line just above, that helps you place it parallel, and you know to go almost to the end of the fender. So don't worry , and trust you eye, because the solution you spray on the fender allows you to adjust, if necessary.

Got it - thanks for the suggestions. I feel a lot better about it now!

 

[Raptor Family]

If I understood correctly, the OP had a complete PPF job done—very expensive. I had PPF installed only in high-chip prone areas: hood, rockers, door edge guards, fender flares, and painted parts of front bumper, backs of mirrors, etc. The first 10” leading edge of the hood (which has the factory decal on it) got PPF. The PPF laid down perfectly flat On both the edges and the embossed area of the decal—no air bubbles or anything visible. No matter which way you do PPF, one thing, I wish I knew before, is to PPF the inside of the door opening bottoms. Not the actual door sill (maybe those too—keep scratches off), but the recessed area below the sill and above the rocker (which I did PPF)—the area where the rubber door seal would touch. In one year, I don’t have any chips anywhere—except, I have chips in the paint on the outermost corner edge there on the passenger side just below the door sill. I am convinced it is from my wife dragging her heels across the paint trying to get in and out of the truck. Basically, apply PPF from the sill, all the way to the rocker.

My wife is extremely short and steps up on the running board, and kind of “hops” to the seat to get in. Even funnier to watch, is when she sticks her feet out the door and slides off the seat to get out. There are black shoe marks and a few chips on that rounded edge. I wish I would have had PPF applied there from the beginning. I already had my drivers side done after I saw the chips on passenger side, but I have to have all the chips fixed before PPF can be installed on passenger side.

Sponsored