Is PPF worth it?

[cc1999]

Had XPEL Ultimate PPF and Nano ceramic window film installed by Wichita Clear Bra who had also done my F150 back in 2021. Nice day for it, for Winter in Kansas.

The PPF covers the full hood, front fenders, Ruby Red painted grill, lights, fog lights, skull caps, and the area behind the cab rearward to the rear wheel well opening, then up to just under the fuel fill door, both sides same level, and wrapped around the bed between the bed and the cab. Neatly trimmed around the license plate bumper plugs.

The window film includes the windshield.

While there the Tech asked if I wanted the straight black plastic parts of the grill done less the black grid which would be really hard to do, for an additional $250. Sure.

8 hours of installation time, which also included a prewash by hand and clay bar. Total cost $3,746.38 w/ tax.

These guys are really good at what they do. IMO you can get great PPF and ceramic film at many places, but it is the installer that makes the difference. In March or April, I will have them put on a four-year XPEL ceramic coating over the entire truck, windows, wheels.

BTW, the white blob on the truck hood is not bird poop; it is the Internet antenna on my garage reflecting off the PPF.

Looks like it all turned out great!
Very sharp looking truck!

Looks like those tag plugs did the trick.
Hides those holes really well.

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[Onceaneagle]

Simple to me, it's a truck. If you are worried about trade in, rare is it that it will change the value with normal dints dings and small chips. All of which the dealer already does repairs on for most cars and trucks. If I was driving a 100K sports car that I wanted to keep 100% perfect, then a higher probability I would say yes, but to me it's a total waste of money on a truck or a normal value vehicle. Remember, even most mods on truckS are rarely going to bring you extra cash at trade in. Most dealers will tell you that your mods are personal, and most people don't see value, so you will not recoup your money, We never over allowed for common basic mods, lifts, or wheels on trucks. It was rare we looked at anything and added value to auction and resale pricing. So, a BIG NO FOR ME.

Your points are well taken, especially if a buyer expects extra money at trade-in, which is rarely if ever going to happen.

Actually, "trade-in" is not really what is happening, because the owner is in reality conducting a business transaction to sell their vehicle to a dealer. The dealer is a buyer who will take possession of the title, after negotiating an agreeable price to apply to a new sale while factoring in how much it will cost to make any repairs and what can be made off the resale. In my area, expected resale is about $5K above what a dealer offers.

And, as you say, there is something to be said about how you use or abuse your truck or car, and if it is worth it to the owner to protect it with PPF. Buying a vehicle is a large investment both in what is paid for it and to protect the appearance, that is for sure.

Still, vehicles are personal property, owned or leased (rented long-term), just like homes. Like homes, a vehicle's appearance reflects those who own them. The mandatory contract maintenance, mileage restrictions, and care expected for leased vehicles aside, as well as those business vehicles that can and often do get beat up on job sites also aside, it can be argued that just like your home, how the vehicle you personally own (after no LEIN holder and a clear title) looks on the outside reflects how people see you, and how your vehicle looks on the inside is how you see yourself. If you care or not about your home or your vehicle inside or out is often a personal choice.

Regarding mods and their resale value, I personally never expect to get anything from a dealer for what I do to my truck because, after all, it is MY truck. Same goes for factory options or optional packages because they are OEM mods ordered on vehicles that often generate a green window sticker or were dealer ordered that way with what the manufacturer is pushing, or the dealer knows will sell in a particular market. Those factory mods may have features that "are popular" now but do not appeal to the next buyer after it gets sold to a dealer. If you look up a VIN on various sites that price trade-in values based on the day's market prices, many once popular factory options are worthless (certain optional paint colors, for example) while others have some residual value.

Also not factored in at "trade-in" are what certain dealers, sales managers, and finance people often try to push at the original sale, such as extended warranties, prepaid oil changes and tire rotations, protection for rims, etc. Then there are those dealer-installed presale add ons like wheel locks, spare tire lock, running boards, pin code entry pads, window tinting (tinted to only darken, not ceramic window film to reflect UV and heat), door edge guards, fabric protection, paint sealant, spray in liners, and even, yes, paint protection film, all put on vehicles at dealerships to jack up the price. Most of that is worthless at trade-in or at least diminished in value. Dealers keep doing it because most buyers either refuse to say NO, or do not think about it at the time when caught up in the moment.

Obviously, as you correctly point out, PPF is not for every Ranger owner. But there is more than just getting nothing for it at resale to consider when thinking about doing it.

 

[waffleso_0]

Is your Ranger parked outside? If so, then use ceramic or rock lear..i think PPF is good for high end sports car that are low to the ground.

 

[Onceaneagle]

Is your Ranger parked outside? If so, then use ceramic or rock lear..i think PPF is good for high end sports car that are low to the ground.

Inside. Have two PPF war stories. After a severe wind storm that rattled our home and outbuildings, I went into my garage to find several empty plastic storage bins on the hood of my F150, bins shaken off of high shelves. Had a noticeable small tear in the PPF, but no paint damage or dent. Parked the truck outside and the PPF 99% healed, just a tiny spot left that you had to look hard to see. No call to the insurance company to fix the paint. Couple years later a gravel truck in front of me launched rocks at my vehicle and hit the front. Broke my front camera lens, noticeable hits on the PPF. No paint damage, PPF healed. New camera. I think it is worth it but I live in the country with dirt roads, blowing sand, and gravel.

 

[danmoochie]

Your points are well taken, especially if a buyer expects extra money at trade-in, which is rarely if ever going to happen.

Actually, "trade-in" is not really what is happening, because the owner is in reality conducting a business transaction to sell their vehicle to a dealer. The dealer is a buyer who will take possession of the title, after negotiating an agreeable price to apply to a new sale while factoring in how much it will cost to make any repairs and what can be made off the resale. In my area, expected resale is about $5K above what a dealer offers.

And, as you say, there is something to be said about how you use or abuse your truck or car, and if it is worth it to the owner to protect it with PPF. Buying a vehicle is a large investment both in what is paid for it and to protect the appearance, that is for sure.

Still, vehicles are personal property, owned or leased (rented long-term), just like homes. Like homes, a vehicle's appearance reflects those who own them. The mandatory contract maintenance, mileage restrictions, and care expected for leased vehicles aside, as well as those business vehicles that can and often do get beat up on job sites also aside, it can be argued that just like your home, how the vehicle you personally own (after no LEIN holder and a clear title) looks on the outside reflects how people see you, and how your vehicle looks on the inside is how you see yourself. If you care or not about your home or your vehicle inside or out is often a personal choice.

Regarding mods and their resale value, I personally never expect to get anything from a dealer for what I do to my truck because, after all, it is MY truck. Same goes for factory options or optional packages because they are OEM mods ordered on vehicles that often generate a green window sticker or were dealer ordered that way with what the manufacturer is pushing, or the dealer knows will sell in a particular market. Those factory mods may have features that "are popular" now but do not appeal to the next buyer after it gets sold to a dealer. If you look up a VIN on various sites that price trade-in values based on the day's market prices, many once popular factory options are worthless (certain optional paint colors, for example) while others have some residual value.

Also not factored in at "trade-in" are what certain dealers, sales managers, and finance people often try to push at the original sale, such as extended warranties, prepaid oil changes and tire rotations, protection for rims, etc. Then there are those dealer-installed presale add ons like wheel locks, spare tire lock, running boards, pin code entry pads, window tinting (tinted to only darken, not ceramic window film to reflect UV and heat), door edge guards, fabric protection, paint sealant, spray in liners, and even, yes, paint protection film, all put on vehicles at dealerships to jack up the price. Most of that is worthless at trade-in or at least diminished in value. Dealers keep doing it because most buyers either refuse to say NO, or do not think about it at the time when caught up in the moment.

Obviously, as you correctly point out, PPF is not for every Ranger owner. But there is more than just getting nothing for it at resale to consider when thinking about doing it.

Spot on in most areas! As a prior Sale Manager for Ford, in our area what I stated is true to the letter. The days of thinking you can get 5k more reselling a trade, are long gone. In most cases its a grand or so on average after all said and done. In a lot of cases the used inventory is a lost leader. Years ago that was the money maker, but with all the online quotes and data any seller can tap, dealers lost the edge of raking someone over the barrel and low balling a trade.

 

[Aero98]

There are a few ways of looking at this:
1. Full PPF -- I'm guessing that quote you received was for the entire vehicle. Not recommended unless you have the $$ and plan on keeping the vehicle a long time.
2. Strategic PPF -- only place the PPF in the most prone locations (front and hood, and maybe rocker panels), saves you money and gives you peace of mind for the most damage prone areas.
3. None -- if you find knicks and scratches and it bothers you, have it professionally fixed/repainted. Likely a lot less than full PPF.

I did PPF on my corvette (A pillars forward). Being so low to the ground, I pick up a lot and I can say that I do see damage in the PPF, but it doesn't extend to the paint. So, for small items it totally lives up to the design.

I am not considering PPF for my RR. I am one to keep my vehicles a long time (don't plan on selling the vette and will probably put 10 years or more on the RR)

 

[momike]

Great discussion, thanks all.

I put a deposit on a partial PPF targeting what I'm guessing are the highest risk areas. Full front, doors to the level of the windows, and bed sides. No ceramic.

$3800. Installer presents their shop as high quality fastidious installers. STEK film.

I wasn't going to spend 10K+, pushing 20% of the new cost of the vehicle, especially for something with a limited lifespan. The rig is not that precious to me. I don't care that much about it's looks - it's a great truck but not a showpiece for me. And I also fully understand that this is not a suit of armor, it's protection against limited small impacts.

That said, I do live in a rural area, with literally 100% of my driving involving dirt roads, in the mountains with all kinds of crap on the paved roads and highways as well. Plus I plan to rally this thing. So, I feel it will be worth it for some peace of mind, since I truly don't know how long I'll hold on to this rig (a few years or until it's dead, no clue). I hope to combine the peace of mind with the acceptance that the truck is effing rad, but not precious.

My one unsettled thing is the line I'll have on the doors. I don't bother to wash my cars much as a general rule beyond periodically rinsing off the mag chloride, so maybe it won't be noticeable anyhow!

Anyhow, that's where I landed on this, FWIW.

Thoughts welcome.

 

[Onceaneagle]

PPF is a personal choice and not cheap. The installer makes a big difference. I found XPEL Ultimate does as advertised and saved my last truck from hood paint damage even when rocks flung off a gravel truck and broke my front camera lens. I live rural with paved and dirt roads in various condition. I never noticed dust on the PPF areas with lines like the mirrors but imagine that happens. I am going to ceramic coat the Ranger. XPEL has a four-year coat in my area for $1200. Requires an annual touch up at $250 but the shop throws in an interior detail.

 

[stemplar]

If my truck gets rashed up I will just get it repainted.

I like the logic here, but in reality this isn’t reasonable *for me*. Lots of swirl marks and light scratches look like crap but don’t threaten rust, and a good quality repaint is expensive and often not good as factory paint, so I don’t send my vehicle for a repaint when I get swirl marks. Ppf helps my vehicles look shiny and swirl-free for years and *to me* that’s worth the cost.

 

[cc1999]

No link but this is the quote from my XPEL installer, Wichita Clear Bra:

Wichita Clear Bra
Ford Ranger Protection Options
To be installed January 8, 2026

2025 Ford Ranger Lariat
PPF Full Front Package (Truck/SUV): $2,195.00
Install XPEL Ultimate PPF on: - Full Hood - Full Fenders - Full Bumper (excludes trim/splitter or aero kit) - Mirrors – Headlamps
Estimated duration: 8 hours

​

PPF Rear Impact: $150.00
Install XPEL Ultimate PPF on Rear Impact areas / front of rear wheels.
Estimated duration: 1 hour 30 mins

​

Tint Full - Sedan/Truck (XR - Ceramic): $590.00
Install window film on side and rear windows. 35% on Front two. Rear % to match as close as possible to front.
Estimated duration: 5 hours

​

Tint Windshield (XR - Ceramic): $300.00
Install XPEL window film on windshield. 70%
Estimated duration: 2 hours 30 mins

​

Subtotal $3,235.00
SEDCO tax (7.5%): $242.63

Total: $3477.63

Curious if you had by chance asked them what it cost to do the whole truck.
I am thinking of possibly going with a black truck for future project / build that I am working on and I really like the looks of that XPEL stealth PPF.
Pretty much the same exact way they made that Alpha 500 package at Long McArthur you were talking about the other day.

It is for sure not worth the $19K price tag they have on Alpha 500 pkg shown on this truck.
I am curious because the only part about the truck I that interest me is the XPEL Stealth wrap.
Just doing the math on the Wheels and tires and tune were easily under $5K for that and depending on what that wrap cost I just can't imagine it being more then another 5K tops.
Making the total pkg something that could be duplicated for around $10K.

 

[Onceaneagle]

Did not ask Wichita Clear Bra for a complete vehicle PPF quote. Dave's Detail in Wichita is quoting a full car using STEK-USA PPF at $6,999.00 + tax.

 

[Onceaneagle]

Yeah, one big wallet hit. LM has not sold that Black RR and just cut the price on the 2025 White RR by another $1K to $2K off MSRP. Wonder why that one has not sold? They had a whole bunch and they moved.

 

[Ron Quixote]

I’ve got full 4th gen 3M PPF on my JL. It cost $7,000. It’s a trail rig and would get a ton of pinstriping otherwise.

I’ve got strategic 4th gen 3M PPF on the Ranger. Partial hood. Partial fenders. Headlights. Partial doors. Rear fenders. $945.

 

[cc1999]

Yeah, one big wallet hit. LM has not sold that Black RR and just cut the price on the 2025 White RR by another $1K to $2K off MSRP. Wonder why that one has not sold? They had a whole bunch and they moved.

Yea it is still showing to be there.

I sent them a message inquiring about it.

Asked them if that was an in house pkg and if so could be tweaked a bit like putting the stock tires and wheels back on it and if so what would the price be then.

I have another one located that is same color no mods at all MSRP was near 60K on it and they were asking 55K plus some fees that seem to put it OTD at still under $56K.

The only part of that LM truck I am wanting is the truck itself with the Stealth wrap.
Which I am thinking I can get duplicated on that other truck and land somewhere around $60-62K.

There is by no means $18K worth of goodies added to that LM truck. It's probably a long shot.
I am probably getting a little bit ahead of myself anyway, since the core reason for this truck is my Godzilla build that I started working on earlier this week. The company doing the engine swaps said it would be 6 months out but needs to be a 24 or 25 model not a 26. So I started looking around to see what is out there and start piecing together what the total cost for the project might look like.

 

[Onceaneagle]

Yea it is still showing to be there.

I sent them a message inquiring about it.

Asked them if that was an in house pkg and if so could be tweaked a bit like putting the stock tires and wheels back on it and if so what would the price be then.

I have another one located that is same color no mods at all MSRP was near 60K on it and they were asking 55K plus some fees that seem to put it OTD at still under $56K.

The only part of that LM truck I am wanting is the truck itself with the Stealth wrap.
Which I am thinking I can get duplicated on that other truck and land somewhere around $60-62K.

There is by no means $18K worth of goodies added to that LM truck. It's probably a long shot.
I am probably getting a little bit ahead of myself anyway, since the core reason for this truck is my Godzilla build that I started working on earlier this week. The company doing the engine swaps said it would be 6 months out but needs to be a 24 or 25 model not a 26. So I started looking around to see what is out there and start piecing together what the total cost for the project might look like.

If you visit WCB to talk about what you want, they have a binder with a sample of every PPF shade, tint, etc. they carry. More options than I thought. Besides installing the Godzilla engine, what needs to be done to the drive train, axles, shocks, and transmission because of the added weight and horsepower?

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