Invisible mask / Clear Bra install questions...

Hello all. I plan on getting a clear bra, invisible mask specifically, very soon and was wondering if anyone installed one on their Tacoma. I found a few threads on other vehicle forums, but didn't see any installs on the Tacoma specifically. On their site they offer both the 3M brand and their own Invisi-mask film. I'm leaning toward the 3M but was also considering their own. Is it really that difficult to put on our Tacoma's? It is MUCH cheaper if I do it myself.

Also, although I haven't thoroughly inspected my hood and fenders for rock chips, if there is any would that effect the fitment of the film? Would there be any bubbles underneath or water captured under there and cause damage? Anyone else put on a clear bra with chips already in place?

Thanks all in advance for any experiences. My apologies if this has already been asked and/or covered.

http://www.invisiblemask.com/site.html

 

My friend does clear bra for a living and only uses 3M simply for the fact that it is some of the best stuff you can get. He says a huge difference between the good and cheap crap is after time when you want to get it redone, the matter of it taking 6 hours or 45 minutes to remove. Cheap stuff will be a pain to get off. Plus 3m tends not to peel back or dry out. Just some things to think of. Oh, and one of his magic tricks with rock chips on white paint is to fill it with a white crayola crayon.

 

I've only ever used 3m...Never seen any other stuff.. I did have 3m once peel my paint off when I went to take it off. Well actually the kid discovered it and peeled some, it took some paint off at the edge of a panel. Just FYI. I still use it. That car was made in australia.. I can't speak to their quality.

 

Anyone else?

 

X2...I have it on the Taco and my wifes Honda Accord....I would not reccomend you attempt the install. I watched when they installed it....it can be a PIA. The stuff is tough as nails, infact I could not push a truck key through a piece scrap piece of it.

For the kit and install I paid $400.00, much cheaper than repainting the front of the truck in a few years. I use a product called Plexis to clean and polish the material it works great. Hope this helps.

 

Here are a couple pics of my '11, with 3M VentureShield on it, about two weeks old:





You can see the line a little clearer in the second one, but it's pretty unnoticeable. I had it put on the hood, front fenders, headlights, driving lights, and bumper. I have a SR5, so no white grille or side mirrors to do. Sunbusters here in Austin did it, and they have been in business for almost 20 years with a great rep. Was it cheap? Nope. But I had my last Toyota pickup for 15 years, hope to have this one as long, and want it looking good!

 

I have it on my Tacoma and car. I highly recommend it. I would not attempt to DIY. If you mess it up you have wasted the material and will have to buy more. It is not cheap.

 

I am a installer/ supplier and would not recommend you try to do it yourself. The film is very easy to ruin and It takes time to learn what you can and cant do with it.

With that said i would only use one of two products. 3M has been the best for years, but Avery has a new Nano film that everyone is raving about. I actually have Nano on my truck and its living up to the hype so far (3 months).

 

I am a DIYer and would recommend if you can only afford 1 or 2 kits, or aren't patient.. have someone else do it. They charge an arm and a leg, but it looks decent. I managed to get a couple on without much problem at all. Maybe I was lucky. My wife did her mini perfectly. I prefer to at least try everything my self even if i fail.. That installer guy isn't special. No offense. He watched a video and went to town on it. He has just done it more and gets his film at a better price than you. Having a nice clean work space and a second pair of hands is nice too.
Its not rocket science. There's no big background you have to have in chemistry and physics to make this happen. But if you're all thumbs and want the world to take care of you; It is hard enough where your first time is not likely, to be perfect, but very possible to be very passable if not perfect.
I use it on everything now... no problem once you get a feel for it, which you only get through trying. MASTER YOUR DOMAIN!

 

One thing that people forgot about the "clear bra" is that it's main purpose is to STOP chips and protect your paint.....and looks comes second to that. But alot of people worry about the looks first, and think that the clear bra will make their car look better.

If you have patience and are good with your hands and have money to waste on at least 2 kits, then go for it. It can get tricky depending on the kit/car.

 

I thought of installing myself, but read on many horror stories of bubbles, it being installed crooked, etc. I forked over the extra cash to have a pro do it. I couldn't be happier.

 

no arguments from me I agree 110%

 

Anyone put one on with a few chips already there?

 

I have a question. Is this something that covers only the front half of the truck or does it cover the whole truck? Also I'm looking at a black tacoma but my only hesitation is the swirls and light scratch marks it will get after washing it a couple of times and thats why white looks better in my case. Will putting this "clear bra" on eliminate the swirl marks and light scratches that i see on black cars and trucks in the sun light?

 

This can cover any parts of the truck you wish, it is all up to you how much $$ you want to spend. It could potentially cover your entire car if you really wanted. Most standard installations tend to cover the front end up to about 8 inches up the front hood.

The clear bra will prevent any further swirl makrs and light scratches. It will be slightly more visible on a dark car than a lighter colored car. It could potentially hide some of your existing swirl marks and scratches, but it's important to remember that Clear Bra is meant to prevent any further damage. It is not meant to cosmetically hide previous imperfections. If that is you main goal, this may not be the best product for you. Having said that, a good quality paint protection film will do miracles in terms of saving your paint.

 

I have an 08 black Tacoma with the clear bra. IMHO it is worth it. I had it installed. Mine came as a kit, the installer fed in the specs and the computer cut out all the pieces. The install took a couple of hours. The installer also did the mirrors and door edges. The complete front of the truck is covered including the front of the hood up to the scoop.

 

I have done a lot of clearbra on my mountain bikes and trucks. I have to say, I didn't think twice about paying someone to do the front of my truck. Working with a piece that large and with that many curves was more than I was willing to deal with. I know I could have done it, but didn't want to deal with it.

I did do smaller pieces myself...under the front license plate brackets, under the places where the mudflaps touch the truck, etc.

I paid dealer cost, $250, to have mine installed.

 

yes

 

This truck is easy as pie to do.. well.. I've always had problems with the mirrors.. I don't do em as a result.

Its flat and straight. No curves to speak of. If one was going to try to do their first .. Off hand, I can't think of an easier one. Easier than my old Box type XB.

Like I said, my wife managed a mini cooper S. Granted smaller pieces, but talk about curves.. and her arm span is only like 60 inches tops..

I think its easier to take out grills etc to do them .. its easier to be able to pull past what you're doing and trim rather than have the seam out in the open. I don't know what I did to stop getting bubbles, was a big problem on the first.. stopped being one lately. I actually bought graphics/tint/film application fluid as opposed to using baby shampoo.

Again, I'd rather eff it up and say I did it myself than say I paid some guy to do my work for me.

 

Any signs of rust or pitting under the clear bra where the chips are?