Rock chips

I know this is incredibly subjective because who knows what size debris is striking the truck at what ever speed but it seems like it gets decent size rock chips easily. Especially on parts that aren’t getting hit straight on.

At the end of the day it is what it is, so who’s got the best solution? Do you just touch it up yourself or just have a pro do it?

Oh, and lastly, probably another subjective question but who’s had good luck with rock/bug deflectors?

 

I have a deflector to protect the leading edge of the hood and fenders. The southwest is so Sandy and dirty!

 

Right after purchase I took my sr5 for XPEL paint protection film on the front end and on partial hood to prevent rock chips.

While there I noticed they offer a paint correction option to fix scratches and chips.

Might want to look into that and find out what they charge for it.

No experience with deflectors.

 

I've noticed a few rock chips on the a-pillar and on the roof. Drives me batty. I just installed some @Lamin-x door edge guards which should help that area. Really easy install.

I'm debating adding more Lamin-x, where possible, but then I think I should do the whole front of the truck! So I don't know what the answer is. I have already touched up a few hits myself, but feel like I may be chasing a never-ending trail of rock chips over time and I'm not sure how that will look. It's too bad I love the truck so much.

Sorry no clear answer here, might be a little of my own work and then a full once over by a paint shop in the future. And/or maybe more Lamin-x and stone deflector on the hood.

 

I drive it and move on it’s a truck ..

 

Dr colorchip or whatever it’s called works fine for me to fix small rock chips. It happens, I’ve looked at some of that paint protection film, but doesn’t bother me enough to make the investment. No experience with deflectors.

 

I ignore the chips on the plastic parts and touch up with matching paint on the steel parts then move on with life.

 

Most of my chips happen on the lower bumper, so I rattle canned it. Easier to touch up too.

 

I got 5 chips on the windshield then got a hood deflector and worked until a bolt cracked the windshield in half.

 

I think the deflector helps to some degree but it's not a 100% cure.

 

Rock chips before cracking it in half is the correct order to do things

 

I gotta agree with this one .. Nothing is 100% sure.
Helping keep the bugs off? Absolutely helps. Small gravel bits .. I'm sure it helps to some degree .. That 1/2" nut that comes flying off the back of a big-rig and headed straight towards you? Duck n' cover.
I've had both positive and negative experiences with deflectors, on various rigs. Positive ... On some older rigs, where the deflectors were not 'Aerodynamic' ... Just 'Flat' shields bolted to the front of the hood (Think any 70's-80's to near 90's trucks) I'm sure it kept the windshield protected.
On the other hand my Dodge van .. Which I left in the winter once outside... (I live where there is brutal winters with a lot of snow)
I was on winter vaca and when I came back one year .. The snow/ice was piled up and then when it got warm enough it all slid off the roof and the deflector became an Ice Damn. When enough weight came about, it ripped the deflector off along with the wiper arms and totally destroyed the wiper-arm transmission. It was costly ..

 

Had the dealer do a simonize glass treatment to my 2020 back in march, so far so good no paint chips from stones being kicked up. Wish it was available back in the day for my gen1 tundra. The hood and sides were riddled with paint chips.

 

It all depends on your expectations. You will never touch it up to the point it's not visible, if that's Ok, then touch it up yourself. If you want a repair that's undetectable then take it to a professional.

As far as Dr Color Chip goes; I ordered a 1/2oz bottle of Dr. Color chip Silver Sky Metallic paint at $28 and it' didn't even come close to a match.
In fact, the GM Blade Silver touch-up paint for my C7 Corvette was a closer match so I ended up using that.

 

I have a local auto paint store make some perfectly matched paint by putting a camera onto the paint. The paint was used to touch up a few spots and I applied a few coats, built it up to where it's over the finish. Then I used 5000 grit to smooth it down. Then some clear touch up paint. Waited a few days and wet sanded it with 5000 grit and polished it again. It's 99% undetectable. Granted it on the lower bumped and not an issue but wanted to see if I could get it perfect, and it takes a few days to build the paint and let to let cure. If you take your time over a few days it really works well and the most important thing is to get the paint matched by a camera process. Any local auto paint store can do it
Typically it's the first thing I do when buying a new car is to get some touch up paint made. It's also cheaper than the auto parts dupli color crap that is always too dark.

 

Clear bra installed the first week I had her. Toyota sells touch up paint.

 

It’s true, it’s just a truck and move on. I’m super OCD about anything I own but at the end of the day if I ever sell my truck...it’s a Tacoma, rock chips or not it’s got the resale value we all like. I already had to replace my windshield at 10k miles and I’ve got a few chips, even one on my left rear window? Freaking stupid. I think my biggest concern is rust, I’m not terribly worried about the chip per se but I live half mile from the coast and everything gets fogged out and rusty here. To add insult to injury the sun absolutely beats everything too.

I think I’ll get a deflector and also try to fix a chip in one of the inconspicuous areas.

Clear bras are nice but they’re so freaking expensive.

 

And it sorta rhymes!