@$%* PINSTRIPES!

I started by debadging and got most of the residue off. I showed my buddy who is a very good local detailer what was left and he said no problem. It was time to polish, clay bar and re-wax anyway. Before my appointment I decided to strip the pinstripes since he was going to do all that anyway. I tried EVERYTHING short of the 3m wheel....what a PITA! Once I got a portion off, it appeared the paint was darker underneath. Great! I stopped and decided to wait. I just got back from dropping it off. He said he would try to address the area that has already been stripped of stripes and see if he could get it cleaned up and back to the same color. If he can, I told him I would pay him to get the rest off. I have NEVER had this much trouble with removing badges and pinstripes before...what does Toyota use for adhesive?!?! Hopefully he can get it done or I will be looking at replacing a pinstripe on once quarter panel At least the rest of the truck will look great! OK, rant over, carry on!

 

You'll need a heat gun to get the plastic stripes soft and pliable enough to peel off. The paint underneath is a different color because the tape is U.V. blocking.

 

Agreed!

 

if theres pinstriping its aftermarket so nothing to do with toyota.

seems to be something the used car lots or i guess some dealers install.

 

I have seen new trucks at the dealer with pinstriping...maybe some of them do it at the dealer level

 

I took the badges off my truck within a few months of owning It and it really wasn't that hard. Getting that damn Leer sticker off my back window was a whole different story.

 

My carfax shows the original owner had the truck pinstriped thru the dealer shortly after purchase. One of the first things I was going to do to it was remove them. Then I realized they are painted on after I brought it home. They even have the toyota logo incororated into the pinstripe, one on each front door. It kind of stinks because I think it would look better without them, but I can live with it.

 

I took all mine off at the dealership, with 6 sales guys staring at me lol. The earlier the better. That way the glue won't have time to set in

 

Best time to take them off is mid day while the sun is out and hot. I just took mine off. they were on since 05 when I first bought the truck. Once you get them off, wipe it down with some cleaning solution and a micro fiber rag. you'll be gtg.

 

lol, that would have been entertaining to watch

 

Mine came with the pinstripes as well but, with my luck, if I attempted to take them off I'd probably end up at an autobody shop to repair the damage I cause trying to get them off.

 

Well my truck was supposed to be ready around 3. I told him if they needed to keep it overnight, no problem but call me if the stripes poses a problem. No news is good news! I just don't know if I am going to write that check tomorrow!

 

Heat gun is a must. The residue comes off easily with WD40. Had to go through the process when replacing my TRD OR bedside decal with the TMG one.

 

Whole pinstripe removal project is a complete FAIL! I now have a beautifully polished and waxed speedway blue taco with a partial pinstripe on the front passenger side fender...te remainder is a much darker shade of blue. I am glad I stopped when I did...guess I will try and find a matching pinstripe (good luck with that) or live with it. This is why I have always bought white trucks. I just couldn't pass the deal on this one though, regardless of color. First "mod" I have regretted starting since I did the spacer lift in my old 4runner. Oh well...live and learn!

 

I thought this thread was gonna be different before I clicked. get some of these pin stripes you won't notice the faded paint.

Jk...
Eventually it'll even out, and a nice polish and wax job will even make it less noticeable.

 

Why not peel the rest of the pinstriping and think of the non-faded paint as a sort of "ghost" pinstripe?

 

Haha had the same thought in my mind! I was ready to put some of my strips up too

 

Yeah I have some of those "Texas pinstripes" also! I would strip them all but they are a BI$CH! I may have a body shop take a look but I'm thinking I'm screwed. I was going to try a 3m pinstripe remover but read mixed reviews. Who knows!

 

Looks like it's time for a full body LineX coat! I'm just waiting for an excuse to do that.

I'm going to try to do the full wash/wax/seal/protect thing as laid out in the auto detailing thread this weekend, depending on how that goes I might be starting my LineX savings account up a bit early.

 

About how much does the line x run?