Should I Paint My Tacoma? Need Advice

Hey everyone!

I have a white 05 Tacoma TRD Sport. I try my best to keep it in good shape. But, the past couple years I've started having problems with the paint. It's dried out and flaking off to where I can now see the metal in some spots. This is happening in many small spots all over my truck and I'm worried it will start to rust soon.

I've considered having it spot painted, but the paint is so dry I think it will just start again. Also, the amount of spots that would have to be done I think may cost just as much, if not more, than a full paint job. But I don't know if I can bring myself to spend 2k or more on this because there are other areas in my life that are more important.

I've thought about doing the whole truck myself in a bedliner, which I really like the look of and of course the durability.

In the end, I just want to take care of my truck. However, I don't have a substantial amount of money I can just throw out on a paint job.

I'd like some outside advice from you all! What would you do in my situation?

 

Typical shit Toyota paint from that era. All three of mine (below) have done the same thing, particularly the white '06. Wrap it or repaint it.

 

A paint job for 2000 is going to be bad news. Look at a vinyl wrap for the truck maybe close to the same color as you wouldn’t be worried about the door jambs not matching.

 

First of all...get that blasphemy out of here!

#TacomaIsLife

 

I too would be concerned over the integrity of a 2k repaint. (I do autobody paint). A wrap would be pricey, but less than a respray.
Is truck bedliner spray something you would consider?

 

Bed liner spray would forever align you with @kuffer14 ...

You could learn a new skill and wrap it yourself .

Check out @TacoZim ’s rescue build
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacozims-long-travel-voodoo-blue-rescue6-build-thread.505823/

 

wrap

 

Yo guys he's just trying to get a respray- for $2k that should be plenty, it's not like he's doing a full paint job with prep here. I did a respray for my sister's accord for $900, turned out great and has held up for the past 3 years like new.

OP shop around you could probably get it done for $1k

 

I've been getting chips on mine as well. I've been waxing and cleaning it a little more frequently. I would like to get it wrapped to prevent it from getting to bad. My concern is that I have read wraps only hold up for about 5yrs.

 

That's a tough predicament to be in. Vehicles really need to be washed and waxed (or sealed/coated) regularly in order for the paint to stay in good shape - unfortunately it's too late for that now.

As mentioned by the OP, a $2000 paint job is most likely going to be garbage. To do it right all trim, moldings...etc needs to be removed, bumpers removed and painted separately...etc. Typically an OEM quality paint job is going to be $3000-6000 depending on the shop, location...etc.

I'd shy away from a wrap as well. A professional job will most likely run your thousands and they don't last forever, you'll get a few years and then it should be removed. But, more importantly I think it's a bad idea in your case because you'll see the chipped paint underneath the vinyl since uneven surfaces below will transmit through the vinyl. Plus, if the paint is chipping/flaking then you won't have a good surface to adhere to and when you remove it you'll likely pull off more paint with it.

Sounds to me like your options are either get a cheap paint job if all you're concerned about is rust and that the car looks good from 10-15' or bite the bullet and pay for a nice paint job.

 

Www.monstaliner.com

DIY one panel at a time.

Read details and see results of others on the site.

 

39 COLORS AVAILABLE!!!

I'll be signing up tomorrow

 

Bedliner in your choice of color.

 

Thank you all for your input and insight. It looks like there's not a whole lot of options. New paint is far too expensive and a wrap is too temporary. I think I will probably end up going with a bedliner over the entire truck... which honestly I think I prefer anyway. I'll just have to make sure I do it right.

I'm not normally afraid of DIY projects, but that kind of makes me nervous. But... what's the worst that could happen

 

Maybe find a newer shop that needs to show off their quality of work. You put in some sweat equity with them and they can use your truck as advertising. You have put there cards like a mad man etc. win win, never hurts to ask.

 

You could buy some supplies to sand the truck and bondo and dents in it as well which may save you some money. Especially if you disassemble everything and have a friend tow your truck to the paint shop.

Then you can spend $2k and end up with a superior end result.

 

Best of luck to you! I know there are plenty of roll on applications out there but a couple years back I found that Wagner started making a sprayer specifically for bedliner type products: https://www.wagnerspraytech.com/products/paint-sprayers/motocoat-complete-auto-paint-sprayer/ In a situation like yours it might be well worth the cost even if it's only used for this one project. I imagine you could get much smoother looking application with a sprayer compared to a roller - much better for nooks and crannies too.

 

How does a "respray" differ from a complete new paint job with prep?

 

No idea man I just took it to the body shop and they made it happen. I am assuming they prep the areas that need to be painted and paint them/blend the new paint.

 

Well, I don't think that would work on OP's 14 year old truck. It ain't happening for $900.