Another Diamond Black Crystal and Granite Crystal Metallic Paint Thread

[wyvern]

Thanks to the immense wisdom of many members of this forum I am soon going to be submitting a factory order for a 3500 HO Night Edition.

I am now at a point where I now have every detail of this build nailed down save for the color. It is the classic toss up between Diamond Black Crystal and Granite Crystal Metallic.

I've been to dealer lots in person with both color trucks and I really greatly enjoy them both. I know all of the downsides to owning a black painted vehicle, as all of my family's previous 2nd gen Dodges have been black trucks. The look just cannot be beat.

However, I love the look of the Granite Crystal Metallic, and being from the Granite State doesn't hurt either lol. I think I'm just looking to see if the late model years of these trucks have gotten any better in the paint quality department.

Either way, I plan to PPF the whole frontend of my truck, as I see it as a long term asset. If the quality and durability of these two colors is the same, then I'm in a tough spot to choose.

Thanks for all the continued outpouring of experience/wisdom. Appreciate you all.

 

[CdnHO]

I have had several black vehicles. They are gorgeous when they are clean. For about an hour. And I found stone chips show up more. Since you are doing PPF on the truck that might not apply to you. I gave up on black with this truck and the Granite Chrystal looks "cleaner" much longer. I will say that the paint job on this truck is nice.

 

[mountainears]

With all the black trucks in the family it sounds like it’s time for something a little different, but I’m biased.

I did the 10 mil XPEL PPF on the whole truck with a ceramic coating and it always cleans up nicely as it does get dirty quite a bit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wyvern]

With all the black trucks in the family it sounds like it’s time for something a little different, but I’m biased.

I did the 10 mil XPEL PPF on the whole truck with a ceramic coating and it always cleans up nicely as it does get dirty quite a bit.

Wow that is an absolutely gorgeous beast of a truck. If you don't mind my asking, how much did PPF'ing the entire rig run you? I would love to do this, but based on my research it'll be north of $7,000 in my area. Honestly if the PPF jobs were more affordable, I'd just grab the Diamond Black, PPF and ceramic coat it, and never look back.

 

[Roper46]

I prefer the Granite Crystal. This is the second Ram I have had with the Granite Crystal, the first Ram I ever owned was a 2020 Ram 2500, loved the truck and the electronics w the 12 inch screen. It had all the "Connected Services" as compared to my current Ram which has "Connected Services Deleted", i hate that.

But I needed a 3500 for my fifth wheel RV, was over the low payload on the 2500 with the Cummins. Other than the paint, the air suspension sold me on my 3500.

 

[mountainears]

Wow that is an absolutely gorgeous beast of a truck. If you don't mind my asking, how much did PPF'ing the entire rig run you? I would love to do this, but based on my research it'll be north of $7,000 in my area. Honestly if the PPF jobs were more affordable, I'd just grab the Diamond Black, PPF and ceramic coat it, and never look back.

It’s not cheap. But like you I see this as a long term truck for me. I’m in California, Sacramento area, the complete PPF (detail of course, ceramic after and on the wheels) and tint on all windows was just at $10k.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wyvern]

I prefer the Granite Crystal. This is the second Ram I have had with the Granite Crystal, the first Ram I ever owned was a 2020 Ram 2500, loved the truck and the electronics w the 12 inch screen. It had all the "Connected Services" as compared to my current Ram which has "Connected Services Deleted", i hate that.

But I needed a 3500 for my fifth wheel RV, was over the low payload on the 2500 with the Cummins. Other than the paint, the air suspension sold me on my 3500.

The Granite Crystal Metallic in your photo looks stunning. I haven't seen a photo capture how it looks in person until now. Seriously love your truck, man.

 

[phatboy64]

All my cars/trucks are/ have been black with the exception of two corvettes. Enzo Ferrari said there should only be three colors for cars….black, red or white….

i live in new England and it is a PIA keeping up with a black truck but it is worth it. Attached is my current 2023 Limited. I PPF the whole front, and all the way down the sides including the rockers (including the pinch weld). Ceramic coated the whole truck. If you think the Dimond black crystal looks good at the dealers what until you see it after it has been paint corrected and ceramic coated, it really pops. I don’t think you could go wrong either way…

 

[wyvern]

All my cars/trucks are/ have been black with the exception of two corvettes. Enzo Ferrari said there should only be three colors for cars….black, red or white….

i live in new England and it is a PIA keeping up with a black truck but it is worth it. Attached is my current 2023 Limited. I PPF the whole front, and all the way down the sides including the rockers (including the pinch weld). Ceramic coated the whole truck. If you think the Dimond black crystal looks good at the dealers what until you see it after it has been paint corrected and ceramic coated, it really pops. I don’t think you could go wrong either way…

Hey! Great to see a fellow New Englander on here. Being from the area myself, I dread winter with a black truck. However, I am also curious to know what you paid locally for the frontend PPF/ceramic coating. Thanks for the input!

 

[phatboy64]

Just sent you a PM with details.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

The granite is the better of the two colors in my opinion. I’m not a fan of metallic black but I’m a big fan of the granite.

I’m not up to date on color offerings but in 19 I got non-metallic black (px8), a low volume color.

 

[jebruns]

I like the black. My 18 2500 was black, and looked great. I went around a bit when ordering my 22. I liked the Patriot Blue a lot, but the wife's 21 Pacifica is already a color close to that. So went with the Diamond Black. I'm not a fan of any of the grey colors personally.

 

[phatboy64]

The Black Dimond Crystal on my 2023 RAM is very mild in terms of the metallic, the sun has to hit it the right way to see it. I have a 2021 Grand Cherokee L that is metallic and it is very noticeable compared to my RAM.

 

[phatboy64]

With all the black trucks in the family it sounds like it’s time for something a little different, but I’m biased.

I did the 10 mil XPEL PPF on the whole truck with a ceramic coating and it always cleans up nicely as it does get dirty quite a bit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have the same XPEL PPF on my truck. I also ran it down the sides, including the rockers all the way down to the bottom of the pinch weld. I ham having trouble finding a good set of mud flaps that will work with the 37"s and wheel combo so I am hoping that the PPF will protect the sides.

I see that you are not running mud flaps, how has that been working with rocks/debris getting kicked up? I l live part time in New England and am more concerned with the salt in the winter time.

 

[wyvern]

One of my use cases for this truck will be truck bed camping in the 8 ft bed. Most tents require that you tie them down over the wheel wells, so I'm thinking either way I'm going to want some level of PPF strategically on the rear bed. Torn, cause at that point the Diamond Black will be protected from the issues most seem to point to.

 

[Redfour5]

I have had several black vehicles. They are gorgeous when they are clean. For about an hour. And I found stone chips show up more. Since you are doing PPF on the truck that might not apply to you. I gave up on black with this truck and the Granite Chrystal looks "cleaner" much longer. I will say that the paint job on this truck is nice.

You stole my thunder. My wife has the granite crystal on a Jeep Cherokee Elite package. I must admit it is the most beautiful color I ever saw...within a half hour after thoroughly cleaning and washing and waxing it. But, alas, then you have to drive it and soon, very soon, its dirty and seemingly screaming to the world how dirty it is. And strangely my white 2015 1500 seemed to always look the same, washed, after a week and a rain, whatever... Now, my Billet Silver 2500? I was ambivalent but you take what you get when all the other boxes are checked on a dealer's lot and I love it. They tend to look good all the time unless covered in mud and even then it has a certain rugged look...

 

[wyvern]

You stole my thunder. My wife has the granite crystal on a Jeep Cherokee Elite package. I must admit it is the most beautiful color I ever saw...within a half hour after thoroughly cleaning and washing and waxing it. But, alas, then you have to drive it and soon, very soon, its dirty and seemingly screaming to the world how dirty it is. And strangely my white 2015 1500 seemed to always look the same, washed, after a week and a rain, whatever... Now, my Billet Silver 2500? I was ambivalent but you take what you get when all the other boxes are checked on a dealer's lot and I love it. They tend to look good all the time unless covered in mud and even then it has a certain rugged look...

Granite Crystal really looks amazing in person and in the sunshine. My only wish is that they would allow the Mountain Brown leather color with the Night Edition exterior styling package. I really love that combination, but sadly it's not possible.

 

[Redfour5]

I have the same XPEL PPF on my truck. I also ran it down the sides, including the rockers all the way down to the bottom of the pinch weld. I ham having trouble finding a good set of mud flaps that will work with the 37"s and wheel combo so I am hoping that the PPF will protect the sides.

I see that you are not running mud flaps, how has that been working with rocks/debris getting kicked up? I l live part time in New England and am more concerned with the salt in the winter time.

I really miss the Ramboxes I had on my 1500. I didn't really want them initially but they were on the Built to Serve I bought. Then I had them for a year on the 1500 and they were not available on the 2500 I got and I miss them a whole lot... I also miss the dual purpose tailgate never available on 2500's. It seemed sort of gimmicky when I first saw them, but I ended up really liking it as I could open it up like door and almost be able to reach to the back on the cab on a shortbed 1500. Ahh, but the 1500 sure couldn't compete towing...

 

[mountainears]

I have the same XPEL PPF on my truck. I also ran it down the sides, including the rockers all the way down to the bottom of the pinch weld. I ham having trouble finding a good set of mud flaps that will work with the 37"s and wheel combo so I am hoping that the PPF will protect the sides.

I see that you are not running mud flaps, how has that been working with rocks/debris getting kicked up? I l live part time in New England and am more concerned with the salt in the winter time.

Haven’t had any issues with rock/debris. I live in the foothills, my driveways are gravel and I hit quite a few gravel roads.

I think the 10 mil already saved me a ton. I put a dummy /training fire department standpipe right into the center of my passenger door. Backed right up along it and dragged it along the door for a few inches. Should have tore the crap out of the paint but instead just peeled up the XPEL and made a dent. Had the pointless dent guy fix the dent then rewrapped the door. Saved a repaint of my door.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[phatboy64]

Haven’t had any issues with rock/debris. I live in the foothills, my driveways are gravel and I hit quite a few gravel roads.

I think the 10 mil already saved me a ton. I put a dummy /training fire department standpipe right into the center of my passenger door. Backed right up along it and dragged it along the door for a few inches. Should have tore the crap out of the paint but instead just peeled up the XPEL and made a dent. Had the pointless dent guy fix the dent then rewrapped the door. Saved a repaint of my door.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow, that is a great real case scenario. I only when from the bottom on the pinch weld to the crease in the body panels (about 1/4 the wat up). Now I am thinking I should have gone all the way up...