I've always had chrome bumpers but I bought a leftover 2024 and it came with painted bumpers. During the purchase I figured no big deal and I'll just have clear protection film applied for a couple hundred dollars. Now I find out that local shops charge $1,000 plus to install PPF on my bumpers! This is just the two bumpers themselves - nothing else. I do quite a bit of freeway driving and am thinking that at a minimum I should get the front bumper done, but maybe the paint on the bumpers is tougher that I'm thinking?
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If you have painted bumpers, did you have paint protection (PPF) done?
- Thread starter roegs
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sstoner911
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no, hasnt been an issue without it.
I had my 22 Ram 1500 Laramie GT edition done in Xpel that was supposed to be self healing. Think it cost $400 for just the front bumper alone. I absolutely never tailgate anyone but still ended up with chips in the Xpel which really didn’t self heal. When the film gets any kind of nick in it, it looks like crap. I decided after that I would never spend the money on that again. Damn if you do and damn if you don’t. The paint does suck on them and they chip pretty easy. I currently have a 22 Ram 2500 diesel same granite crystal color that yes has chips in the bumper from a truck on the hiway dumping stones out all over the place. As good as they look, chrome bumpers are the only ones that will stand up to any type of stone or salt abuse.
bluebeast1562
New Member
No bumper protection on my 24 with painted bumpers, have some chips, ordered touch up paint but it is on backorder for God knows how long.
Was just thinking about the issue with others seems like I am not alone with chipping front bumpers.
Was just thinking about the issue with others seems like I am not alone with chipping front bumpers.
Yep, you can't win. I've done PPF on our painted front vehicles since '99. PPF ends up looking bad over time as well.
CdnHO
Well-Known Member
I have 24K on the truck and now have several chips. In hindsight I would have PPF installed. Just on the bumper would not have been too expensive. That and the leading surface of the dually fenders. I gave up touching them all up except if down to the metal.
Thats exactly what I was thinking when I bought this truck. Then I find out its in the $500 range to have it covered (just the front bumper). I've owned quite a few trucks over the years and have always ordered them with chrome bumpers. I bought this one off the lot and as with most trucks now, it had painted bumpers.
56ram2500
Well-Known Member
You can always buy some 3M film and do it your self..Thats exactly what I was thinking when I bought this truck. Then I find out its in the $500 range to have it covered (just the front bumper). I've owned quite a few trucks over the years and have always ordered them with chrome bumpers. I bought this one off the lot and as with most trucks now, it had painted bumpers.
I thought about that and checked into a couple sites that sell the film pre-cut. They rate installations from easy to very difficult. For some reason our ram bumpers are rated difficult. That along with a relatively high price for the pre-cut film steered me from trying DIY.
Gadgetech
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Having installed PPF myself on a couple motorcycles, I pay the man for my trucks. Especially with white paint, you’re going to see every spec of dust that gets under it during install.
If you do it yourself, have patience, a good SLIP (Johnson’s baby shampoo and water), a way to squeegee it and a heat source to massage it.
If you do it yourself, have patience, a good SLIP (Johnson’s baby shampoo and water), a way to squeegee it and a heat source to massage it.