Offroad car paint protection: tyvek?

[ErichFromm]

This may seem a little odd but wondering if anyone has experimented with ways of protecting car surfaces while driving off road. Not bar protection but surface covers...

I've a subaru forester and have already accumulated a bunch of scratches on the paintwork from branches and the like. Was thinking if i had a few strips of tyvek that i could cut to shape and then wedge into doors plus affix magnets i could protect myself a bit.

Anyone pursued anything like this?

[RonK]

It's an industry, you can buy paint protection film, also known as helicopter tape or rhino tape from auto accessory shops like Supercheap, Autobarn, lots of paint protection specialty stores or on the web or eBay.

Google paint protection film and you'll get a truckload of hits.

Search YouTube for information on installation. You'll find very good guides on application technique..

[ErichFromm]

Thanks. But that's the more permanent and expensive version. I'm looking for a temporary solution, something i can take off after back on paved roads. Thought tyvek would be a good cheap material for that, perhaps could use tape to affix to body...

[robbieb]

Would think any temporary covering would still likely scratch your clear coat if you get any dirt behind it or if the surface is already dirty.
I'm no expert on Tyvek either, but would it be strong enough not to tear out when encountering sticks that are strong enough to scratch your paint?

[Strider]

Buy a car cover and cut holes for the windows?

[GPSGuided]

For the bush, you'll really need the thick stuff (clear film) and they are not temporary. Cheap thin films = useless I'd say. I would also be reluctant to use Tyvek with magnets too. Any dirt that gets behind would scratch up even more.

Get thick stick on clear film and apply to the panels that you are concerned with. Over time all films will age and yellow, hence need for replacement. Worse, may leave the original paintwork in 2 tones (covered vs uncovered areas). Those sold and applied by the specialty shops are of very good quality but expensive.

[photohiker]

Just get it buffed and polished every year or so.

It's a car, not a Rembrandt

[robbieb]

Or buy a cheap 4WD for bush bashing and don't worry about it

[ErichFromm]

Yes. That would be the ideal: a spare car for offroad, but funds don't allow. Over time I'll probably stop caring but the subaru is still relatively new so each scratch stings a little.

I started thinking about this because a colleague mentioned someone selling removable magnetized panels for cars at a 4wd show. Only downside is it costs $2k. I started wondering if there was a cheaper diy approach.

At worst i could find a strong material ans tape it on
Not pretty but could work and allow me to drive on trails with less worry.....

[Gadgetgeek]

I can't really see how a stuck on cover is going to protect all that much. Sounds reasonable in theory, but if you are an end user, is it really worth the trouble? better off saving the funds for real damage, or a good cut and re-coat before selling it.

[Bill P]

Hi Erich,

i have previously had some some large magnetic 'signs' made up for the sides my work/private car which , despite their purpose provided very good protection against ' offroad pinstripes,'


Regards

Bill P

[Avatar]

Life is Tragic.
Consider your vehicle is now bush baptised and has true grit character.
Most vehicles devalue several $ 000 as soon as you drive them out of the showroom.
With the scratches you've accumulated so far, drop another couple of $ 000.
A few more now won't make any difference.
It's impossible to stop getting door bangs if you ever park at a supermarket.
And it can get keyed on the street.

Financially, you may be better off now keeping that vehicle a long time since it has undergone accelerated depreciation.
Anyway, the next new vehicle will be subject to scratches.

The cost of a respray is the same what ever further scratches you inflict on it and may not exceed the cost of those protective panels.
It's not that hard to rationalise this stuff - just enjoy the bush since that seems to be your priority.

[Giddy_up]

Just walk [WINKING FACE]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GPSGuided]

Go and buy some vinyl car wrap and do the lower panels yourself. Good enough for minor scratches.

[ErichFromm]

Hi Erich,

i have previously had some some large magnetic 'signs' made up for the sides my work/private car which , despite their purpose provided very good protection against ' offroad pinstripes,'

P

This sounds exactly what my colleague spoke of. Sounds like they work too....

I know scratches are unavoidable - but nothing wrong exploring possible cheap diy ways of managing them.

[ErichFromm]

Still more expensive than I was considering - but even something like this would surely reduce the majority of scratches:

https://magnet.com.au/magnetic-sheeting-red-620mm-x-0-8mm-per-metre-sheet.html?gclid=CNO5sJiQsc8CFYwJvAodBgMJ6Q

Even cheaper on ebay.

[GPSGuided]

Magnetic signs better be well cleaned. Or it'll scratch underneath.

[Bill P]

Erich that link looks good. That magnetic film is thin enough to mould to the body contours better that the heavier stuff i had. I might get some for my new car!

Another idea i have had for this issue is to attach a thin high tensile cable each side from the lower front guard up to the front roof rack. The idea is the cables cut through or deflect the branches and sticks before they can decorate the vehicle sides. Ive seen that done on a landrover somewhere, not sure if it is effective though. Might have been more about 4wd gungho looks. It would be difficult to obtain strong low mounting points on the front of a Subaru though.

I find the the sound of branches scraping along a vehicle sides worse than fingernails on blackboard.

Bill P

[Moondog55]

I suppose a car bra is more money than you wish to spend?

[Bill P]

I think Its the beamier sides of a car which tend to cop most of the bush scrapings . Sometimes the roof.

Moondog, I've only seen car bras on high powered highway tail gaters. That's not you, is it?

Bill P

[ErichFromm]

I suppose a car bra is more money than you wish to spend?

Yes. I looked at cheap ones on ebay but even those weren't so cheap. They only protect the front grill though (and quite well from what I've heard). I went to bunnings recently and they had clear plastic sheets on rolls that would protect fairly well. But again, as others have raised, if dirt got between it could cause abrasion...a layer of soft material in between could remedy that but then it's getting more complicated than it's worth...