Lots of chips on front bumper - what to do?

[MilehighRam]

Ive got tons of chips on my front bumper; kinda looks like a few rounds of bird shot were unloaded on her. Im sure living in the Denver metro area and heading to the mountains doesnt help. Anyway, Im going to ceramic coat my truck somewhere over the next 6 weeks and wated to get your thoughts on what to do with it. have it repainted, fill in each chip with touch up paint or leave it as is? Im not wanting to do either of those first 2 options myself; not sure of the cost.

 

[ChiTownRamfan]

Chrome it!

 

[dajogejr]

Fill it in best you can, get it polished/rubbed out, then PPF put on it.
A quality tint/ppf shop should be able to fill it in, polish it out and cover it.
Ceramic coat will not prevent or help with chips…it’ll Only help keep it clean/easier to clean.

After seeing what 8 years and 140K Did to my 15 RAM, I had PPF put on the front of my truck and it’s already paying dividends as I too a nasty rock to the bumper, just a slight chip in the PPF as a result, zero to paint.

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

Fill it in best you can, get it polished/rubbed out, then PPF put on it.
A quality tint/ppf shop should be able to fill it in, polish it out and cover it.
Ceramic coat will not prevent or help with chips…it’ll Only help keep it clean/easier to clean.

After seeing what 8 years and 140K Did to my 15 RAM, I had PPF put on the front of my truck and it’s already paying dividends as I too a nasty rock to the bumper, just a slight chip in the PPF as a result, zero to paint.

This is the route to go!!!

 

[Willwork4truck]

I was too cheap to do the fancy paint treatments so I opted for a ceramic buffed wax when nearly new, then I get it redone every 6-9 months ($100). Still will chip some however its better than zippo.

For the OP, maybe find a body shop to respray your ft bumper (after prep) then after it cures go ahead with your coating.

 

[PurpleRT]

1) repaint, let the paint cure out then have PPF applied then ceramic coat over

2) fill the chips, polish then ppf, then ceramic coat over

Ceramic coatings aren’t going to stop the chips… PPF will help that

 

[MilehighRam]

Ill see if theres a local shop that can fill or repaint the chipped areas. I'll definitely ppf after fixing.

 

[PM-Performance]

The only answer is to fill them or repaint the bumper
PPF will help to prevent in the future. Ceramic does absolutely nothing for protection. It only makes cleaning easier.

 

[CSPCRX]

I have had great luck with Dr. ColorChip. When I purchased my Audi S4, I was the second owner, and it had some ships across the nose, hood, and right above the windshield. I used Dr. ColorChip, then had a PPF put on the front end and had it ceramic coated. Unless you searched inches from the pained surface you could not tell where the chips were. Some I could never find.

 

[uncc_99xj]

PPF is a must. I did it on my wife's Jeep and my Ram both within a day or two of buying each vehicle. I'll never have something again without it on there.

For what it's worth, you can wax/ceramic coat/whatever directly on the PPF once it's applied and had a few days to cure.

 

[Biga]

I've learned my lessen to get PPF right after purchasing a vehicle with a painted steel bumper, as they chip like crazy no matter what brand. Metal does not flex like plastic does when a rock hits it at 70 mph so the paint chips off.

 

[kapinallinen2]

What about getting it coated with bed-liner?

 

[1923bob]

Ive got tons of chips on my front bumper; kinda looks like a few rounds of bird shot were unloaded on her. Im sure living in the Denver metro area and heading to the mountains doesnt help. Anyway, Im going to ceramic coat my truck somewhere over the next 6 weeks and wated to get your thoughts on what to do with it. have it repainted, fill in each chip with touch up paint or leave it as is? Im not wanting to do either of those first 2 options myself; not sure of the cost.

Yep it's a pain in the you know what I have night edition same thing looked like bird shot also. I just sat down with touch up paint.

 

[BowDown]

Paint it, let it cure then PPF it.

Mine after 80K miles and 4 years. PPF is doing its job. I'll let it ride another year or 2 then have the front, hood and flares re-done. Front fenders are still good

 

[dajogejr]

@BowDown , have you taken a look above your windshield?
I was amazed how bad of a beating that took on my 15…

Truck looks good, just need some of those painted front plate plugs now

 

[BowDown]

@BowDown , have you taken a look above your windshield?
I was amazed how bad of a beating that took on my 15…

Truck looks good, just need some of those painted front plate plugs now

Above my windshield is PPF'd as well; from the top of the windshield almost to the sunroof however that area doesnt have a mark on it

 

[1923bob]

I took a good look at the top of my truck looks fine.

 

[Biga]

The roof on a truck is pretty high so you won't get a ton of rock hits that far up.

 

[PurpleRT]

Its worth doing the the A pillars and front cap (right above the windshield) as well. Learned that lesson with my 4th gen.. 5th did get it though!

 

[dajogejr]

The roof on a truck is pretty high so you won't get a ton of rock hits that far up.

I disagree… my 15 limited has worse hits above the windshield then my hood and bumper, and rust spots to prove it.
Could be where you drive, speed limit, trucks/semis you’re behind… but after seeing what happened to my white 15, no way I was taking that chance.