Scratched/Dinged paint from Off Roading

[ufcjeff]

Hello everyone. This is my first post.

I have never been off-roading but would absolutely love to have the ability to (never owned a capable vehicle). Not hard core rock crawling, just cruising around in the dirt and mud would be fun I think. It seems to me that it would be somewhat neglectful and abusive NOT to, at least occasionally, take advantage of the H3’s abilities. I am not a soccer mom or mall hopper and I’m strongly considering an H3 for my next truck. Last night I mentioned to my wife that if I get one, we could go off roading. She loves the H3 too but replies “no way, you’ll totally F*** up the paint and get all dinged and scratched up”.

I’m sure that you all like to keep your paint scratch and ding free as well but that does not stop you from the adventures. I hope this doesn’t sound like a stupid question but how do I convince my wife that this will not happen? Are there products on the market that help protect the paint?

[StarsnBars]

Check out the pics I just posted in picture posting area. After a good bath no visable dings or pits after a full day of wheelin. There are paint protection sheet covers and a few different things on the market that help to.

[H3 Hummer]

First get some mud flaps. And get some magnetic door protectors or something. I have scratched up my rims pretty bad also. Here is a picture of my doors from trees - Trees don't like me (http://elcova.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/2706067735/m/5721042051/r/5131052051#5131052051)

I was going slow but it doesn't matter. If you want to keep your new Hummer looking new keep it of the trails but the way I look at it is - It's a HUMMER! it's meant to get dirty and scratched and tore up at least a little bit. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[ufcjeff]

Oooh yikes. Yeah, I think I would avoid trails and stick to open range mud romping.

[H3 Hummer]

Oh yeah, about 15 times washing the Hummer and about 5 different products to try to get the scratches out, they are still there just not as bad.

[ufcjeff]

Man! That sucks. I guess my wife has a valid point. Dirt and mud don't bother and often look cool but the dings and are bad. Of course, they don't look as bad on Hummers as on other vehicles. Sort of battle worn...

[ufcjeff]

Originally posted by StarsnBars:
Check out the pics I just posted in picture posting area. After a good bath no visable dings or pits after a full day of wheelin. There are paint protection sheet covers and a few different things on the market that help to.

That's what I'm talking about bro! That looks like alotafun!

[HummerNewbie]

You will always run the risk of getting some sort of damage when you wheel even if it is just in mud. Just watch what you are doing and avoid very tight trails if possible. Below is a pic of my H3 all prepped and ready to hit the trails in Tellico. May not look the greatest like this but two days of wheeling and no trail damage. Well not to the paint at least. Messed up a couple of wheels but not too bad, most wouldn't even notice. The shields on the doors I bought from another member here. I highly recommend them but at this point you have to make your own because as far as I know there are none on the market for the H3 yet. The light blue is painters tape which works great and leaves no residue when you take it off.

[ufcjeff]

Originally posted by HummerNewbie:
You will always run the risk of getting some sort of damage when you wheel even if it is just in mud. Just watch what you are doing and avoid very tight trails if possible. Below is a pic of my H3 all prepped and ready to hit the trails in Tellico. May not look the greatest like this but two days of wheeling and no trail damage. Well not to the paint at least. Messed up a couple of wheels but not too bad, most wouldn't even notice. The shields on the doors I bought from another member here. I highly recommend them but at this point you have to make your own because as far as I know there are none on the market for the H3 yet. The light blue is painters tape which works great and leaves no residue when you take it off.
Wow, it's almost completely covered! Good idea.

[HummerNewbie]

Yeah, ran out of tape for the passenger rear but likely after that pic was taken KenP gave me some. Got some sh!t from some of the others but I didn't get any trail damage http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

BTW, too rolls of 2" tape will cover it like that http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[PackerFever]

http://magnetking.com#regularmagnet

Go down the page to Standard Vinyl Magnetic Sheeting. There you can order all kinds of sizes and colors. I am getting a roll of the wide green so I can cover my company logos, coming soon, with a green motiff for when I go to Lambeau Field. Change over from Company Car to Packer Mobile.

Pretty good prices and you can cut it to fit any size or shape.

[DWPC]

You can have a lot of fun 4-wheeling without becoming a hard-core rig-bashing rock crawler. You can do a lot of trail cruising and off-roading in most areas without serious risk to your paint and sheet metal if you pay attention to the trails you pick. In most cases, the worst you'll risk is light scratches from brush ("desert pinstripes") that barely show and often buff out. Find a local 4x4 club.

[Sewie]

Get a good book like this one. (http://4x4books.com/gtcas.htm) Show her all the places you can go without tearing up the truck.

Then once you've broken it in a little you can get crazy. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[HummerNewbie]

Originally posted by Sewie:
Get a good book like this one. (http://4x4books.com/gtcas.htm) Show her all the places you can go without tearing up the truck.

Then once you've broken it in a little you can get crazy. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Damn, look at all those trails you have out there. Looked for a book like that for FL and of course nothing http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[Steve - SanJose]

Originally posted by Sewie:
Get a good book like this one. (http://4x4books.com/gtcas.htm) Show her all the places you can go without tearing up the truck.

Then once you've broken it in a little you can get crazy. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Looks like a good book. Do they have a book like this for Nothern California?

S.

[nmikes]

You might want to look at something like clear bra... the following link has it where you can purchase in rolls and cut to fit. Seems like I've stumbled on a kit precut for the H3... will look to see if I can relocate that link. Fortunately my truck is my own so I don't have to stress getting nagged for getting it dinged. But its something that might throw things your way with the Mrs...

http://www.stickercity.com/store/home.php?cat=437

[Sewie]

Originally posted by Steve-SanJose-H3:
Looks like a good book. Do they have a book like this for Nothern California?

S.

There's a whole series. I have the NorCal book and its pretty good. I think they have all of them on that site.

[Sewie]

Originally posted by HummerNewbie:
Damn, look at all those trails you have out there. Looked for a book like that for FL and of course nothing http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

And that's just SoCal. NorCal is even better. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Steve - SanJose]

Originally posted by Sewie:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Steve-SanJose-H3:
Looks like a good book. Do they have a book like this for Nothern California?

S.

There's a whole series. I have the NorCal book and its pretty good. I think they have all of them on that site. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks, I just ordered one to be sent to my office where I seem to live.

S.

[HummerNewbie]

Originally posted by Sewie:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HummerNewbie:
Damn, look at all those trails you have out there. Looked for a book like that for FL and of course nothing http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

And that's just SoCal. NorCal is even better. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oh sure, you just got to rub it in don't you http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[nmikes]

well damn... can't seem to find it... though there are some on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Clear-BRA-for-a-Hummer-H...dZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Clear-BRA-for-a-Hummer-H3-2006-Paint-Guard_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6763QQitemZ805347 4762QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW)

[NEOCON1]

as long as you stay off trails with heavy brush on the sides you will be fine . i have only added extra coats of wax before wheeling and no problems with scratches http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Chip]

My H-3 is getting scratched up down here in AZ, I would miss out on the best trails if I was to paranoid. I just consider them to be badges of honor.

[WV Humm\'EER]

I haven't went wheeling "yet" in my H3 but there is a simple solution. Buy a 4-wheeler and wheel the heck out of it. I have absolutely awesome 4-wheeling trails where I live. Many are too narrow for my H3 anyway. I get my feel of wheeling and my Hummer stays scratch free. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Bully13]

I'm sure Florida has lots of good trails. Or at least some buildings to climb over or something... http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

I've gone to the mud pit in Prairie City and so far that's it. I don't have any damage but I can relate to the fear up tearing up this brand new vehicle. Mine has 1000 miles now.

[HummerNewbie]

Originally posted by Bully13:
I'm sure Florida has lots of good trails. Or at least some buildings to climb over or something... http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

We just wait for the hurricanes to pass through then we go drive over all the sh!t in the roads http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[Steve - SanJose]

Now I know why we see so many beat-up Wranglers in California.... http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif People don't feel so bad about thrashing them offroad if they're cheaper/well depreciated.

S.