Adam's UV Ceramic Paint Coating - DIY Review

[Jhbryaniv]

Have had my 23 for about 5 days, wow is the paint thin! Sliding a plastic gas can scratched the tailgate, and I have some fine scratches on the bed. Just to the primer, but still. The paint is thinner than vellum paper.
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Will this ceramic stuff help protect the paint?

Sort of.

Will it protect it against scratches from a gas can, no.

Will it make washing it easier, thus preventing minor scratches from wash and dry media, yes.

Ceramic coating is microns thin. Anyone who tells you their ceramic coating will prevent any real scratches is lying.

*alternatively what they are selling isn't really a ceramic coating, but something with a heavy/thick base that will be both a pain in the arse to apply, and should you screw it up a pain in the arse to fix.

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[Dr_Strangelove]

Have had my 23 for about 5 days, wow is the paint thin! Sliding a plastic gas can scratched the tailgate, and I have some fine scratches on the bed. Just to the primer, but still. The paint is thinner than vellum paper.
.
Will this ceramic stuff help protect the paint?

Agree with @Jhbryaniv. The degree of protection is unfortunately still conditional and not 100% protection from "everything". I live in the southwest where there's dust, dust, dust, and the ceramic coating is excellent protection from clear coat swirls caused by wiping the dust off. This is the primary reason I did the coating is because I like my vehicles to look nice and I wash them frequently. I don't have time to do a full touch-less wash every time they get dirty so I wanted my truck "wipe-able".

My report to you guys a couple months after install is; it is certainly that. The truck is very, very easy to clean and I've yet to see any swirls develop in the clear.

Back to your gas can example. I'd expect a "brush" or a bump with a gas can to not scratch the ceramic but if you dragged the can across it probably would.

My personal examples so far is I let a road bike fall over as I was unloading it and the brake handle left a small - like really small - I'd say 1-2mm gouge really close to the black plastic cladding on the top of the bed. I don't see how anything could protect from such a scratch.

Just the other day I was loading some stuff into the bed and securing it with my bungee net and I let go of one of the carabiners and it swung down and smacked agains the tailgate with a very unsatisfying metallic clank. I thought for sure that's scratch #2, however, I saw generally where it hit and I can't find a single mark anywhere. Lucky!

Adding the ceramic is either a lot of work or a lot of money but my opinion it's worth the investment of time/money either way if you try to keep your car's appearance as new as possible. It's not like you're going to be able to go up trails and have trees rubbing down your side, or lean over your hood with an exposed zipper - but it will certainly allow you to keep your car clean without dulling the clear coat from over-polishing.

For loading stuff into your bed/tailgate IMO nothing will beat a liner or mat.

 

[LostMy65]

I just thought it was pretty pitiful sad that a plastic gas can (plastic jug) scratched the bed by just sliding it up against the back of the cab.
I'll get some miles on it and then do a spray in liner down the road.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

I just thought it was pretty pitiful sad that a plastic gas can (plastic jug) scratched the bed by just sliding it up against the back of the cab.
I'll get some miles on it and then do a spray in liner down the road.

My bed got scratched already... From a cardboard box sliding across it... Once we get home and I get the truck back from the dealer I'm getting a spray in bed liner...

 

[LostMy65]

My bed got scratched already... From a cardboard box sliding across it... Once we get home and I get the truck back from the dealer I'm getting a spray in bed liner...

Plastic jug?
A cardboard box?
Pretty sad.
Although perhaps the paint will harden with time.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Plastic jug?
A cardboard box?
Pretty sad.
Although perhaps the paint will harden with time.

To be fair, paints are really thin on newer vehicles. And I imagine the bed is one place they skimped on paint because they believe most owners will install a bed liner or protection of some sort...

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

After my first road trip in the truck I inspected the hood for chips. We only went to Flagstaff so my son could play in some snow for the weekend, so it's only a 3.5 hour drive for us. Lo, and behold, in the competition of a 75 MPH truck vs. a fast moving rock in the opposite direction - no ceramic coating will protect you. (Quick anecdotal note; I have PPF on one of my other cars and this would have looked like a little "bullet hole" in the vinyl" with some ripping/tearing around the edges. Very visible.)

If you can't tell - this is the leading edge of the hood, right above the black plastic RANGER logo on the front of the grille.

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