Clear coat lower splash/rock guard vs. vinyl.

[Home Bartender Ann]

I’ve been reading about the vinyl lower rock/splash guards here on the forum. I saw an old post suggesting a clear coat, such as one used on cars to protect the area at the bottom of the door. I’m a DIY person. Looks easy enough to apply and I don’t think Escape supplies these vinyl rock/splash guards anymore for new builds, (We take delivery of our 21c in June.) While I realize it’s user’s preference here. I actually would appreciate a pro’s and con’s opinion on the following questions.
1. Those of you that use the vinyl guards, do you like them?
2. Those of you that have used them and don’t like them, let me know why.
3. If you did get the vinyl guards after market, where did you find them online?
4. Does anyone have experience with applying the clear coat method?
5. Did you have it done or did you do it yourself?
6. If so, how durable do you actually find it?
7. What product (link) did you end up using?
I realize each of these methods comes with maintenance and I would have to remove the box in order to apply the clear coat method. I’m ok with that. Just want to protect my investment for the long haul. Thanks all!

 

[zephirus]

A couple of comments - the biggest danger to the trailer are rocks. Therefore to protect the trailer a product is needed that will absorb energy from flying rocks. My experience with cars is the clear vinyl is good for sand/fines causing pitting or abrasion, but not a rock strike. The best approach is what Airstream does with their aluminum "shield" attached to the front of the trailer. The ETI vinyl is okay, but others could give years of experience. I have thought about attaching "wings" to my storage box for protection. My 2 cents.

 

[iamunique127]

I don’t recall if the vinyl rock guards were an option when we ordered our trailer in 2014 but if they were, I regret not ordering them. We don’t avoid gravel roads because they get us off the beaten path. We have a fair number of small rock chips on the front lower part of the trailer. It seems the vinyl rock guards would provide the best protection.

After seeing some discussion of the clear paint protective film here recently, I thought that would be a good, quick option for our upcoming trip. There are quite a number of local detailing shops who both supply and/or instal that film. I like doing things myself but with so many tasks to perform before we leave I decided to get a shop to do the instal. They put the film right over the existing small chips, most of which can be felt with the hand but not readily seen.

I wanted the guy to wrap the bottom front of the trailer but he said the film was too thick to bend and stick on the rounded surface. So he applied it in pieces. Large pieces on the flat surfaces and strips on the bottom rounded surfaces and along the very front above the frame. I was hesitant about that but he said there is a 10 years warranty so just come back if it peels. I’m OK with that.

He would have also supplied the product for me to instal but I didn’t have the time to do it myself.

This is the product he used:

And how it came out. You can see some of the largest chips.

 

[Ron in BC]

I don’t think Escape supplies these vinyl rock/splash guards anymore for new builds,

The day that I went to pick up my 21C I was reminded that I was eligible for a free tongue box. (returning customer) I phoned them and confirmed and they said that they'd already installed the vinyl guards which is what they were doing on trailers that didn't order a tongue box. Great, I said, because I'd already taken my 19 to Baja and Alaska and seen that the vinyl guards had prevented flying rocks from damaging the most vulnerable area of the trailer. Some folks don't like the vinyl guards because they need more cleaning than the f.g. but I've seen how well they work and I'm happy to have them.

Which is a long way of saying, for those that want maximum protection for the lower front area it might be worth a phone call to ETI and see if they're available as an option.

Ron

 

[Escapeesinmo]

The PPF is definitely the way to go.

 

[Home Bartender Ann]

I don’t recall if the vinyl rock guards were an option when we ordered our trailer in 2014 but if they were, I regret not ordering them. We don’t avoid gravel roads because they get us off the beaten path. We have a fair number of small rock chips on the front lower part of the trailer. It seems the vinyl rock guards would provide the best protection.

After seeing some discussion of the clear paint protective film here recently, I thought that would be a good, quick option for our upcoming trip. There are quite a number of local detailing shops who both supply and/or instal that film. I like doing things myself but with so many tasks to perform before we leave I decided to get a shop to do the instal. They put the film right over the existing small chips, most of which can be felt with the hand but not readily seen.

I wanted the guy to wrap the bottom front of the trailer but he said the film was too thick to bend and stick on the rounded surface. So he applied it in pieces. Large pieces on the flat surfaces and strips on the bottom rounded surfaces and along the very front above the frame. I was hesitant about that but he said there is a 10 years warranty so just come back if it peels. I’m OK with that.

He would have also supplied the product for me to instal but I didn’t have the time to do it myself.

This is the product he used:

And how it came out. You can see some of the largest chips.

Ok, yeah, I can see the chips, but overall…I think that looks pretty good actually. We will have a lower belly color and I definitely wanna protect the integrity of that (although it’s a through and through color.) I’ll look into this locally. Thanks for taking the time to reply. I hope it does well for you. Cheers

 

[Home Bartender Ann]

A couple of comments - the biggest danger to the trailer are rocks. Therefore to protect the trailer a product is needed that will absorb energy from flying rocks. My experience with cars is the clear vinyl is good for sand/fines causing pitting or abrasion, but not a rock strike. The best approach is what Airstream does with their aluminum "shield" attached to the front of the trailer. The ETI vinyl is okay, but others could give years of experience. I have thought about attaching "wings" to my storage box for protection. My 2 cents.

Not a bad idea either. Saw a fellow on the YouTube’s who put mud flaps just barely tucked behind the box. Something to think about for sure. Thanks @zephirus for your 2 cents!

 

[Home Bartender Ann]

The day that I went to pick up my 21C I was reminded that I was eligible for a free tongue box. (returning customer) I phoned them and confirmed and they said that they'd already installed the vinyl guards which is what they were doing on trailers that didn't order a tongue box. Great, I said, because I'd already taken my 19 to Baja and Alaska and seen that the vinyl guards had prevented flying rocks from damaging the most vulnerable area of the trailer. Some folks don't like the vinyl guards because they need more cleaning than the f.g. but I've seen how well they work and I'm happy to have them.

Which is a long way of saying, for those that want maximum protection for the lower front area it might be worth a phone call to ETI and see if they're available as an option.

Ron

Ohhh yeah… That’s totally worth a call. Great idea. Appreciate that @Ron in BC! Cheers.

 

[Home Bartender Ann]

The PPF is definitely the way to go.

See I like that idea a lot, because of the below belly color we got, I don’t really want to cover it up. I suppose if I don’t like it, I could always install the vinyl guards later. Thanks @Escapeesinmo

 

[CharlesinGA]

Anyone consider having spray bed liner applied to chip prone areas. Would be effective, but rather permanent.

Charles

 

[Home Bartender Ann]

Anyone consider having spray bed liner applied to chip prone areas. Would be effective, but rather permanent.

Charles

Ok, now..I thought about that as well, (I don’t know enough about a bed liners,) but I figured that if it was textured at all, then it would collect dirt and bugs and would be difficult to get bugs off. But other than that I feel like a bed liners spray might be affective. Anyone else have have an answer here?

 

[iamunique127]

Ok, now..I thought about that as well, (I don’t know enough about a bed liners,) but I figured that if it was textured at all, then it would collect dirt and bugs and would be difficult to get bugs off. But other than that I feel like a bed liners spray might be affective. Anyone else have have an answer here?

As far as I know you can get it in colours too. I’m not sure which colours are available.

Your concerns are some that have come up in the past about spray on protection.

 

[Escapeesinmo]

See I like that idea a lot, because of the below belly color we got, I don’t really want to cover it up. I suppose if I don’t like it, I could always install the vinyl guards later. Thanks @Escapeesinmo

I've never seen or heard of the "vinyl guards" you speak of.

 

[zephirus]

 

[Escapeesinmo]

View attachment 1112542

I see. They are kind of like a car bra.

 

[SRS]

Anyone consider having spray bed liner applied to chip prone areas. Would be effective, but rather permanent.

Charles

I decided to have bead liner put on the front, lower half of my trailer. The liner itself is black and then the color matched paint is sprayed on top of the liner. Only down side is if a rock chips the paint it will be black underneath but I'm sure you could get touch up paint. Not a big deal to wash and seems to stay pretty clean.

This is my third season with it on and no issues or chips. Personally, it was a good choice because even with a front storage box (not reinstalled in photo) I was still getting lots of gel coat chips.

 

[Home Bartender Ann]

I decided to have bead liner put on the front, lower half of my trailer. The liner itself is black and then the color matched paint is sprayed on top of the liner. Only down side is if a rock chips the paint it will be black underneath but I'm sure you could get touch up paint. Not a big deal to wash and seems to stay pretty clean.

This is my third season with it on and no issues or chips. Personally, it was a good choice because even with a front storage box (not reinstalled in photo) I was still getting lots of gel coat chips.

Thanks so much for your input here. This has been very interesting and gives me a lot to thank about. But I think the bed liner info could really help some folks on the four, so thanks again.

 

[Home Bartender Ann]

View attachment 1112542

Thanks for posting this. Cheers

 

[Home Bartender Ann]

As far as I know you can get it in colours too. I’m not sure which colours are available.

Your concerns are some that have come up in the past about spray on protection.

Thank you Lyle! Cheers.

 

[Viajante]

Re bedliner, my 2010 (owned since 2013) has white bedliner on the front below the belly band. I always assumed it was original from the factory. It has been fine. I haven’t noticed any difficulty in cleaning it. I don’t think it’s painted, but if it is the paint has not chipped to reveal a different color underneath or faded. If it’s not painted then the original material has never faded. In fact I don’t really see the need to wax it but I have at times.