Sport Owners???

[DocDetonancour]

My local dealer advises the painted bumpers "are only plastic and will chip easily"! What have you guys that have owned the painted fronts seen in regard to wear and tear? Would you go with the painted bumpers etc again for the $$$? thanks, Doc

 

[LightmanE300]

I dont have experience with them, but I am picking up my laramie sport sometime next month. I plan on having the 3m clear film put on over the entire front end, so I'll get no chips, and still have the look... There are lots of companies that make custom cut kits specifically to fit each little strip of painted material.

 

[LightmanE300]

I dont have experience with them, but I am picking up my laramie sport sometime next month. I plan on having the 3m clear film put on over the entire front end, so I'll get no chips, and still have the look... There are lots of companies that make custom cut kits specifically to fit each little strip of painted material.

 

[bighammer]

Plastic front bumper doesn't hold up to minivans well. It looked real good until then. I think the plastic holds up better than the painted metal rear. Mine's got some scratches but it's coming off when the Ranch Hands arive.

 

[catoiler]

Front don't seem to be a problem but the rear is another story!

Bumped into the trailer hitch and nicked the paint! did not hit it that hard but it seems to chip pretty easy.

 

[Neal Whyte]

I had the sport package on my 98 and the steel bumpers took a lot of stone chips and I was always touching up the spots with paint.



So far with my 03 and it's plastic bumpers I have had no problem with any chips and like them better than the steel



Take Care

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

mine are fine so far with 15000 miles

 

[RodneyNichols]

What is the 3m clear film? Is it a spray on?



thanks

Rodney

 

[lawdog]

Mine is still good with 5000 miles... . Black..... I wanted Chrome, but all they could locate was a Sport. I really like it, just wanted to change the grill to have the LAramie look. . Very Classy. . The Black Sport is just Tuff looking

 

[smartineau]

The front still looks good after 12,000 miles. The rear bumper has a lot of chips from multiple loads of gravel, the gravel put a bunch of tiny chips on the edge just off of the plastic trim. I covered the tailgate for the loading but did not think of the bumper.



Oh well it is a truck and meant to be used.



steve

 

[gsbrockman]

I liked the 2000 Sport front end better than my 1998 Sport (held up better, fewer noticeable scratches) and I so far like the 2003 Sport better than the 2000. Of course, I'm only at 6,700 miles or so.

Greg

 

[Dean Upson]

9200 miles, nearly a year and it still looks great .



Dean

 

[bighammer]

I just got an estimate for replacement of my front bumper fascia. Just about $1000 for a piece of plastic with paint and installation. :--)



Glad I have something better on the way instead.

 

[PGoble]

Put Clearbra brand film on the truck. Guaranteed for 3 years against any rock chips. It is thicker than the 3M stuff and also much clearer. No orange peel look nor does it turn yellow after a year. Have had it on my last 3 trucks since 1995 and have not a problem yet.

Peter

 

[FMaurer]

I have yet to see a problem with over 16,000 miles. Tons of bugs have yet to put a scratch in it. I have never been a fan of plastic bumpers, but this one is proving me wrong. The entire front has yet to given a problem. The '99 3500 with the chrome grille had all sorts of marks from bug bodies. It appears to hold up much better then the rear bumper that tried to push a concrete pole over. The paint chipped off on impact down to the metal. Mine is a red sport with bars across the front painted to match.

 

[Sfarris]

Sport bumpers

I had them on my 2000 CTD and hated them! Scratches and rub marks were easy to come by, especially if I pulled into the garage too far and rubbed the drywall (stupid me) which I did.

 

[SilverFox]

I wouldn't buy the painted bumpers again. At just over 19000 I have several chips on the front. Backed into a chain link fence at camping world in CA, Just barely touched it and got 4 or 5 chips on the corner of the rear bumper. That's what you get when you use the curved mirror for close-in work.

 

[LightmanE300]

Originally posted by cummins-man

What is the 3m clear film? Is it a spray on?



thanks

Rodney

The 3m clear film is a product they call scotchcal. I believe it's now warrantied for 10 years against yellowing or defects. It's a clear film, much like window tint, that goes on over the paint. Apparently it will not chip at all, and it certainly looks a lot better than one of those big plastic bug shields. There's a company that cuts specific kits to each vehicle, and they have one for Ram 2500/3500 normal and sport. They aren't cheap, but will keep the whole front ding free, which is why I'm doing it. I definitely consider it as worthwhile as line-x'ing your truck bed, and it costs about the same.



Here's a link to the 2500/3500 sport kit. I plan on the deluxe kit to cover everything. Also since I am picking up my truck in NC at the end of the month, I'm going to drive an extra hour out of my way to have them install it right there at their HQ. I figure if anyone knows how to install it, they probably do.

3m Clear Film Kits