Who is painting these trucks???

[PJ]

I finally got the rocker pluge to replace the masking tape "cop out" save a buck that D/C did under the 04 trucks. Of course, the dealer refused to install them and let me know that I was lucky to even get the rubber plugs. Anyway, when I rolled under my truck yesterday after giving it a good washing, my paint is SOOOOOOO light or not even there in so many places! It is only blue in the spots that are seen at first glance. I plan to take this over to the dealer on Friday, the only day that the service manager is there, and voice my opinion. Also, the "ONE COAT" paint on the rest of the truck is chipping off with every trip to the local store. At this rate, my truck will go from blue to white or worse yet, blue to rust in a matter of a year! Anyone else have this happen. I had soooo much damage within the first 500 miles that I bought the D/C mud flaps as my lower body panels look like they have been sand blasted just driving on the local streets! This just isn't right for what they are charging for these trucks! I think we should at least get 2 coats of paint for what we paid! Inside my stake pockets on the bed didnt even get any blue color added to them. Now, what is with that? I didnt see anywhere on my window sticker that I bought a two tone truck! anyone buying their truck, I might suggest that you go over the paint before you take delivery. Once you drive it off the lot, they couldnt care less.



Comments?:--) :--) :--) :--) :--) :-{}

 

[DaveMorris]

I have a buddy of mine cover my entire truck from the door strip down to the pinch seam with "Ultrashield", it's a clear plastic that is supposed to prevent the rock chips, etc. It is the same film that is used for head light protection except alittle thinner. So far it is holding up great and you can't see it is there.





If you don't like your paint in the day time, then don't get it in the dark and hold a bright light up to it :--)



Dave

 

[Bertram65]

Mine is the same way, I noticed the paint before I drove it off the lot they were all the same. So far it has held up pretty well, I had the mudflaps on within the first week. The paint job is good enough for me, I hate to say it but it's a truck after all, at least the steel they use on the body is pretty well treated so it has not rusted where it has chipped.

 

[XcumminsX]

i am not that mad... mine is patriot blue... so far with 315's i have a total of 6 rock chips. It did scratch easy at first then i added clear coat polish (has a old red corvetter on the front) and its much better now. .



Nick

 

[JRMora]

I have a Patriot Blue truck as well, and if you look around the stake pocket holes, near the edges of the fenders, and some of the underside (near the holes in the cab bottom) you'll see there is very little color. This is my second blue Dodge (I like blue) and I didn't have any long term problems. Of course, I live in the dry southwest, so that may have something to do with it.



It's not the way I would have painted it, but it's no different than any of the other trucks I looked at before buying my latest.



Juan

 

[DF5152]

maybe they should slow down the conveyor belt a little.

 

[HOBrian]

Or don't have the blind paint the trucks!!

 

[KCJackson]

Unfortunately, EPA and OSHA regs are in control of paint fumes and thus the paint jobs we get from the factory. An exact amount of paint is sent to the spray guns and they are controlled by computer and robots for the most part.



Want a higher-quality paint job? Find a good body shop that will sweat the details and do the job thoroughly. I had my 96 repainted end to end except the inside of the bed about 1-1/2 years ago, and I haven't had to touch it since. The results are in my reader's rigs gallery pics. A good soaking rain makes the truck clean and shiny, even after weeks of dried salt/slush spray.



If I'm not happy with the paint quality on my upcoming 2005, guess where it will go... .

 

[krs]

KCJackson,



That looks fabulous!



Do you mind saying what you paid for that paint job?

 

[PJ]

I just received a call from the rep from the dealer that I bought my truck from. they are getting D/C involved and I guess we shall see what will happen regarding the paint issue. I hope I get better results than I did when I had brake problems with my 98 Q-Cab 12v. D/C told me to take a hike. Warranty? The warranty is only as good as the dealer behind it. Hopefully this will have a good outcome... ... ... ... ... .

Oo.

 

[jungledave]

I also have a patriot blue 04 but reallly no complaints about the paint. I gurss you have to realize that the stake pockets have to be hand painted and cannot be done by machines. the underside of my truck is the base coat color of the patriot blue and althouth may lood thin, it is a good under the truck paint job. I don't like the new lighter base coat and darker outer coat simply because when it does chip it shows up alot more because of the silver-blue base coat. Other than that I would consider maybe getting my next truck in silver or white.

 

[Prairie Dog]

It's funny, some of the patriot blue trucks are well done and others are crap. I have virtually no paint on the bottom edge of my bed but I only have one very small chip in the front of the qtr panel and none anyplace else.



Scotty

 

[JHufford]

I agree, the paint on my truck is the worst that I have ever owned. I had a DC District Manager look at my truck yesterday and the only thing he could say was that all Dodge trucks are painted that way. I have E-mailed DC tonight about how I feel. Maybe if every dissatisfied owner of one of their terribly painted trucks would send them an E-mail they might own up to their problem and offer to do something about it

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

This is my 2nd Pat Blue truck. My first one, 2001 HO, had fair-good paint, it was quite thin in places and scratched easily.



This truck's paint job is excellent, a solid 8-8. 5 out of 10, no thin spots and less scratch prone. The shop that did my sprayin bedliner commented "one of the toughest paint jobs I've seen in awhile. " Truck was built 3-06-03 in Saltillo. My 2001 was also built in Saltillo 2-04-00.



Vaughn

 

[PJ]

Oo.

 

[KCJackson]

Originally posted by KRS

KCJackson,



That looks fabulous!



Do you mind saying what you paid for that paint job?

$1100 for the paint job at a local shop - it's the body shop my dealer recommends since they don't have one of their own, and the shop owner has an F250, so he's no stranger to big pickups