2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Why has my paint job held up so good

[JMetzger]

I remember when I worked for IH & they came out with the 1600-1800 Loadstar trucks series, they could not keep paint on the front ends & I think that was the beginning of all the junk paint that the Feds shoved down our throats.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I was wondering the same thing and think it is a combination of water based paints used and the Silver & Lt. Driftwood colors seem to be the worst.



My buddy has an 01 that is solid white and looks like it's new.



For those guys that are lucky enough to have their paint "still look like new" (I'm jealous and happy for you) but I really wonder what their colors are?

Mine is white, which the perfect color for the lazy people(me)..... I think the metallic colors will fade and/or oxidize easier than white. Also, the second gen trucks were painted with real paint (oil base) and not with the wimpy water base.



Sam

 

[Yo Hoot]

2004 here. Live in the NE. Sits outside all the time. Paint is great!

 

[JMetzger]

Mine is the Graphite Metallic Clear Coat, Truck has 98,753 miles. Although it is garaged when we go RVing it sits out in all kinds of weather.

 

[DavidC]

I was wondering the same thing and think it is a combination of water based paints used and the Silver & Lt. Driftwood colors seem to be the worst.

My buddy has an 01 that is solid white and looks like it's new.

For those guys that are lucky enough to have their paint "still look like new" (I'm jealous and happy for you) but I really wonder what their colors are?

Mine is Driftwood

Dave

 

[trudydog]

My 96 2500 is in fantastic condition. Always outside, in the sun. I keep a window shade to keep the heat off the dash and try to wash it once a week. nothing special whatever soap is on sale. I try to run it down the road soon after a wash and spend three bucks using the local car washes sprayer on the "wax" mode. seems to have worked well over the years.

 

[Kf6cmp]

Well I have a 99 and bought it new. It had great paint untill about 2 years ago. Now the clear coat is blowing off! I never garaged it and used carnuba was about once a year. I am not happy about having to cough up for a paint job!

 

[wlowe]

Since starting this thread I've been watching older Dodge Rams and it seems that there are two distinct paterns to their paint problems. Some have deteriorating clearcoat but still have the underlying color paint, while others have the paint pealing off down to the primer. My guess is that the deteriorating clearcoats are caused from neglect and lack of paint maintenance, (waxing, washing regularly), while the paint pealing is some sort of manufacturer defect. What do you guys think?

 

[lt1harry]

lt1harry here: on my 99 2500 (228,000 miles) always outside, i us trutle wax ICE. i never wax. it is still impresive. i just bought a 2001 4x4, quad cab, 8 foot bed diesel 2500(159,000 miles). i will use ICE on it. both trucks are white.

 

[Kf6cmp]

My clear coat blowing off could be due to lack of maintenance. But when I Bought my truck and ordered it with deep amathist, the thought of how purple paint seams to not have staying power. I have always thought lighter colors tend,I say tend to last longer.

 

[DMcLeod]

The paint on my BLACK 2001 is in great condition, and has survived temperatures of -50F and colder for weeks at a time, year after year. I wash regularly, wax (Meguiers) annually.

 

[Rickey Couch]

My 01' sits in the Texas sun 99% of the time, I bet it ain't been washed 15 times in 12 years, waxed??? never! And you know the finish still looks good, no peeling, cracks ect. If I washed it, I bet it would break down!!!!

 

[wlowe]

The paint on my BLACK 2001 is in great condition, and has survived temperatures of -50F and colder for weeks at a time, year after year. I wash regularly, wax (Meguiers) annually.

I lived in Fairbanks for 12 years, cold is pretty easy on paint and short summers stop much sun damage. Those gravel roads can sure do a job on your paint though.

 

[DMcLeod]

cold is pretty easy on paint.

The Jetta had a repaint, and the first time it hit -40F, the paint came flying off! You're right, I've never seen the cold affect factory paint. I just had to throw that in, cuz of all the talk of heat and sun!

 

[Bob4x4]

Like you, I always thought that silver was one of the colors prone to fading and sun damage but as I said in my earlier post my paint looks like new and my truck is bright silver. So far I haven't read a post where the owner regularly waxed his truck and still had paint damage. So I guess the jury is still out on whether it is a lack of maintenance or defective paint.

My 94 was always kept clean and waxed. Chrysler paid for a repaint at the 5 year mark because of separation. The rep that inspected it was impressed on how well it was kept up. The truck had won it's share of events,show and shines,drags and even a sled pull

 

[wlowe]

The Jetta had a repaint, and the first time it hit -40F, the paint came flying off! You're right, I've never seen the cold affect factory paint. I just had to throw that in, cuz of all the talk of heat and sun!

Sounds like the paint hadn't cured all the way. When I lived up there a friend of mine and I painted a car in his heated shop in the middle of winter. By the next summer the paint was cracking and peeling off. That was my first and last attempt at painting cars.

 

[icman95]

My 01 still looks great on the outside (Flame Red BTW) and I can't really figure out why. It's NEVER been in a garage as it's too big for mine and has suffered through the New England winters all of its 11 years on Earth. I wash it from time to time and wax it once a year. That being said, the paint job on the frame didn't fare as well. In fact, I just had the frame replaced because of this. It didn't rot out and is still useable, but the paint was chipping and flaking to the point where surface rust was starting to be the norm. I had the replacement frame sandblasted and repainted and hopefully it will outlast the paint on the original. Now the original frame can be sandblasted and repainted for somone else to use.

 

[jgillott]

My 01 still looks great on the outside (Flame Red BTW) and I can't really figure out why. It's NEVER been in a garage as it's too big for mine and has suffered through the New England winters all of its 11 years on Earth. I wash it from time to time and wax it once a year. That being said, the paint job on the frame didn't fare as well. In fact, I just had the frame replaced because of this. It didn't rot out and is still useable, but the paint was chipping and flaking to the point where surface rust was starting to be the norm. I had the replacement frame sandblasted and repainted and hopefully it will outlast the paint on the original. Now the original frame can be sandblasted and repainted for somone else to use.

I followed your thread on your frame replacement. I was wondering if you had ever had any type of rust protection applied to it like Ziebart or similar. My last 4 new trucks have been treated there and the frames, brake lines, etc. have all held up very well, even with all the salt used here. Before I started taking my vehicles to them, I could never make them last.

 

[icman95]

Nope. Didn't. Not for any particular reason either other than 1) I never thought of it and 2) not sure or anywhere around here that could do it. I do remember talking about that in my frame replacement thread and found that the closest place to me for one of the brands mentioned was either Rochester or Buffalo, NY-can't remember which one. I guess I could take a ride up there but I had the new frame painted with Miracle Paint which is a competitor to POR-15. The body shop has used both with the same good results, but they said this was easier for them to use due to quicker drying time. So if it works as it's supposed to that might solve the problem. At least it will hopefully give me more time than the stock paint.

 

[jgillott]

Anything has to be better than how some of these trucks frames are painted at the factory. There was corrosion on the frame of my former '01 within months of buying it new. Dealer where I purchased it suggested Ziebart and that's how I started with them.