Pros and Cons of Vinyl Wraps vs Paint for Your Diesel Truck

Your diesel truck isn’t just a means of transportation; it can also be a powerful marketing tool for your personal brand or business. You drive your truck just about everywhere you go, giving you the opportunity to share your message with hundreds, if not thousands, of people every single day.

Branding and advertising are all about making the right impression on your target audience. It usually takes several impressions before the message starts to resonate with the viewer. Studies show that vehicle wraps offer the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to the cost per number of impressions, with a rate of less than $44 per one million impressions.

Even if you don’t own your own business, you can customize the look of your truck to set it apart from all the other vehicles on the road. You won’t have any trouble finding it in the lot and you will turn heads everywhere you go.

If you want to customize your truck’s appearance, you can either attach vinyl wraps to the surface or use vehicle paint to permanently change the look. Both options come with pros and cons. Choosing your materials all depends on what you’re trying to achieve and how much money you have to spend.

Vinyl Wraps

Most vehicle wraps are made of vinyl. They come with adhesive backings that stick to the surface of your truck. You peel off the back just like you would a sticker before carefully applying the wrap. You will likely need to have the wrap installed by a professional, but you can try doing it yourself to save money.

Pros

Vinyl wraps are extremely cost-effective when it comes to changing the look of your truck. Full truck wraps tend to cost between $2,500 and $5,000.

You can easily customize your wraps to your liking. Just send your images or designs to the printing company, and they will print your wraps at scale. Wraps are perfect for logos and intricate patterns that may be difficult to capture with paint.

Vinyl wraps can usually be applied in just three days or less, so you don’t have to be away from your vehicle for too long. The person applying the wrap will need to first clean your car to make sure the wrap goes on smooth.

They are also easy to remove. If you don’t like the color or if you change jobs, you can take the wrap off without permanently altering your truck’s appearance.

Cons

Wraps should be able to withstand wear and tear, but some vinyl attachments will start to chip away over time. Ultraviolet rays can also dull the colors in your wraps. Wash your vehicle regularly and store it inside whenever possible to extend the life of your wrap. Find a printing company that uses high-quality materials that won’t fade in the sun. Vinyl wraps aren’t considered permanent. They usually have a shelf life of 10 years.

Truck Paint

You can always paint your truck instead of adding vinyl wraps for a more polished look. You’ll need to contact an auto shop that offers this service. Automotive paint is applied using a spray gun for a smooth, all-over effect. It is made of polyurethane-based enamel that protects the substrate from environmental damage. Manufacturers typically automate the process, but most custom paint jobs need to be completed manually. The old paint will need to be removed before you apply your design.

Pros

Automotive paint is typically much more durable than vinyl wraps. A high-quality paint job should last as long as the vehicle itself. You don’t have to worry about the paint falling off like a wrap. If the paint gets chipped, you can always have the shop touch up your design.

Some say that automotive paint looks better than vehicle wraps. The design will be engrained into your vehicle rather than just sitting on the surface.

Cons

Painting your truck can be expensive. A quality paint job can easily cost anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000. Avoid going with the least expensive option. The better the paint, the longer the new design will last.

You will also have to be away from your truck for a week or more while the shop applies the paint. Once the team removes the old paint, they will need to apply several coats to bring your vision to life. Each coat will need approximately eight hours to dry.

Painting comes with some limitations. You may not be able to render some details and patterns in paint, so consider going with a simpler design instead.

Choosing Between Vinyl Wraps vs Paint

There are lots of factors to consider when choosing between these two options.

If you can’t afford to be away from your vehicle for more than a few days, go with a vehicle wrap instead of repainting your vehicle. The same is true if you use your truck for work. You might have to turn down a job if your truck is in the shop.

Use this opportunity to have your vehicle inspected. The shop should be able to inspect your vehicle while it’s in its possession. Find new fuel injectors at Bostech Auto to save money on replacement parts.

The nature of your job may change over the years, even if you’re self-employed. You may join a small business or change the name of your company in the future. Vehicle wraps are replaceable, so you can take off the wrap or change your logo if necessary.

There’s also a chance that your vehicle will break down. You shouldn’t spend thousands of dollars painting your truck unless it’s going to last. Diesel trucks are complicated pieces of machinery that must comply with environmental regulations. If your vehicle uses exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) coolers to reduce NOx emissions, consider replacing them before changing the look of your truck.

If you are customizing your truck for personal or creative reasons, consider painting your truck to lock in your design for life. Nothing beats the shiny gleam of a new paint job.

Make sure all your diesel parts are in order before spending money on a new design.