[ramrt1993]

I have 10,000 miles on my truck, and I rarely drive on gravel roads. When I have to, I drive really slow so I don't get rock chips. But I have a lot of rock chips! Its really making me upset, cause I have a friend with a tundra (who raced me and beat me) who drives down gravel roads at full speed and doesn't get any chips cause he has rubberized paint on the bottom of his truck, it came that way from the factory.

I've taken my truck in to my local dealer and they took some pictures to send to the warranty department but they said a few days later that the truck was too dirty for them to clearly distinguish the chips. Needless to say, they weren't very helpful. I've been putting off another trip to the dealership until I can get my truck 100% spotless.

I still doubt they're gonna help me. I'm open to any suggestions and ideas that you guys might have as to what I can do about this. Thanks! :smileup:

Edit: Does anyone else have this problem? If so, do you have an R/T? The dealership blamed it on my wheels but I told them they were stock on the R/Ts..(idiots) But maybe it is cause of the wheels?

 

[TarisKellog]

I am feeling your pain! ( I drove down a gravel road pulling a gooseneck trailer for about 2 miles and I have about 10-12 small chips on my tailgate. I thought it was my paint since I had to pay an extra $250 for it. Sounds like this may be a paint issue all the way around on the 2011's. I have a 2011 Longhorn in Sagebrush green. I purchased some touch up paint at a dealership for $10.10 per bottle. Then, I also purchased a paint protection film for the hood, front bumper, headlights, sides, and tailgate. Cost me $630 for all of it, but it beats a new paint job and the tears that go with it. I can send you the info on the protection film if you're interested.

 

[916Timmy]

I have two chips in my front piece under the grille, and never go off road. Mine is just road chips!

 

[ramrt1993]

I have lots of chips..lots! Behind my wheels there are too many to count. I don't think touch up is an option..

 

[snrusnak]

Where are the chips?

My aftermarket wheels/tires extend past my fenders and surprisingly I have basically no new chips (since I bought it used that is). I am very careful though when I am off road or on loose pavement/gravel, and don't spin the tires in those circumstances. My step bars and mud spats(which you already have the spats) help a bit I think too. I'm going to get that clear protecting film that you put over the paint, maybe you could do the same.

 

[ramrt1993]

All of my chips are right behind my wheels on the bottom..and I NEVER spin in gravel. The clear coating would protect it..but how to fix it?

 

[snrusnak]

Is it just the clear coat that is chipped or is the base coat paint also chipped? If it's the clear coat only you could touch it up, if it's the base paint you'd almost need the whole panel repainted. It's really not worth the money but that's up to you. I'd just put the clear film over it and keep it from getting worse...

Better yet, how about some pics of your chips?

 

[ramrt1993]

As soon as I get home from work I'm gonna get y'all some pictures..might have to clean up my truck first.

 

[CajunDodge]

I have them, too, all along my wheel wells but where I work, it's a gravel parking lot (trucking terminal for big rigs) so sadly, even driving slowly through the yard, which one of my co-workers teases me about all the time, they are unavoidable.

- Cajun

 

[ramrt1993]

Drivers side front

Drivers side back

I almost think the passenger side is worse..anyway, I took it to the dealership and they took pictures. I should be receiving a call next week.

 

[5.7ram]

Dam, i fell your pain!! I've been looking at clear bra for Half Hood / Front bumper / Grill / Side mirror's and they want to charge 600.00 I dont know if it's worth it.

 

[GTyankee]

you could get it line-x
they can close to color match
http://www.linexpics.com/project_view.php?ID=548

http://www.linexpics.com/project_view.php?ID=170

http://www.linexpics.com/project_view.php?ID=174#

 

[ramrt1993]

Line-x my beautiful 2011 R/T?!! :wow: It works for off-road trucks though

 

[Troy.]

Mudflaps guys!!!! That or 3m film or comparable over these areas. I know a lot of you guys won't even consider flaps, but they work!

I have rock chip problems as well, most of which are on the front bottom corners of the box . I hate it. Just turned 5200kms on her.

Chips right down to the metal.

 

[gale155]

Mudflaps guys!!!! That or 3m film or comparable over these areas. I know a lot of you guys won't even consider flaps, but they work!

I have rock chip problems as well, most of which are on the front bottom corners of the box . I hate it. Just turned 5200kms on her.

Chips right down to the metal.

I agree...mudflaps were the first thing I installed on my truck, and so far so good. I've only got the standard 17-inch SLT wheels, which probably helps in this regard.

The second thing I installed was a Mopar bug deflector on the hood, but decided I didn't like the way it looked and took it off a couple of weeks ago. While trying to decide what to replace it with, I'll be damned if I didn't get a rock chip (and small dent) on the front lip of the hood...right where the deflector would have been. :doh:I installed an AVS Bugflector II on it yesterday, and it looks like it will do a good job of protecting the hood, and hopefully the windshield to a certain degree.

 

[ramrt1993]

Those are good suggestions guys, and I'm sure they work. But I don't like how mud flaps and bug deflectors look..I also don't like how rock chips look. But rock chips are less noticeable than mud flaps and bug deflectors! I'm wondering if there's some way to get those areas painted like the Tundras are.

 

[Brutus]

Ya'll can try this stuff. I have no first hand experience with it, but I plan to give it a try come spring.

 

[ramrt1993]

Ya'll can try this stuff. I have no first hand experience with it, but I plan to give it a try come spring.

That stuff looks good, I think I'm gonna try it if the dealership doesn't agree to fix it! Reps to you for the good find!

 

[TNC]

Those are good suggestions guys, and I'm sure they work. But I don't like how mud flaps and bug deflectors look..I also don't like how rock chips look. But rock chips are less noticeable than mud flaps and bug deflectors! I'm wondering if there's some way to get those areas painted like the Tundras are.

I agree with you generally about mud flaps, but have you seen those molded splash guards from Dodge for our trucks? I saw a truck sitting on the dealer lot recently with them, and they looked quite good rather than hillbilly deluxe...LOL!

 

[gale155]

I agree with you generally about mud flaps, but have you seen those molded splash guards from Dodge for our trucks? I saw a truck sitting on the dealer lot recently with them, and they looked quite good rather than hillbilly deluxe...LOL!

Those do look great, and I wouldn't hesitate to put them on an R/T, Sport or Laramie. I went with WeatherTechs on mine cause they're a little more "subtle", and less likely to rub the paint in certain areas. I think they look great, and fit like they're OEM.

The only thing I worry about with the hard molded flaps (like Mopar or WeatherTech) is driving through really deep snow drifts...if it's hard snow and deep enough to impact the flaps, I can imagine bad things happening. Same thing with mud, but I have no desire to ever go "mudding" with my Ram.