Tape on front end for roadtrip...safe??

stprorolla49 · Aug 26, 2009

I am taking the 900 mile drive down to Savannah next week for school, and I don't want to make the same mistake I made with my '95 where it got destroyed with rock chips. Is blue painters tape safe to leave on the car for 2 days while driving down in the sun? It says on the 3M website it is safe to leave on for 14 days even in direct sunlight, but I want to make extra sure. It's probably going to be in the mid-high 80's driving down so I wanna make sure the tape doesn't bake onto the car. The bumper will be freshly waxed before I apply the tape if that makes any difference. I plan on doing the front bumper, front of the hood, side view mirrors, and behind the wheel wells. Anywhere else? Thanks.

Kilgore Trout · Aug 26, 2009

Yes absolutely.

isjoining · Aug 26, 2009

should be fine for a couple days. Though when I made two round trips from new york to florida, I didn't get a whole lot of rock chips. Just be cautious and don't follow anyone too close.

ArkansasMystic · Aug 26, 2009

No personal experience, but I've known of several who've done it with no issues.

stprorolla49 · Aug 26, 2009

Ok awesome. I have made this trip probably 10 times now in my old '95, and there is really no way to avoid the rock chips and abuse the front of the car takes. The worst was when I got my Cobra front bumper painted like 3 days before I left and put it right on the car before I left. Boy was that a mistake! It got trashed and after that, I didn't really care much because I new I was eventually going to get it resprayed. Then I just sold the car instead. My Bullitt is in mint condition thought and I would like to keep it that way so I will definitely be taping it up.

IIGood · Aug 26, 2009

See what a body shop would want for some of that clear vinyl protective stuff that goes over the paint. Probably more than the blue painter's tape though...but won't make the front of your car look light blue...

isjoining · Aug 26, 2009

IIGood said:
See what a body shop would want for some of that clear vinyl protective stuff that goes over the paint. Probably more than the blue painter's tape though...but won't make the front of your car look light blue...

well he's only going to drive it like that for 2 days, unless he constantly tailgates behind trucks, I don't think he needs the clear protective bra.

Kilgore Trout · Aug 27, 2009

IIGood said:
See what a body shop would want for some of that clear vinyl protective stuff that goes over the paint. Probably more than the blue painter's tape though...but won't make the front of your car look light blue...

That stuff is very expensive. You will easily spend $300-500 just for a basic professional install.

streethorse · Aug 27, 2009

Why not just invest in a front end Bra..... thats what they are for.

02nightmaregt · Aug 27, 2009

+1 those bras are ugly as hell, just my .02, but to the OP: you should be gtg with the painters tape. I wish I would have done that one my long drives

40oz · Aug 27, 2009

02nightmaregt said:
+1 those bras are ugly as hell, just my .02, but to the OP: you should be gtg with the painters tape. I wish I would have done that one my long drives

and blue painter's tape isn't ugly?!?

EPIK · Aug 27, 2009

Personally, I couldn't stand driving my car around for even a day with blue painters tape or a bra... I would look into the clear vinyl wrap if you are that concerned with rock chips... Even though it can be expensive it sounds like your best bet IMO...

Kornnut · Aug 27, 2009

I would roll the tape. Its cheap and easy. The clear bra and regular bra can get costly. A cheap bra will scratch the car.

waggs · Aug 27, 2009

i did it when i went on a 700 mile trip. my car got sooooooo many stares like wtf.

stprorolla49 · Aug 27, 2009

EPIK said:
Personally, I couldn't stand driving my car around for even a day with blue painters tape or a bra... I would look into the clear vinyl wrap if you are that concerned with rock chips... Even though it can be expensive it sounds like your best bet IMO...

While I do agree that it is ugly, I really can't afford to get a clear bra. I'm going into my senior year in college and money is tight as it is because I just bought the Bullitt. Not to mention, the car had a few small chips in the front bumper before I bought it, so it would be silly to wrap the bumper unless it was freshly painted. But again, if I had the money to spray the front bumper, I would DEFINITELY get it wrapped. Maybe when I get a real job after school I'll do that....hmmm...

waggs said:
i did it when i went on a 700 mile trip. my car got sooooooo many stares like wtf.

This is exactly what I was planning. I also plan to do behind the wheel wells.

waggs · Aug 27, 2009

oh and i put it on friday afternoon and took it off monday morning. had no problems

make sure you take an extra roll with you on the trip

PinkStang42 · Aug 29, 2009

Check this stuff out... Looks like saran wrap.

Road Wrap Paint Protection Film

Tape on front end for roadtrip...safe??

stprorolla49

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