You use your vehicle to commute, to explore, to play. It’s an expensive investment. And you want to make sure it stays in pristine condition, but anytime you use your vehicle, the potential for damage is there.
Did you know the average cost to repair damaged paint is around $3,500? The adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” still rings true today. The average cost of protective films is a fraction of any repair cost.
Shipping and transporting, racing, and daily use continually expose your car to risk. So how do you keep your vehicle safe on the open roads? ArmorDillo protective film solutions are cost-effective to provide the ease of mind you need for your vehicle, no matter the application!
Protective Film Solutions
Protective car wraps are a plastic polymer film attached to the outer surface to prevent damage. However, not all wraps and products are made equal! Some are designed with specific applications in mind or offer different forms of attachment.
With so many different options available from a wide array of sources, how do you know what to pick? This guide will walk you through the options and their use cases to help you select the right product for your needs.
Transport Wrap
Transport wrap goes over the body and glass of the car, absorbing the impact of any debris and preventing it from causing damage. It is a cost-effective way to protect your vehicle during shipping to ensure it arrives at its destination in its original condition.
Not all transport wraps are the same, however. Traditional film solutions use an adhesive backing, leaving a sticky residue behind. While safe for short-term use, extended exposure to these adhesives can cause eventual damage to the paint.
Non-adhesive wraps utilize the chemistry of the wrap itself to adhere to the vehicle, leaving no residue behind! These protective films are often preferred, as their protective benefit is equal to their adherent counterparts without the potential for lingering residue.
Collision Film
Collision film is a polyethylene sheet used to cover broken windows and exposed areas of a car after an accident. Collision film excels at keeping the weather and elements from intruding on the sensitive interior of the vehicle.
Collision wraps are typically self-adhesive and help hold loose or damaged paneling together. These products are puncture-resistant to make sure no debris or objects enter the vehicle.
After an accident, collision film is necessary to protect the vehicle during transit and storage until repairs can be made. If your car has been in an accident or you work in collision transport and repair, collision film is a necessary product to carry!
Track Tape
Track tape is an effective tool for racers and car enthusiasts. Unlike transport wraps or collision film, track tape is a temporary covering used on smooth surfaces to protect sensitive or damage-prone areas of a vehicle against low-flying road debris.
Good track tape goes on clear and has an adhesive that applies well to a clean and dry surface. Track tape excels at protecting small surfaces where an application is easily achieved.
Track tape is not a replacement for total car coverage or long-term use and is temporary.
Rocker Panel Tape
Rocker panel tape is similar to track tape but is used to protect the side paneling of your vehicle near the wheel wells. It is often used on trucks but is a welcome addition to any vehicle where protection of the rocker panels is a must.
Some products are also designed as a temporary solution for dealers and shippers to help keep the sidewall paneling in mint condition before sale or delivery.
Automotive Masking Tape
ArmorDillo Automotive masking tape is similar to track tape but can be used anywhere on the car, both interior and exterior! Masking tape protects against impacts and scratches to both solid surfaces and upholstery.
Automotive masking tape is also easily removed without damaging the surface it was applied to, ensuring protection does not come at a cost! Don’t hesitate to use it on areas of your vehicle that are prone to damage.
Adhesive Floor Mats
Vehicle interiors are just as essential to protect as the exterior. To that end, adhesive floor mats are a must for any mechanic, DIYer, or service technician. They effectively protect the floor and carpeting from scratches, stains, and cuts.
Adhesive floor mats can be used in both a temporary and permanent nature and offer a cost-effective way to make sure your upholstery remains in original condition.
Best of all, adhesive floor mats don’t shift and move with use like non-adhesive mats, ensuring they protect the upholstery even when there is activity inside the vehicle.
Paint Booth Film
Keeping a paint booth in pristine condition is difficult and often requires potent chemicals to strip the paint from the floors and walls.
Both wall and floor films offer a semi-permanent solution to overspray, are easily rinseable, and can be replaced when needed.
These products enable painters to focus on painting, not cleanup! ArmorDillo films are puncture- and heat-resistant with a solid adhesive and non-slip surface.
ArmorDillo Protective Film Products
Your car is a valuable asset, and protecting it from damage maintains its value well and is your top priority. If you’re still unsure what product would best fit your needs or help with an application, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d be glad to assist you.
Whether you work with cars as your profession or are simply a hobbyist, ArmorDillo has a wide array of protective film solutions for every need, from track day to storage to shipping. Best of all, our products are proudly made in the USA!