Color preference/maintenance on Off-Road pickup...

[Comattack]

What paint (color/finish) maintenance concerns do you guys have that off road your pick-up regularly/occasionally?

I'm getting a '06 Tacoma TRD-OR soon. But undecided with the color.
Still considering 3 options. Black, Indigo ink, or Desert Sand (in that order). I realize Black and Indigo will get dirty FAST (unlike the Desert Sand). I have a black car already and I know how it is (But I don't off-road my Sedan).

I like Black 'cause it looks so damn good when it's clean. But can I expect it to go to $*** in no time if I 'wheel my truck regularly?
What are you're guys opinions?

I already wash my Car EVERY week! I expect I will do the same with my truck as well as wax more often. Will ALWAYS wash off the dirt right after mudding (whenever possible), and it won't be sitting dirty for days on end. I can handle a little normal dust buildup during the week (I live in the desert anyway).

Even if I 'wheel my truck, will this be enough to keep it looking good for a LONG time, or should I consider another color?

[azfire06]

My past experience is Black and White colors are easier to color match /fix chips in the paint. Metalic colors are harder the get an exact match. My Tacoma is silver. In hind sight I would have gone with white. Black is just to dark for Arizona.

[Comattack]

Originally Posted by azfire06

...Black is just to dark for Arizona.

All that light colored & orange dirt just shows up too much, huh?
Or is there another reason?

[Comattack]

I guess my main concern is serious scratches and dings from off roading.
Granted, I don't plan on any serious "trail blazing." Don't plan on flying down a very rocky/gravel trails, or through brush. Maybe a few 4X4 trails, sand dunes, and some occasional mudding (when I can find it). Think the paint will be ok if I go with a dark color? Probably just dusty & a little more dirty than normal use...

I'm just concerned about "damge", not just being dirty. As long as it'll still continue to clean-up and wax real nice after some use, I'll be a happy camper.

[tbrown78]

I've got black and it looks dirty 5 minutes after I wash it. Still looks good though. My paint has held up pretty good despite running it through brush and having tree branches running down the side of it. I only have a few small scratches that I can see but after a good wash and wax with Mcguire's tech wax they pretty much vanish. I would go with white or sand pearl though if I lived in Arizona too damn hot for black and the paint will fade faster in that hot sun, being that I live in conditions opposite of you (cold and snowing) black is ok with me.

[mckinley]

There is a desert sand on the local lot that i test drove a couple weeks ago...As i said before in another thread had it been ANY other a color i would've considered buying it but that color is way to boring for me even when it's CLEAN.

According to everyone i know that has something that color or close to it is easier to keep ... I would assume that ibecause it's an earth tone and would tend to blend with the elements.

If you don't mind the extra cleaning go with the Indigo Ink because it's different than black but the same concept .... that was actually my SECOND choice!

Whatever you do go with what's right for you and not what everyone else tells you!

[JUNGLEMAN]

Yeah, you`re the one that will be looking at it everyday so go with what you want, personally every white vehicle I see looks dirty, black runs under the mirrors-trim etc.

It gets over 100 all the time here in the summer and I still went with the Indigo because I love dark colored vehicles a buddy of mine just spent over $40,000 on a new dodge supercab or whatever they call it and he got white I was like c`mon show some imagination
I run mine off road "trail blazing" as you call it and it`s scratched down the sides but buffs out ok if you wash every week already it`ll be no big deal
I have to dust it every couple of days when it`s clean or it builds up pretty fast but still going down the highway when dirty it still looks better than the lighter colors to me just my opinion

bottom line-get what you want

[tguil]

For ease of maintenance go with white. My wife's Tacoma is white and it looks great most of the time. My Dodge Hemi is black and it is much harder to keep "lookin' good".(I live on a gravel road.) I am very good at detailing and minor scratch repair. If you are at all concerned about scratches stay away from the metallics, including Toyota's metallic black.

Tom

[Norsewoodworks]

I have a red one and as far as keeping it clean it's kind of in the middle. I like the red because my first toyota was red and... well, it was a peice of history. The red really stands out, people say that cops look for red but on the other people see it when they are merging on the freeway. I wish they would have come out with a bright yellow, I think that the tacoma would look nice in that or maybe even an orange. I prefer the straight color finishes to the metallic ones. I live in the middle of CA and I would not do black because of the heat, although black is really nice.

[tacosupreme]

One of the TTORA guys rhino lined his fender flares and rocker panels. I have been wanting to do my whole truck, but I can't find rhino liner here in Germany. They have to have it somewhere, if not hell it might be a good business opportunity-

[SuperBusa]

Silver hides dirt the best IMO. You don't know how dirty it really is until ya wash it.

What's nice about the metallic colors is that they have a clear coat, which means you can rub out most slight stratches without getting in to the main paint.

[TACODOC]

Originally Posted by SuperBusa

Silver hides dirt the best IMO. You don't know how dirty it really is until ya wash it.

What's nice about the metallic colors is that they have a clear coat, which means you can rub out most slight stratches without getting in to the main paint.

Silver all the way!
Maybe I'm biased

[goldmember]

I think Silver, Desert Sand, and White are the best for offroading. White being the best for hiding scratches.

[Comattack]

Originally Posted by tbrown78

I've got black and it looks dirty 5 minutes after I wash it. Still looks good though. My paint has held up pretty good despite running it through brush and having tree branches running down the side of it. I only have a few small scratches that I can see but after a good wash and wax with Mcguire's tech wax they pretty much vanish. I would go with white or sand pearl though if I lived in Arizona too damn hot for black and the paint will fade faster in that hot sun, being that I live in conditions opposite of you (cold and snowing) black is ok with me.

Not concerned with heat (I'm in California). Thats what the AC is for!
I've had a black car for awhile. No issues with fading. Was just concerned with the off-road aspect of it.

Thanks for your input. I think I will get black or Indigo ink. I'll decide before I walk into the dealer and order in a month or two.