How’s the Factory Paint Quality Holding Up on Your 3rd Gen Tundra?

TrailJustin · 2026-02-09T23:07:27+00:00

Let me start by saying this truck has no armor yet, so I’m definitely babying it until I can at least get skid plates and rock sliders on. My Tacoma was fully armored and I never had to think twice, but with this truck I move a little more cautiously. That said, my friend and I are avid duck hunters, and the hardest part of duck hunting is access. We do the public land hustle—refuges, walk-in public land, and boat-in spots. It’s all about scouting. We spend weekend after weekend in the offseason figuring out where we can and can’t go. What makes this time especially important is that the birds are still around, so the scouting actually produces useful information. You’re not just guessing—you’re confirming that the birds are still here and using those areas. On top of that, we’re getting deeper into boats. Not big boats like you might think, but small, hand-launch jon boats. And don’t get me wrong—boats are hard. The smaller the boat, the easier it is to carry… but also the sketchier it feels on the water. Add in the gear and it gets heavy fast. You end up hauling all this equipment in and out of the boat at 3 a.m., and a lot of the time you’re dragging the boat a few hundred yards just to get it to the water. That’s just part of the grind. Would love to see other peoples setups on what they are using to hunt and fish?

TRD JON

Administrator

Staff member

Jun 13, 2025

#1

After a few months of ownership, I wasstarting to notice some swirl marks and chips on my 2023 Tundra — even with careful washing. I’m in Mag Grey Mettalic, which hides a lot, but I’ve seen others mention soft paint on newer Toyotas.

Anyone else seeing issues with durability? Especially on darker colors like Magnetic Gray or Blueprint?

Also wondering if anyone’s gone ceramic or PPF yet — was it worth it?

Would love to hear how everyone’s paint is holding up, and what steps you’re taking to protect it long-term.

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