I definitely do not have a show truck. I use it for hunting and snowmobiling. I opted to have it painted as I will not buy a newer Ram that goes for 30k +
I figured why not spend a grand or two and make it nice since I will be keeping it for many more years.
I do want the flat black look but also the protection of a clear coat. I guess I will try to have the shop do the flattening agent so it is not glossy.

Thanks for the input!

 

just make sure its still compatible with protectants like auto waxes or it wont last long out of the garage....that and the fact that it will stain with mud and such that will take more elbow grease to remove are factors that make the flat look less practical on a truck...
I have flat black herculiner on my rocker and bed and its a bitch to keep clean...I use armor all to bring the faded look out of it at the cost of it adding shine to it...

 

I have to still pay my employees to work, even if it's my own car . Thats why my cost is so high.

Look into vinyl wrapping your truck. You can get a consistent color that will last just as long but without the down time.

 

So even with a clear coat that has a flattening agent I won't get "normal" protection as any other paint job or color would??

 

The clear will have a slight texture to it, so certain waxes can clog the pores and make the paint look like crap. Wax is what really protects your paint. There is little UV protectant in clear coats.

 

Thats what I figured... (and mentioned)

I install and maintain the equipment that does produces the wraps for vehicles for a living as well as other graphics and wide format equipment... I dont believe that would be a great choice in this case...they do not hold up as well in certain applications...
and I second the wax making flat or satin paint look bad... you get white swirl marks once it drys.... you have to use "wax alternatives" that often dont hold up long or as well...think about it...
wax works almost as a polish and leaves a shiny finish when dry and most of the excess is whiped away... a rough finish just makes it easyier for stuff to get stuck in it and with wax its a heavy buildup that gets stuck leaving while residue.

 

Maybe because I'm not in the business, but can someone explain why a flat paint would be subject to all the mentioned problems while a gloss wouldn't? I DO want a clear coat on it, just with a flattening agent. Does this not offer the same protection as a clear coat on any other paint??
Sounds like its not worth it altogether....

 

It does offer the same protection as clear. It IS clear...with a flattener. But you will be charged more because of the risk. It CANNOT be sanded and buffed. It CANNOT be buffed at all. If you wash it too hard it'll gloss. Paint and pray is what it is. One speck of dirt and it's a repaint.

 

When my truck was at the body shop I asked how much a full paint job would cost, $2k.

 

Here are some pics of my satin black job.