2026 Ford F-150 Custom PPF Case Study: Protection for a Shelter Green Work Truck

The pickup truck was dirty when it arrived, with dirt on the sides of the truck bed. They had driven this truck to two construction sites within one week of its purchase by the owner. There is a small construction business near Elmwood Park that he has. It’s for this reason that the F-150 is primarily designed to haul tools, samples, and work boots.

He stopped by our store in Chicago-Harlem and inquired if we could give him a PPF wrap for the front of his vehicle. But after examining the pickup, we chose to make a specialized plan.

Project Details

Detail	Information
Vehicle	2026 Ford F-150
Factory color	Shelter Green
Main use	Work trips, job sites, and highway use
Owner area	Elmwood Park
Installation shop	Chicago–Harlem
Protection plan	Custom PPF coverage
Film	SunTek Reaction Clear Gloss
Work time	Two business days
Final project cost	$3,560

What a Workday Looked Like

The owner traveled to different job locations in Chicago and nearby suburbs. Other paths were made of gravel, dirt, or cracked concrete.

He didn’t mind if the truck got dirty. He was concerned about marks that wouldn’t come off after washing.

The primary dangers included a variety of different risks:

rocks from parking lots;
salt on the road near the bottom of the doors;
tool bags located on the back of the bumper;
Work boots by the bottom of the car;
Keys and gloves are placed close to the handles;
door edges close to vans and walls;
insects and dirt from the road on the front of the car.

Why Full Front Was Not the Best Fit

Full Front PPF would cover the bumper, full hood, full front fenders, and headlights.

That works well for many daily drivers. This F-150 had a different problem. The front mattered, but the sides and rear loading area had just as much contact.

We asked him three questions:

Where do you park at work?
What touches the truck most?
Which marks would bother you in a year?

His answers pointed to the rocker panels, door edges, rear bumper, and loading area.

We kept full hood coverage because the truck saw regular highway use. We also covered the front bumper and headlights.

We left the full front fenders open. That saved room in the budget for the parts that faced boots, gravel, tools, and boxes each day.

What We Covered

The final plan included:

full hood;
front bumper and headlights;
mirror caps and A-pillars;
rocker panels;
four door cups and four door edges;
rear bumper;
rear loading strip.

The upper doors, roof, front fenders, and rear quarter panels stayed open.

This was not Full Front or Full Car PPF. It was a work-truck plan.

Why We Used Clear Gloss Film

The owner bought the truck because of Shelter Green. He enjoyed the dark look of the shade and the lighter look under store lights.

He didn’t want satin or matte film. Some panels having a different finish would not look good with the rest of the truck.

PPF in color didn’t make sense either. He had already decided on the color of the factory.

SunTek Reaction Clear Gloss was applied. It kept the paint in place without losing its luster and ensured a smooth surface for the painted area. The dirt, bug marks, and dried salt on the road would be easier to wipe off.

From time to time, the owner would go to automatic car washes. We told him that PPF would help alleviate light wash marks, but it would not stop all scratches.

Brian’s View

A work truck does not need film on every panel. It needs film where the work happens.

The hood faces the road. The rockers face boots and gravel. The rear bumper faces tools and boxes. Once he showed us his normal day, the right plan was clear.

How We Protect Every Part of Your Car

See real PPF installations on individual body panels. We show our process, common errors, and professional tips so you know exactly how your vehicle is protected.

Select a Body Part

Front Bumper

Two Days at Our Chicago–Harlem Shop

Our team washed the truck and checked the paint under shop lights.

The lower panels needed extra care. The truck had already been on dusty job sites, and no grit could stay under the film.

We began with the front of the car, including the hood, bumper, and headlights. One complete sheet was given to the hood.
The bumper took longer to make because it had many corners and lower sections.
After that, we went on to protect the mirror caps, A-pillars, door cups, door edges, and rocker panels.
The back bumper was the final big piece. We covered the main loading areas with film.

The truck remained overnight. The next day, we looked around the edges and corners before we picked up.

Project Cost

Service	Price
Hood, bumper, and headlights	$1,600
Mirror caps	$250
A-pillars	$240
Rocker panels	$400
Four door cups	$120
Four door edges	$120
Rear bumper	$710
Rear loading strip	$120
Final project total	$3,560