I've been thinking of adding an aluminum metallic wrap to the AC unit shroud and potentially parts of the roof to cut down on thermal gain. Anyone done this, or applied a wrap material to the lower portion to protect the paint from rock chips, to the windows, etc.? I'd be interested to know how that went and is holding up.
I’m also interested in some type of rock guard for the lower frontal area to the sides of the aero box. We’ve gained some rock chips already in only 2,200 miles of travel. The aero box itself is unscathed, as we tow with it in the raised position. I haven’t decided how to do this. Clear PPF would preserve the appearance, but I don’t know how it would hold up. Of two wrap shops that I visited, one wasn’t very encouraging, advising that I’d need to avoid automotive pressure washes and expect some edge lifting. I’d like to hear from anyone with experience. The stainless-steel rock guards on our previous trailer were beautifully dimpled from our adventures in the Yukon and Alaska. The Pebble fiberglass won’t take it as well.
I went through the same analysis. In the end, we decided to stick with wrap in the rock-prone areas and just replace as needed. It is very easy to remove and reapply a wrap. Putting a clear PPF over a wrap is not a good cosmetic solution. Once you watch people wrap a vehicle, it is something many could do as a DIY project. If you mess it up, call a professional, pull it off, and do it right.
I just did a wrap on a new Lightship for exactly the same reasons, to reduce thermal loads on the skin. I used 3M 2080 Brushed Aluminum vinyl wrap. Wraps work great, but you don't want to wrap any vehicle that is not covered when not in use.