Jeep Wrangler Custom Paint: The Dos And Don’ts Of A Successful Project

Customizing a Jeep Wrangler with a fresh coat of paint is a great way to make the vehicle your own and stand out on the road. Whether you want a bold and eye-catching color or a more subtle and classic hue, the options for Jeep Wrangler custom paint jobs are endless.

To get a custom paint job on your Jeep Wrangler, simply prepare the desired paint & spray according to the plan. There are also many more things that you need to know before taking the project on hand. Otherwise, you may end up with a messy exterior color of your beloved car.

That’s why, in this article, we are going to get all the basics & essentials about the Jeep Wrangler custom paint. Let’s begin.

Preparing Your Jeep Wrangler For A Custom Paint Job

Proper planning and pre-preparing are a must when you are planning to have custom paint on your Jeep Wrangler.

If you follow the correct way to prepare your Jeep Wrangler prior to painting, the process can save your time & from the messiness. Here are some preparation steps that you can check out.

Step 1: Remove the Hardware of Your Jeep

First of all, remove all the easily removable hardware of your Jeep Wranglers like headlight bezels, mirrors, and taillights.

You may also remove the side mirrors, lights, and license plates so that they do not have paint stains on them.

Step 2: Clean Your Jeep & Fix the Scratches

Now carefully clean the surface of your Jeep Wrangler with denatured alcohol. Use the recommended one for your jeep.

Because if you use the wrong chemical makeup while prepping your jeep or don’t clean the jeep properly, the paint can’t adhere to the base paint of it.

You may have to go over the process in more than one attempt. Use a clean blue paper shop towel for this purpose.

Besides, if your jeep has any scratches, fix the scratches. The target is to make the surface of your jeep as smooth as possible.

Step 3: Sanding the Surface Of Your Jeep

Now as you plan the custom paint on your Jeep Wrangler, move ahead to the sanding process.

In the sanding booth, first, separate all the remaining hard parts like trail ready medallion, & radio antenna of your Jeep Wrangler. You can use a hand sandpaper hardener or machine sanding for this task.

Sand smoothly & evenly on your Jeep Wrangler’s original paint for the preparation to apply the primer.

Step 4: Mask the Areas That Should Remain Unpainted on Your Jeep

Mask the glasses and the other areas of your jeep that should not be painted.

In case you have removed the hardtop of your Jeep Wrangler for painting, you should mask it all over the interior of the jeep.

If needed, mask also the tires and the bumpers of it. Better to mask the engines, as the paint can spray beneath the hood & to the fenders.

Choosing The Right Paint And Supplies For Your Jeep Wrangler

Custom paint on the Jeep Wrangler is worth it, as this paint job gives the most unique look on it.

To get the ultimate attractive look on your jeep, choosing the right paint & supplies is the first condition.

Noted below are the things that you may need to consider before getting custom paint.

Available Colors

Here are some options of available colors that are used for custom painting on Jeep Wranglers.

Urethane

Urethane is the most used color for custom paint on Jeep Wranglers due to its great benefits:

It is long-lasting

Highly resistant & it doesn’t fade for up to 10 years
It dries quickly
Provides great protection against UV rays, rain & snow.

Urethane is a high-quality paint. That’s why this paint is more costly than any other paint.

Besides, urethane paint is hard to handle. So, if you’re planning to get your jeep painted by yourself or you are inexperienced, better to leave it to the experts.

Acrylic Enamel

Acrylic enamel is also a good option for custom paint on your Jeep Wrangler.

Speaking of which, it creates a strong shell on the surface which makes it long-lasting. Like urethane paint, this is also hard to apply. Besides, the paint required ‘baking’ equipment to make it last longer.

Acrylic Lacquer

Acrylic lacquer is a good option for you when you’re having a custom paint by hand. Unlike urethane or acrylic enamel, lacquer is easy to apply.

Besides, it’ll provide a high gloss on your jeep. But the color of the acrylic paint can be especially affected by the UV ray.

More than that it has some environmental effects. That’s why some states don’t allow this paint.

Acrylic Urethane

Acrylic urethane is also used for the custom paint on the Jeep Wrangler as it’s long-lasting, moreover easy to apply.

But the only problem is that it dries fast. So, you have to apply the paint first as soon as you mix it.

Auto Paint Finishes Options

There are also several options for finishing custom paint on the Jeep Wrangler. Have a look for a better idea.

Solid paint

As standard, most cars nowadays have solid paint finishes. Solid paint is less expensive as well as it works better to hide scratches.

Metallic paint

Metallic paint is at its high because it gives the eye catchy sparkle look when you apply it for the custom paint on your vehicle.

It catches the sunlight & provides a glittering appearance to your jeep. Metallic paint tends to be expensive & it has a limited color option.

Matte paint

Matte paint is an expensive choice for a custom paint job. Matte paint is famous for its silky, satin smoothness on the surface of the vehicle.

Pearlescent paint

Pearlescent paint is like metallic paint. It gives a dazzling appearance on your Jeep Wrangler.

This painting appears great for a painting job as it has the many colors of the rainbow. But the paint is expensive. Moreover, pearlescent paint is hard to match.

Supplies Need for The Custom Paint Job

The success of a project depends mostly on the equipment that you choose. Listed below are supplies that are requisite before having a custom paint on your Jeep Wrangler.

Masking tape
Sandpaper of different grades
Paint stripper & sprayer

Primer
Water & sealer
Paints

Newspaper
Stirring sticks
Stencils

Safety glasses & protection equipment
Polish & wax

Applying The Custom Paint To Your Jeep Wrangler

Now let’s move ahead to the main task of applying the custom paint on the Jeep Wrangler.

The task isn’t going to be hard as long as you consider the steps of our article. So, let’s begin.

Step-1: Plan For Your Custom Paint

Plan for the whole custom painting job on your Jeep Wrangler. Select the colors that you are going to apply on your jeep & plan the parts that you will get painted. Now move ahead according to your plan.

Step-2: Apply Primer

Now get ready for applying the primer. After sanding the jeep, put the primer in the specific areas of your jeep. Ensure to use the primer that is compatible with the final surface of the vehicle.

First, start by applying a thin coat. Avoid trying to cover a thick cover all at once.

You may need different grit sandpaper hardeners, sticks for stirring, thinner, mixing cans or breathing masks, etc. for accomplishing the job.

Step-3: Now Let’s Put Colors!

At this moment, according to the plan, start applying color to the Jeep Wrangler that you have chosen for it.

You can use the paint sprayer as it will have the evenest coverage. Put the coat of the colors on the surface until it gets the best even look.

You may also want to sand between the coat for a fantastic look on your jeep. After applying the color coat, take care of the details.

Step-4: Designs & stencils

On your Jeep Wrangler, you can also use the stencils as well as spray beautiful & new colors on it.

If you’re inexperienced, free-hand drawing can be a little hard. So, for applying your desired designs, practice it somewhere else until you get satisfaction. Now use the design on your Jeep Wrangler.

Finishing Touches For Your Custom Painted Jeep Wrangler

All done now with your custom painting on your Jeep Wrangler. Before appreciating your hard work, have some finishing touches on your new custom-painted jeep.

Here are they-

Check whether there is full coverage & proper painting has been done. Again, look at the details & the line for the best crisp look.
Now undo the masking & open the covered areas.
Reattach all the parts that you removed earlier like the mirror or glasses, bezel, and taillights.

Double-check everything and have a final look at your hard work.

That’s all done! Congratulate yourself on the great success.

Tips For Selecting A Color That Compliments Your Jeep Wrangler’s Style

When it’s time for selecting the color that compliments the style of your Jeep Wrangler, all things become tricky.

That’s why to help you out, here, we come up with some suggestions that will help you with this confusion.

Personal taste:

When choosing colors, the first priority is your personal choice as the color choice for the jeep will reflect your personality. Choose the color that suits your personality.

Take a look at the gallery of jeep photos:

Manning to the photo gallery of the jeeps will help to select the color that will suit your jeep best. Besides, it’ll help you to have ideas for having the best custom paint.

Consider the purpose of the jeep:

You should choose the color of your jeep according to its purpose. Because the color matters a lot based on the use of it, whether you’re using it for daily purposes or just for traveling, consider it.

Match the color code:

If you are trying to have the custom paint on your jeep matched to the previous one, check the color code of it. You will find the color code of your jeep listed somewhere on your jeep.

Things To Consider When Getting A Custom Paint Job For A Jeep Wrangler

Hereabouts are some things that you need to consider while having a custom paint on your Jeep Wrangler. Take a look.

Start the custom painting task at the peak point of your Jeep Wrangler.
You should apply the paint horizontally & vertically when you use a metallic paint for this job. This will help to make the paint shiny.

Use the sandpaper after each coat of color spraying.

You can have 600-800 grit sandpaper for this purpose.

Use the sandpaper in the same direction as you have sprayed.

You can also polish the paint prior to waxing your jeep. It’ll assist to get the quality look of the jeep that you are wanting.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

While manning through several forums & query sites, we come across some queries related to the Jeep Wrangler custom paint. Let’s try to cover some of them.

How much does a custom paint job for a Jeep Wrangler typically cost?

The price for a custom paint job for a Jeep Wrangler depends on whether you are going to do the job on your own or by hiring an expert. Whatever way you choose, it’ll cost you on average about $200 to $3000.

How long does a custom paint job for a Jeep Wrangler typically take?

Getting a custom paint job for a Jeep Wrangler will take time especially when you care about getting it perfectly done. The custom paint job on the Jeep Wrangler will take you about 10-40 hours.

Can I get a custom paint job on a new Jeep Wrangler?

Yeah, you can get your new Jeep Wrangler customized from the factory. There are thousands of companies of Jeep Wrangler that thrive the buyers by offering many customizing options.

Can I add custom graphics or designs to my Jeep Wrangler’s custom paint job?

You can add custom graphics or designs on the custom paint of your Jeep Wrangler. Choose your favorite color, and select the best graphic design according to your choice for your Jeep Wrangler as there many options are available.

Will a custom paint job affect the value of my Jeep Wrangler?

Rather than reducing the value of your Jeep Wrangler, getting custom paint can increase its liking. But not getting the highest quality job for the custom painting can easily reduce the resale value.

Conclusion

Whether you are having a new look on your Jeep Wrangler or touching up scratches, custom painting allows you exactly what you are desiring.

If you are planning to get Jeep Wrangler custom paint on your own, consider all the things that we’ve already mentioned. Prep your jeep properly as the success of the custom paint job mostly depends on it.

The attractiveness of custom paint of the Jeep Wrangler depends on the sharpness & clearness of the work. Most of the time it requires experience or an expert hand.

So for the best result, you can leave the job in the experts’ hands. Also, you have to follow the instruction sheet to protect your new paint job.

Jeep Wrangler Custom Paint: The Dos And Don’ts Of A Successful Project