The TWRAPS DIY PPF is an amazing product for those looking to wrap their Cybertruck and save a decent chunk of change in the process. I have never installed PPF before this, so I can't compare the TWRAPS product to any other PPF product. But the TWRAPS product was very well prepared for DIY installation and looks incredible (even with a few mistakes).
Iliya (the owner) is super-responsive to emails and will answer any and all questions you have before, during, and after installation.
I have to admit that the color we chose (Milan Gold) doesn't look quite like I envisioned, even based on seeing the film after receiving it. It is very influenced by the type of light it is in. In most light, like direct sunlight or even led lighting, it looks very yellow gold/tan, and doesn't look metallic even. But in lower light, like twilight, it looks more champagne/rose gold, which is what we were hoping more for. It's not a deal breaker, as it still looks awesome in any lighting...we think. :)
I wouldn't say that installation was the easiest thing I've ever done, but with a couple key pieces of information beforehand, the installation can go smoother and produce a better result.
Here are my takeaways and key tips to anyone thinking about doing diy PPF on the Cybertruck (abbreviated a bit to fit in the review).
- Make sure to read ALL of the pages of instructions supplied with the film. Also, watch the ENTIRE installation video (twice!). I had one issue with one panel due to failing to follow this first tip. I ended up with steel showing on the bottom front corner of the driver's rear door due to not reading the instructions, and not knowing that this particular corner doesn't get edge wrapped like all the other lower door corners.
- Secondly, and potentially more importantly, DO NOT WORRY about any small bubbles that won't EASILY squeegee out to an edge. I can't stress this enough! The majority of my install defects are due to me being anal retentive and trying to remove EVERY bubble, no matter how difficult they were to move to an edge. Even after knowing that bubbles from the hood were disappearing after a couple hours, I kept trying to remove all of them. Fight that urge if you have it!! Because even the largest bubble I had completely disappeared after a few days with a decent amount of time in the sun. And more importantly, moving a bubble, if the film is quite dry underneath, will damage the film at the adhesive layer and show forever.
- To help with reducing how many small, difficult-to-move bubbles you have, make sure to use at least a 1:15 soap to water ratio in your slip solution. I stupidly started lower than that, and it definitely makes it harder to get the water and bubbles out from under the film, as the film starts to attach very quickly. I believe my installation was more difficult due to me being in Texas in August, and it probably being 95-100 degrees in the garage. The water under the film was drying/evaporating at a very rapid rate. It was difficult to work fast enough on the initial tack points and surfaces before the rest of the panel was too dry to squeegee out -- even very large bubbles. So, it required partially pulling the film back off and adding more slip solution underneath.
- Do not accidentally try to squeegee with the top surface of the film when it is dry. This can unfortunately be easy to do with the rubber squeegee as it pretty much removes all of the surface water with a single pass. So, if you are trying to do multiple passes, the film will most likely be dry where you just squeegeed. And, if you put much force and speed into it, you can catch the film with the squeegee and wrinkle it. Yes, I did this at least once and will not heal and show forever. :(
- Take your time on the edge folding and probably put it off until the next day. The main issue I had with the edge wrapping was causing wrinkles/ripples after each place where I tucked it in. I think the only way around this is try to partially wrap the edge the entire length of that panel, and then go back to fully tuck it all the way in. The panels this affects the most are the cantrails (on the window edge) and the frunk. These panels have very tight spaces. Use the sharp-edged tool provided with the film for this.
- IF you do need to peel the film back up, BE CAREFUL! It IS possible to tear the film. Ask me how I know. :(
- While installing the film is largely a one-person job, it is advised to have someone help to peel the film from the backing. It is one of the hardest parts of the whole process, surprisingly. Again, be careful not to tear the film here...no, I didn't tear it at this step. :)
I think that's about it. After the film has cured, even with all the defects I produced, our PPF really looks amazing! Just take your time (except when squeegeeing, where you need to work quickly) and you'll do just fine.