Bronze Oxide Durability

[rsteens]

Hey everyone! I’m looking at getting a new Tacoma for a work rig here soon. I do forestry work in Oregon, so it’ll see plenty of brushy forest roads and rough use.

I know I should get white since it does a great job of hiding scratches, but I absolutely love Bronze Oxide.

I’ll be on a 4–5 year trade-in cycle, so my concern is that the green paint might show scratches and hurt the resale value. I’m curious if anyone here has firsthand experience with heavy use on brushy roads with Bronze Oxide. Is it light enough with enough flake to hide scratches reasonably well, or would you recommend avoiding it for a forestry/work truck color? PPF would be one solution, but not sure if it would cost more than the scratches hurt the resale value.

Just putting some thoughts out there.

Thanks so much!

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[CCLG]

Bronze Oxide here. I originally wanted white too (easiest to hide scratches and touching up), but I just couldn't resist this color. I did do a full body PPF as scratches develop easily and shows up clearly with this color (any brand new toyota color sucks now and ever since). I treat this truck like a baby and is honestly my pavement princess, got my tundra for the heavy offroad use. If you're going to trade, I can not justify a full body PPF as the investment return is negligible, and dealers will just rip you a new one with trade value anyway.

To be straight, no, it does not hide scratches.

 

[Mercedes]

I’ll be on a 4–5 year trade-in cycle...with heavy use on brushy roads...

Given the conditions, I'm not sure one color will ultimately show better than another. While more obvious with the Bronze Oxide, as one walks around a white or lighter truck, the scratches will show themselves.

If not as severe, polishing the exterior before resell might be an option. Discuss this with a local detailer. They could offer a likelihood of success.

Paint Protection Film is the best preventative. The material comes in different thicknesses, measured in "mils" or thousandths of an inch. Eight-mil is common for the street. Ten-mil is often recommended for track and off-road.

You know the area and the conditions well. While installing PPF end-to-end would be nice, that can become expensive. Maybe strips, one on each side of the truck, from the bottom of the rocker up to about the door handle level? Something covering where most of the scratches are likely to occur. Before resell, the PPF could be removed, with a light polish end-to-end.

Yet another option and maybe a sweet spot: buy used. Especially now with the new Model Year approaching. You're on a four-to-five year cycle anyway. You'd buy something very nice with most of the depreciation paid for by someone else.

 

[BIGPZA]

Yeah you're going to want to PPF the thing if you're concerned with resale. I think all the paint on the gen 4's leaves a lot to be desired, and that's especially true of the bronze oxide color. Plus, the color has an awful lot going on, making it very difficult to match with touch up paint. I bought a kit from a company called Scratches Happen and it's a pretty far cry from a perfect match. That was in 2024 though, hopefully there's some closer matches out now.

 

[Wife bought my 24 TRD]

Bronze oxide here, I will say that tt will show scratches and the paint chips really easy. Worst paint job on a vehicle I've owned yet.
Still love the truck.
I run tall skinny tires with little too no poke and still have rock chips even with sloders.

 

[Bluznvice]

BO here. Gravel roads, some brush. I did partial PPF and it's been essential IMO. I also have the full OEM side step which also helps a ton with rock chips even with +25 offset wheels. Not a single noticeable chip yet (knock on wood since I just said that). I think you'll lose a fair amount on resale with a lot of chips, so it's worth it for me. Not to mention enjoying the beauty of flawless BO.

 

[BIGPZA]

Gotta thank the orange peel for the lack of chips in the lower finish. I wish they'd have done the whole damn truck that way.

 

[MT-Taco]

I’ve scratched the hell outta my Underground. It buffed out just fine. Get the color you want!

 

[rsteens]

Bronze Oxide here. I originally wanted white too (easiest to hide scratches and touching up), but I just couldn't resist this color. I did do a full body PPF as scratches develop easily and shows up clearly with this color (any brand new toyota color sucks now and ever since). I treat this truck like a baby and is honestly my pavement princess, got my tundra for the heavy offroad use. If you're going to trade, I can not justify a full body PPF as the investment return is negligible, and dealers will just rip you a new one with trade value anyway.

To be straight, no, it does not hide scratches.

Thanks for your feedback! Bummer to hear that scratches and chips develop easily, that's what I was afraid of and pretty much expected. A PPF does seem like the best route to keep it in good shape, but yeah not worth the investment on a trade in. I love your set up! It looks so good on those bronze wheels!

 

[rsteens]

Given the conditions, I'm not sure one color will ultimately show better than another. While more obvious with the Bronze Oxide, as one walks around a white or lighter truck, the scratches will show themselves.

If not as severe, polishing the exterior before resell might be an option. Discuss this with a local detailer. They could offer a likelihood of success.

Paint Protection Film is the best preventative. The material comes in different thicknesses, measured in "mils" or thousandths of an inch. Eight-mil is common for the street. Ten-mil is often recommended for track and off-road.

You know the area and the conditions well. While installing PPF end-to-end would be nice, that can become expensive. Maybe strips, one on each side of the truck, from the bottom of the rocker up to about the door handle level? Something covering where most of the scratches are likely to occur. Before resell, the PPF could be removed, with a light polish end-to-end.

Yet another option and maybe a sweet spot: buy used. Especially now with the new Model Year approaching. You're on a four-to-five year cycle anyway. You'd buy something very nice with most of the depreciation paid for by someone else.

Thanks this is really great advice, definitely along the lines of what I was thinking. A partial PPF along the sides would be a great compromise to a full expensive job. I've got all the buffing equipment, so that would be easy to do. And I am hoping I can buy a lightly used 26 model, I would prefer to let someone else pay the depreciation haha

 

[rsteens]

I’ve scratched the hell outta my Underground. It buffed out just fine. Get the color you want!

Those scratches did buff out nicely, thanks for the photos! Nice looking truck!

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