Jeeps are built to last. If you run your vehicle through off-roading challenges, it might need a little help to stay fit.
Investing in high-quality linings is the best way to protect a Jeep against corrosion and weathering.
Although Line-X and Rhino Line are often used for truck beds, these products are specially designed for exterior use. It doesn’t leave any residue when applied to metal surfaces, allowing it to be applied to each panel.
You lose the paint color of your Jeep with this application, with the lining turning it a dark gray or black. In return, you’ll have a more resilient surface for each new adventure.
Cost to Line X/Rhino an Entire Jeep?
The cost to Line-X or Rhino an entire Jeep is approximately $5,000. Several factors can change this price, including the desire to add linings to the vehicle’s interior. In return, these products provide a lifetime end-to-end warranty that works hard to protect the assets that drivers use daily.
Although liners are often used for truck beds, it is possible to spray Line-X or Rhino Line products on almost anything. Those who go off-roading with a Jeep in challenging conditions might consider having this product applied to the entire exterior.
You can also protect trailers, boats, motorcycles, and even firetrucks with these products.
If you decide that linings are only needed for one part of your Jeep instead of the entire vehicle, you can save some cash. It’s about $500 to treat a single section.
Several factors can affect the price quotes you’ll receive if you want to Line-X or Rhino an entire Jeep.
- Where You Live. Prices for lining installation are typically higher along the U.S. West and East Coasts. It tends to be cheaper in the central Midwestern states and the Plains states. The cost difference can be as much as 25% in some areas.
- Prep Work. Your Jeep must be cleaned and sanded to ensure the liner adheres to the exterior surface. If extensive work is necessary to complete this step, the price of services will rise accordingly.
- Lining Type. Line-X and Rhino provide several different products to consider when you want to treat an entire Jeep. If you opt for Solar Max, you’ll pay less than choosing Extreme for this service.
- Jeep Dimensions. Jeeps come in different shapes and sizes. If you have a larger model, the cost estimate received to work on the entire vehicle will be higher.
Line-X and Rhino have a similar coverage cost for Jeep owners. Although ArmorThane and Toff are slightly cheaper, you’ll find more satisfied customers when working with these trusted brands for your lining needs.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Lining an Entire Jeep?
When you’re thinking about lining an entire Jeep, it’s important to review the advantages and disadvantages that come with this investment.
Here’s a closer look at what you can expect when having one of these brands applied to your vehicle.
| Pros of Lining and Entire Jeep | Cons of Lining an Entire Jeep |
| The chemical mixes used by Rhino and Line-X are essentially the same. Although some chemical differences exist, the results provide a similar impact resistance benefit that protects a Jeep from unexpected knocks. | The installation process represents the majority of your risk with this investment. If you get a great installer, the liner will last quite well. |
| Several additional services are available when you look at lining an entire Jeep. Surface spraying, UV protectants, color matching, and other features work to deliver a resilient outcome for your driving needs. | Line-X and Rhino liners tend to fade after receiving a few years of sunlight exposure. Some formulas are more resistant than others to minimize this disadvantage, but you’ll typically need to pay more for that benefit. |
| Line-X and Rhino provide a nationwide lifetime warranty on their products, ensuring that you receive the protection needed for your investment. | Unless you decide to pay extra to have UV protection included in the liner, your Jeep won’t match any exposed factory paint after a couple of years on the road. |
| The best products from these lining brands provide a long-lasting exterior that doesn’t crack or chip. It provides extra moisture resistance to prevent corrosion, even in coastal climates. | It can hurt the resale value of your Jeep. Most people prefer the exterior paint because that lets them have more modification options. Adding a Line-X or Rhino layer removes that versatility. |
| Lining the entire Jeep can reduce the amount of exterior noise drivers experience when they’re behind the wheel. It absorbs some of the vibrations that you encounter while on the highway or an off-road trail. | Exterior linings create a permanent seal. If you decide this look is right for you, it could take some major bodywork to restore your Jeep’s condition. |
If you’ve ever had someone bang their door into your vehicle, you’ve seen the small dents that can be collected as time passes. When you apply a Line-X or Rhino lining, their appearance disappears beneath the resilient surface.
The lining has enough of an impact resistance rating to prevent future damage from low-speed impacts.
Comparison of Line-X and Rhino Liners
When reviewing the list of available liners for an entire Jeep, Line-X and Rhino are the two brands that stand out.
Although they’re essentially the same product, there are some key differences to consider before deciding on the product to use for your vehicle.
Here’s a closer look at what you can expect when working with these two brands.
Information About Line-X Liners
When choosing a Line-X liner for a Jeep, it’s important to know that the product gets applied hot. Temperatures can be up to 210°F, while the service personnel uses a high-pressure spray system to place the product.
These liners tend to be relatively thin, coming in around a quarter of an inch. It’s a uniform application that follows the Jeep’s contours to create a natural look. If you want to preserve more of the factory appearance, this option will provide a positive result.
The thin Line-X coating sparkles when it is new, but that feature tends to fade.
When compared to Rhino Liners, the surface is rough and hard to the touch. It can even damage certain surfaces if they rub against the finished look. You can request installers to decrease roughness, but that means less gloss is available for the exterior.
Your goal here is to avoid buying into any blanket statements that a dealer offers when discussing the benefits of this product. Although there are several potential positives to review, most of them are also applicable to Rhino.
Information About Rhino Liners
The issue with Rhino liners is that each dealer installs them differently from the other. Some products use a high-pressure system with this brand (especially SolarMax), which makes this choice relatively the same as Line-X when lining an entire Jeep.
The HardLine and Extreme liners from Rhino are also comparable to the Xtra and Platinum offerings presented by Line-X.
Your one primary advantage of choosing Rhino over Line X is the TuffGrip product. This liner is softer than what you’ll get from Line-X, which means it goes on a little thicker. That gives it a rubbery feel that some people prefer.
The thicker coating provides sound-deadening benefits while driving, which can be helpful for some Jeep designs. It isn’t as tear-resistant, so consistent off-roading could develop unwanted scratches on the protective material.
Some Rhino dealers don’t have the equipment to use the spray-on product, so you could be limited in what is available.
How Tough Are These Exterior Liners?
Both brands like to talk about how tough their products are compared to the competition. You might hear someone discuss how fantastic the materials are or list the different things that will no longer happen to your Jeep after paying for a lining application.
The goal here is to avoid buying into the hype whenever possible. Instead of listening to a pitch, consider these three questions to ensure you’re pursuing a modification that makes sense for your Jeep.
- Are you going to be navigating trails that could end up scraping or scratching the exterior paint? If so, it makes sense to invest in a high-strength surface that delivers a harder shell against those potential issues.
- Do you need a liner that features all of today’s top-of-the-line technologies? If you only take your Jeep out for a few off-road drives during the summer, you might be pursuing something more than you need.
- Once you choose a product above Rhino Extreme or Line-X Premium, you’re unlikely to damage the liner. Although you can find examples that do create issues, those outcomes are relatively rare.
Should I Use a Liner Across My Entire Jeep?
Using a liner product from Line-X or Rhino to protect the vehicle’s exterior is referred to as “bulletproofing.” To avoid having the product chalk out after use, apply a clear coat to the top to preserve the exterior look.
The issue I’ve had with placing Line-X or Rhino linings across the entire exterior is the extra weight that gets added to the vehicle.
Although the difference isn’t much, the handles are a bit different – and that takes some getting used to when you’re off-roading.
I have a lot of sandy areas with some mud and open trails through fields, which is why it makes sense for me to use an exterior lining.
If you do bouldering or run through forests, a close scrape might cause the lining to scrape or chip.
Even if the lifetime warranty pays for the repair, it could be days or weeks before the job gets done.
My Jeep needed a new paint job anyway, so I took the plunge. I’ve found this investment was worth it, but the eventual result is up to each driver. Just remember to choose something better than Rhino Extreme or Line-X Premium to receive the best results.