Knickell
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Xpel PRIME XR Plus Automotive Window Film on Knickell's Ford F-150 Review:
When I purchased my Ford F-150 in early April, Florida had about two cool evenings left for the remainder of the year. The rest of this year is proving to be atrocious, boiling, steaming, scolding hot. And that’s with one of our cooler days where its only 90 degrees....
My F-150 Lariat came from the factory with "privacy glass" on the rear windows and rear windshield. However, the front windows and front windshield were bare glass.
Coming out to the truck after baking all day in an effort to cool it off was an exercise in futility. Even with me remote starting it beforehand.
The leather seats were far too hot to sit on, and it pained me to imagine what the heat and UV rays were doing to the interior’s leather on the dash, steering wheel, and seats. I resorted to putting a towel over the dash while parked to offer some semblance of protection from the annihilating sunshine.
(Just another balmy 100+ degree day....)
On these Florida summer days, the interior of a vehicle can reach over 140 degrees even with tinted windows. I had to do something for my own comfort and well-being, and more importantly, my truck’s well-being!!
During the many months I was waiting on my F-150 to be built and delivered, I researched everything from spray in bed liners, paint protective film, ceramic coatings, and of course, window tint.
Apparently, ceramic style window film/tint has gained quite a following within the years since I last purchased a vehicle. During my last vehicle purchase many years ago, if you wanted your car cooler and more private, you got a darker layer of tint at the expense of losing some nighttime visibility.
As I researched this ceramic tint further, I came across Xpel PRIME XR Plus ceramic window film. Xpel, the same company that produces the popular paint protective films, also makes window tint for vehicles.
Xpel markets their PRIME XR Plus line as their top tier stuff and it’s listed as offering:
One of the biggest pros to this style of ceramic tint is that a nearly clear 70% layer will offer the same amount of heat and UV rejection as darker layers, thus allowing the owner more flexibility in the style and look they want for their vehicle.
So I made the decision that I wanted the Xpel PRIME XR Plus tint on my F-150. As with everything else these days (gasoline, wood, toilet paper, rubber, microchips, spray-in bedliner material, F-150s……..) there appeared to be a short supply of tint, and reputable installers in my area.
On May 5th, I made an appointment to have my truck done, and I couldn’t get penciled in until May 25th. I wasn’t sure if I could deal with another twenty days, nearly three weeks of the Florida sun battering my poor interior! I requested to be put on a wait/cancellation list to be notified if someone else canceled their appointment. I was elated when I received a phone call about an hour later asking if I could come in the later that afternoon to have the tint installed! Needless to say I used the Boost part of my EcoBoost engine to hustle to the installer so it could be done.
I opted for a double layer on all windows including the windshield. I also have the dual-panel moonroof on my truck, but left it stock after reading it wasn’t necessarily designed to have aftermarket tint applied to it. Plus, when the mood strikes me to use it, I want it to let some light into the cabin, as that is one of the sun/moonroof’s primary purposes.
An interesting note, per the installer, the “privacy glass”/tint that some trucks come with from the factory does not offer any heat or UV protection, so it is recommended to have those windows tinted as well if you are going to frequently have passengers in the rear row seating.
I know its highly based off preference, but I wanted something dark, but not too dark. As pretentious as that might sound, I made the mistake of going way too light on the last vehicle I tinted the windows on, and did not take into account that it’s beige interior would also make it seem inherently lighter on the inside. This time around, I would have preferred it to be a tad too dark than deal with it being too light again. I do have the black and chocolatey brown interior of my Lariat Sport package to help darken it up as well.
I settled on a dual layer of 70% tint on the windshield and a dual layer of 15% all the way around the windows and rear windshield.
After about three hours, the installer turned my truck back over to me to take home.
The dark tint on the windows looked amazing and helped with giving it a better overall curb appeal in my opinion.
When I stepped inside, the truck was still very warm. There is no getting around that with the relentless heat and sunshine. However, the interior was drastically cooler than before and I could actually sit in the driver’s seat without risking minor burns!
After driving the truck around for a few days, I certainly appreciate the extra privacy the tint affords. I definitely don’t like people being able to look in at me or my vehicle while driving around in traffic, or while its sitting in a parking lot.
While its not entirely scientific, I can say I’ve noticed a significant difference in the temperature of the interior of the truck when first getting into it after being in the sun all day. If I had an actual thermometer to measure, I wouldn’t be surprised if the interior wasn’t twenty if not forty degrees cooler than it was before with no tint. The air conditioning also seems to have an easier job of displacing all of that horrendous heat and keeping the truck cool once I get it to a comfortable temperature.
I haven’t done too much driving at night yet, but the little I have done, the darkness of the 15% tint is not an issue at all. Visibility is still pretty good, and I have not had any issues with seeing traffic or other obstructions.
Also take into consideration if your truck has auto-dimming side view and rear view mirrors when selecting your shade of tint as it may be even darker. I could maybe have gone a little darker still for my preference, but I think the overall shade it just about perfect.
Here is what my truck looked like before having the Xpel PRIME XR Plus film installed:
You can see the "privacy glass" and just how easy it is to see into the truck.
Looking out of the truck before tinting.
The big day! At the tint shop just before it was installed! The final moments of scorched leather, deteriorating fabrics, and faded plastics!!
A double layer of the Xpel PRIME XR Plus film all the way around! 70% on the windshield, 15% on every other window! Looks sharp if I do say so!
Looking out of the truck from the driver's seat on another hot sunny day!
A view out the driver's side front window
The installer recommended three to five days of not using the windows or rolling them down from the day it was installed. I also am going to have a top strip (AS1) line of the 15% applied to the windshield as well. The installer did not recommend doing that same day since the base layer would need time to settle and cure properly, so I’ll have to go back in for a quick appointment in a couple of days.
The Xpel line of window film also comes with a lifetime warranty.
In general, I can say I am pleasantly satisfied with the Xpel PRIME XR Plus tint on my 2021 Ford F-150! I recommend it to any of you guys who are considering adding tint to your truck!
When I purchased my Ford F-150 in early April, Florida had about two cool evenings left for the remainder of the year. The rest of this year is proving to be atrocious, boiling, steaming, scolding hot. And that’s with one of our cooler days where its only 90 degrees....
My F-150 Lariat came from the factory with "privacy glass" on the rear windows and rear windshield. However, the front windows and front windshield were bare glass.
Coming out to the truck after baking all day in an effort to cool it off was an exercise in futility. Even with me remote starting it beforehand.
The leather seats were far too hot to sit on, and it pained me to imagine what the heat and UV rays were doing to the interior’s leather on the dash, steering wheel, and seats. I resorted to putting a towel over the dash while parked to offer some semblance of protection from the annihilating sunshine.
(Just another balmy 100+ degree day....)
On these Florida summer days, the interior of a vehicle can reach over 140 degrees even with tinted windows. I had to do something for my own comfort and well-being, and more importantly, my truck’s well-being!!
During the many months I was waiting on my F-150 to be built and delivered, I researched everything from spray in bed liners, paint protective film, ceramic coatings, and of course, window tint.
Apparently, ceramic style window film/tint has gained quite a following within the years since I last purchased a vehicle. During my last vehicle purchase many years ago, if you wanted your car cooler and more private, you got a darker layer of tint at the expense of losing some nighttime visibility.
As I researched this ceramic tint further, I came across Xpel PRIME XR Plus ceramic window film. Xpel, the same company that produces the popular paint protective films, also makes window tint for vehicles.
Xpel markets their PRIME XR Plus line as their top tier stuff and it’s listed as offering:
- "Multi-layer Nano Particle Construction”
- Up to 98% infrared heat rejection
- Rejection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays
- Zero interference with computer, cellular telephones, GPS, and other electronic devices
One of the biggest pros to this style of ceramic tint is that a nearly clear 70% layer will offer the same amount of heat and UV rejection as darker layers, thus allowing the owner more flexibility in the style and look they want for their vehicle.
So I made the decision that I wanted the Xpel PRIME XR Plus tint on my F-150. As with everything else these days (gasoline, wood, toilet paper, rubber, microchips, spray-in bedliner material, F-150s……..) there appeared to be a short supply of tint, and reputable installers in my area.
On May 5th, I made an appointment to have my truck done, and I couldn’t get penciled in until May 25th. I wasn’t sure if I could deal with another twenty days, nearly three weeks of the Florida sun battering my poor interior! I requested to be put on a wait/cancellation list to be notified if someone else canceled their appointment. I was elated when I received a phone call about an hour later asking if I could come in the later that afternoon to have the tint installed! Needless to say I used the Boost part of my EcoBoost engine to hustle to the installer so it could be done.
I opted for a double layer on all windows including the windshield. I also have the dual-panel moonroof on my truck, but left it stock after reading it wasn’t necessarily designed to have aftermarket tint applied to it. Plus, when the mood strikes me to use it, I want it to let some light into the cabin, as that is one of the sun/moonroof’s primary purposes.
An interesting note, per the installer, the “privacy glass”/tint that some trucks come with from the factory does not offer any heat or UV protection, so it is recommended to have those windows tinted as well if you are going to frequently have passengers in the rear row seating.
I know its highly based off preference, but I wanted something dark, but not too dark. As pretentious as that might sound, I made the mistake of going way too light on the last vehicle I tinted the windows on, and did not take into account that it’s beige interior would also make it seem inherently lighter on the inside. This time around, I would have preferred it to be a tad too dark than deal with it being too light again. I do have the black and chocolatey brown interior of my Lariat Sport package to help darken it up as well.
I settled on a dual layer of 70% tint on the windshield and a dual layer of 15% all the way around the windows and rear windshield.
After about three hours, the installer turned my truck back over to me to take home.
The dark tint on the windows looked amazing and helped with giving it a better overall curb appeal in my opinion.
When I stepped inside, the truck was still very warm. There is no getting around that with the relentless heat and sunshine. However, the interior was drastically cooler than before and I could actually sit in the driver’s seat without risking minor burns!
After driving the truck around for a few days, I certainly appreciate the extra privacy the tint affords. I definitely don’t like people being able to look in at me or my vehicle while driving around in traffic, or while its sitting in a parking lot.
While its not entirely scientific, I can say I’ve noticed a significant difference in the temperature of the interior of the truck when first getting into it after being in the sun all day. If I had an actual thermometer to measure, I wouldn’t be surprised if the interior wasn’t twenty if not forty degrees cooler than it was before with no tint. The air conditioning also seems to have an easier job of displacing all of that horrendous heat and keeping the truck cool once I get it to a comfortable temperature.
I haven’t done too much driving at night yet, but the little I have done, the darkness of the 15% tint is not an issue at all. Visibility is still pretty good, and I have not had any issues with seeing traffic or other obstructions.
Also take into consideration if your truck has auto-dimming side view and rear view mirrors when selecting your shade of tint as it may be even darker. I could maybe have gone a little darker still for my preference, but I think the overall shade it just about perfect.
Here is what my truck looked like before having the Xpel PRIME XR Plus film installed:
You can see the "privacy glass" and just how easy it is to see into the truck.
Looking out of the truck before tinting.
The big day! At the tint shop just before it was installed! The final moments of scorched leather, deteriorating fabrics, and faded plastics!!
A double layer of the Xpel PRIME XR Plus film all the way around! 70% on the windshield, 15% on every other window! Looks sharp if I do say so!
Looking out of the truck from the driver's seat on another hot sunny day!
A view out the driver's side front window
The installer recommended three to five days of not using the windows or rolling them down from the day it was installed. I also am going to have a top strip (AS1) line of the 15% applied to the windshield as well. The installer did not recommend doing that same day since the base layer would need time to settle and cure properly, so I’ll have to go back in for a quick appointment in a couple of days.
The Xpel line of window film also comes with a lifetime warranty.
In general, I can say I am pleasantly satisfied with the Xpel PRIME XR Plus tint on my 2021 Ford F-150! I recommend it to any of you guys who are considering adding tint to your truck!
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Last edited:
??
? out and don’t make too much of a big deal out of it.
