How to Paint a Truck in Camouflage

Camouflage is a good color for a truck for several reasons. Camouflage coloring hides imperfections in the body of the truck, it hides dirt and dust build-up and it can hide the truck if you use it for hunting. Camouflage also customizes your entire vehicle, making a statement about you and your style. From leaves and twigs to official camouflage patterns such as Mossy Oak and Advantage, you can paint a truck camouflage to match your needs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Camouflage stencil kit
• Sandpaper (80- and 120-grit)
• Sanding block
• Automotive primer
• Automotive paint
• Masking paper
• Masking tape
• Automotive clear coat

1. Mask off any area of the truck you don't want to paint. Use masking tape to cover lights, trim pieces, handles and other small areas. Use masking paper and tape to cover the windshield, windows and tires.

2. Sand the entire truck with 80-grit sand paper. This removes the existing clear coat and top layer of paint. Primer won't stick to shiny surfaces, so sand every place that will be primed and painted.

3. Apply three or four coats of primer, allowing each coat to dry. Allow the primer to dry completely and then sand the entire truck with a sanding block and 120-grit sandpaper.

4. Spray a base color on the truck. Use an olive green color since it will blend well with the other colors you will apply. Use two thin, even coats of the olive green paint. Allow it to dry completely.

5. Using a tree branch stencil, hold it to the truck and apply dark brown or black paint to fill it in. Use the paint lightly in the center of the branch and heavier toward the edge of the stencil to give the tree some depth. Use this stencil all over the truck, turning it to make larger trees and more branches. Allow this paint to dry before moving to the next step.

6. Place the grass stencil near the bottom of the truck and use a lighter green than the base olive green. Turn the grass stencil in slightly different directions when you paint, but keep it down to the lower portion of the vehicle. Allow this paint to dry.

7. Spray the leaf stencils using red and orange paint. Spray the leaves orange and then spray the edges of the leaves with red paint. This makes the leaves look more real and lifelike.

8. Add the weed or thicket stencil using brown and gray colors. Paint the stencil brown and then go over it lightly with gray paint in small sections. Hold the paint can back further to create a soft effect of color.

9. Apply two or three coats of clear coat to protect the camouflage paint on the truck. Allow the clear to dry completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Always primer and paint in warm, dry weather unless you have a complete indoor paint booth. Wet or cold weather will not allow the paint to dry properly.
• Never sand or spray primer or paint without a face mask.

Resources

• Cabelas: Camouflage stencil kits