For your situation, I'd definitely suggest looking beyond just the standard film and guards. Honestly, after dealing with GM paint for years, you gotta realize the clear coat is pretty soft and prone to chemical etching from bird droppings or road salt. While others mentioned PPF, I'd highkey recommend a DIY application of a high-solid content ceramic coating like CarPro CQuartz UK 3.0 50ml Kit. It basically creates a sacrificial glass-like layer that makes the massive grille on the 2023 Tahoe way easier to wash.

Also, since those Tahoes have such a wide stance, your rear door dog legs get absolutely peppered with rocks. Make sure to check out:

1. XPEL Ultimate Plus Paint Protection Film Universal Door Sill Guard - Use this on the high-impact areas of the rear fenders.
2. WeatherTech Side Window Deflectors Dark Smoke - These actually help divert airflow and debris away from the side glass.
3. Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer - Great for the textured plastics so they don't fade to gray in six months.

Basically, the goal is to prevent the "sandblasted" look on the lower body lines. gl!

> For those of you who have had your Tahoes for a while now, what have you found to be the most essential exterior accessories? If you could only pick two or three 'must-haves' to prevent chips, dings, or corrosion, what would they be?

In my experience, if ur really serious about the factory paint, you gotta go with a full front-end XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS Paint Protection Film. I made the mistake of skipping it on my last truck and the hood looked like Swiss cheese after one winter... honestly it was tragic lol.

So basically, for a 2023 Tahoe, here is the real-world setup I'd run:

1. **PPF (Clear Bra):** Get at least the bumper and leading edge of the hood done professionally. The massive grille area on these things is basically a rock magnet on the highway.
2. **Splash Guards:** The factory ones are okay but kind of small. I swapped mine for WeatherTech No-Drill Mud Flaps 110112-120112 and they're WAY better at stopping gravel from sandblasting the rocker panels.
3. **Hood Deflector:** If ur not doing the full hood PPF, grab the Lund Aeroskin Hood Protector 753168. It fits the body lines perfectly and doesnt look bulky at all.

I actually tried a cheap ceramic coating first but unfortunately it did basically nothing for actual rock chips—it just makes it easier to wash. If you gotta pick just two, go PPF and the WeatherTech Mud Flaps. Seriously, dont skip the flaps cuz the tires on these Tahoes kick up a ton of debris!!

gl with the new rig!

Solid advice 👍

Honestly, I'd actually suggest a different approach than just dumping tons of cash into specialized coatings and films right away. Respectfully, I've had a few Tahoes over the years and I've found that some of these high-end solutions are basically overkill if you're on a budget. Like, dont get me wrong, they're nice, but the cost-to-benefit ratio is kinda wild.

In my experience, you can get 90% of the way there just by grabbing a solid ceramic wax from Meguiar's or Turtle Wax and doing it yourself every few months. It's way cheaper than a pro ceramic coating and literally does the same job of protecting against bird poop and road grime if you stay on top of it. Also, skip the fancy film and just get some generic door edge guards and a cheap set of running boards. The boards act like a massive shield against rocks being kicked up by the front tires, which is way more effective than any tiny splash guard imo. Save that money for gas! 👍