03' 4Runner Claddin Delete/Removed with PICS!

[Be_Original]

03' 4Runner Cladding Delete/Removed with PICS!

Have had no luck finding an 03' 4runner with the cladding completely removed, only bed lined or painted cladding. So here is my attempt to helping those that wonder what is under all that plastic.

Feel free to ask questions about removal and/or next plans.

 

[A/V1]

So what are you planning on doing with it? Body filler & Paint?
Put it back on?

 

[Be_Original]

So what are you planning on doing with it? Body filler & Paint?
Put it back on?

I will just fill in all the holes including the two at the bottom of the front fender well and apply 3-4 coats of bedliner.

Edit: not entirely sure how I will fill the holes

 

[Sporin]

I will just fill in all the holes including the two at the bottom of the front fender well and apply 3-4 coats of bedliner.

Edit: not entirely sure how I will fill the holes

What is the point of that? It's still going to look like a vehicle with it's cladding/fenders removed. What made you want to remove it in the first place?

Honest question, not trying to be a jerk.

 

[CXS]

I will just fill in all the holes including the two at the bottom of the front fender well and apply 3-4 coats of bedliner.

Edit: not entirely sure how I will fill the holes

My son's doing the same with his FZJ80 Land Cruiser and he used plastic plugs to fill the holes before the bedlinen goes on. There's a huge variety of sizes and some very small that will end up looking fine. I'm looking forward to seeing yours when it's done!

 

[CXS]

What is the point of that? It's still going to look like a vehicle with it's cladding/fenders removed. What made you want to remove it in the first place?

Honest question, not trying to be a jerk.

Not trying to be a jerk either but the nice thing about owning a truck is that some people are happy to do what they want rather than what other people think is cool.

Personally I think it'll look great and stand out from the rest. Someone doing what they want always pleases me a helluva lot more than those that post saying "what mods should I do to my truck?"

Reminds me of a sticker I saw on here that says: "I didn't build this truck for your approval, I built it for my own."

 

[Be_Original]

What is the point of that? It's still going to look like a vehicle with it's cladding/fenders removed. What made you want to remove it in the first place?

Honest question, not trying to be a jerk.

Well firstly its paid off, so I see it as a clean slate to do what I want and have fun. It will look like a 4Runner....but very different and stand out. I feel that black and blue go better than blue and faded grey plastic. No offense taken by the way, this will not look good to everyone.

 

[Be_Original]

My son's doing the same with his FZJ80 Land Cruiser and he used plastic plugs to fill the holes before the bedlinen goes on. There's a huge variety of sizes and some very small that will end up looking fine. I'm looking forward to seeing yours when it's done!

Thanks for the comments. Yeah I put new plastic clips and grinded them down flat and used RTV Silicone on the back for them to glue to the body and stay put. Ill be done tonight and take pics in the morning, applying 5 coats to each side.

 

[Be_Original]

5 hours later:

1. Cladding removed and all clips, rivets and screws removed. Body was wiped clean of all dirt and double sided tape.
Note: Using dykes or needle nose pliers grab the clip and rotate 90 degrees then pull out, this makes it easier for clip removal.

2. Painters tape was used to align the body lines.

3. Using a fine sand paper block I lightly sanded the body to remove the clear coat. Wiped down with water and dried.

4. Inserted new plastic clips in all holes. Using dykes cut off the retainer part then ground down flat (seen in pictures). I used silicone on the backside of all clips as a glue and water seal. Wiped body again and checked all clips for alignment, then dried.

5. (This took about 3 hours) Applied 5 coats of bed liner to each side, with 10-15 minute break between coats. Let it dry overnight.

6. Removed tape and identify any imperfections. Still need to clean the lower rocker trim below the doors.

 

[Be_Original]

 

[Be_Original]

Next on the list:

Make tubular front and rear bumper once I get my hands on some pipe at work, 2 5/8 pipe used in the oilfield. Slightly bigger than I intended but it will be free :happy:

 

[momo.75]

What did you do with all the cladding?

 

[Be_Original]

What did you do with all the cladding?

Just sitting lonely on the garage floor. Some pieces have the mounting tabs broken and others have pretty deep scratches. If you ask because you're interested I can take pictures of each piece and send them your way.

 

[momo.75]

That would be great. Can you take a couple pics of the driver side front door, driver side rear door and the front part of the rear fender arch (driver side). I have two deep scratches running across all three of those sections. I will send you a pm with my cell number so you can just text them.


BTW....that is looking cool.

 

[CXS]

Looking good, how about a pic from 10' or so away from the truck?

 

[ATCyotadude]

BRUH! Please tell me you are willing to let go of that front passenger flare! Finding one for less that $150 has been difficult and that's for one that won't match. Looks cool by the way. I couldn't picture it but it looks a lot better than faded plastic.

 

[bcolts]

[QUOTE I have two deep scratches running across all three of those sections.

[/QUOTE]

A tip I picked up on here that worked for me to take care of some scratches in my cladding was to use a heat gun on them. Have to keep it moving and be careful, but it took care of some scratches I had on a fender and some minor scratches on the dash.

 

[Sporin]

Not trying to be a jerk either but the nice thing about owning a truck is that some people are happy to do what they want rather than what other people think is cool.



Personally I think it'll look great and stand out from the rest. Someone doing what they want always pleases me a helluva lot more than those that post saying "what mods should I do to my truck?"



Reminds me of a sticker I saw on here that says: "I didn't build this truck for your approval, I built it for my own."

Where did I imply that I thought he needed to please me with the mod? Isn't asking questions part of discussions about mods?

Well firstly its paid off, so I see it as a clean slate to do what I want and have fun. It will look like a 4Runner....but very different and stand out. I feel that black and blue go better than blue and faded grey plastic. No offense taken by the way, this will not look good to everyone.

Excellent, it turned out pretty nice. [emoji106]

I thought maybe you had found a no-cost way to make more room for tires or something. I truly wasn't being judgmental, I tried something similar on my FZJ80 and was just curious about your goals and thought process for the mod.

 

[Be_Original]

No, it does not allow more clearance for tires, it does although make the tires stance appear wider with the removal of the rather thick cladding. My intentions were to originally just replace all the clips and put fresh tape but it lead to this.

 

[LTDSC]

well then...i am without words.