'03 SR5 & SE owners - Cladding

[HuntRunner]

The unpainted cladding is tough and holds up good to brush and tree limbs that tend to scratch the paint. This stuff is made well and gets a thumbs up from me.

Let's see some pics of these tube steps? I have thought about changing to them but was curious if they will keep the mud out of the door jam as well as the stock boards??

 

[Sac State]

It is snowing right now, so as soon as it stops I'll try to snap some pics.

Brian (lives4well) has the same tube steps that I have. You can view his setup here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?threadid=7628&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

and the product:

http://toyotaparts4u.com/e_catalog/part_detail.asp?ID=2717&CID=360&SID=2003&ZID=58

I have the stock mud flaps and they do a very good job.

 

[hkollie]

Do you like the Grey Cladding or the Painted Fenders??

Kind of a take off on the Hood Scoop Question...

When I bought my 4 Runner I really wanted the painted fenders but they did not offer them on the Sport Edition then (Dec 2002).

Now I have gotten use to them, they definintly work well with door opening in tight garages and parking lots...durable, but Ugly I think.

You folks with the Painted ones, do they handle the parking lot bumps well?? They sure look sharp to me.


Kevin

 

[TRD04RUNNER]

Painted!!! when i see a 03 4R with unpainted cladding I puke! I'm glad Toyota started painting them after the first year! the salesman who sold me my 04 SE was welling to give me a really good deal on an 03 sport told me when they first came out the SE seat for months till they have to discount them big time to get rid of them. customer who was looking for 4R walk by them think they were the bottom of the line model..

 

[tkr128]

Personally, I prefer the painted cladding. When I was looking for a new car, I actually crossed the 4Runner off my list because of the cladding. But when I found out they started including the appearance package on the SR5's, I went back for another look and was sold. What's interesting is that Toyota actually lowered the price when they started painting the cladding and also included more equipment. But, I think the Sports look pretty good with the cladding, especially black and silver.

My painted cladding is holding up pretty well, no dents, but parking lot door dings chip the paint a little. I try to avoid parking next to other cars, but that's not always an option.

 

[Mark86]

I like the look of the painted bumpers better overall, but the cladding has grown on me since I got my truck. I actually like the look of the cladding on my silver sport. Also, I have bumped my door into the garage wall a few time and people have slammed their doors into my truck. You can't beat the durability of the cladding. All I have is a little rub on the door edge. Another important thing is that not many people in my area drive a 4Runner with cladding so I am unique.

 

[Loki]

Painted!!! when i see a 03 4R with unpainted cladding I puke! I'm glad Toyota started painting them after the first year! the salesman who sold me my 04 SE was welling to give me a really good deal on an 03 sport told me when they first came out the SE seat for months till they have to discount them big time to get rid of them. customer who was looking for 4R walk by them think they were the bottom of the line model..

you actually puke? hope there aren't alot of them in your area.

 

[Loki]

Question, if the painted body cladding gets scratched it can be repainted. What happens when the non painted body cladding gets scratched/gashed? Do you have to replace it?

 

[iFORCE]

Question, if the painted body cladding gets scratched it can be repainted. What happens when the non painted body cladding gets scratched/gashed? Do you have to replace it?

Its like scratching plastic. You can try getting the scratches off but at least you won't notice it as much.

I'd personally go painted. That's why I have a limited and why my parents have a limited too..

Althought the sport edition looks ok with the unpainted... gives it a more outdoors kind of look. Only certain colors look good with unpainted as well....

 

[TechWrench]

I have an early '03 with the gray cladding, and I guess it's a toss up. One one hand, the color matched cladding looks better. But I have been dinged four or five times in parking lots, or during off-road excursions, and the gray cladding tends to minimize the visual damage. I am not one to over protect my ride, I like it, but it is still a daily driver and I do take it in the woods every now and then (that's what I bought if for). So, in my case, the practical nature of the gray wins out over pretty. And, the gray does go much better with the Titanium.

 

[Cleric]

This is already a thread.

If you look at the top of each page there is a "search" button.


Here...

 

[jharris2]

This is already a thread.

If you look at the top of each page there is a "search" button.


Here...

Thanks, Cleric! Threads will be merged.

 

[hkollie]

thx for merging my thread...i had wondered where it went...

Perhaps I am not playing my the unwritten code, but I do not search for every topic that crosses my mind,

If I am looking for a specific "how to" then I definitly search...

Alot of things on these bulletin board rules and actions can go both ways...if people are conversing about a topic...then that is the point...not mindless management of previous threads for organizations sake...if someone doesn't want to read then they should ignore the thread!

Just my little take on the topic of when to leave things alone, or "refile/merge/shutdown/etc"

Thx,

ko

 

[pdoel]

I've actually come to terms with my cladding. With the titanium silver, I think it actually looks too plain with the painted cladding. It's just not a very stand out color. So the plastic cladding helps give it something a bit different.

 

[lexusnut]

I waxed my grays and because they have pores i got the white wax in them and it does not look right. I like them because a stone hit it and it is not visible. Another idiot ran into me and again it is not visible. I would have been all scrached up by now. So i guess i wand another set of painted cladding. How about that. Put it on when I feel lik it!
:

 

[CVsGX470]

Originally I thought that maybe I should have gotten the painted version but now I know that I made the right choice. IMHO I like my white rig with the cladding. It breaks up the white a little bit. and makes it look meaner. I like the fact that you can't get the cladding anymore too, it makes it more original.

But best of all, I love the pattern in the cladding. Ever notice the spoke pattern on the top of the cladding that you can't even get in the painted version. IMO it makes it look mean.

CV

 

[Fro-Runner]

I wished the Runner had NO artificial plastic cladding. I hope Toyota switch to the metal molded fat fender with the next generation. These plastic stick-on/braided on with metal clips moldings tend to come loose and start to separate from the metal fender in time. I've had both sides of my fenders and lower door body molding retighten/replaced at the dealer. The 100+ degree California heat is torture on this type of plastic setup.

 

[lexusnut]

Plastic CLAD - Great for ME

Since i posted a post about cladding I had so many dings and full blown accidents with my rig :bash: all my plastic pieces have some battle scars :bigok: I ran into a brand new PRIUS. No biggie, Prius felt bad though, Ran into a garage door (not drunk tired) couple pieces fell off, just bought some clips and back they go. BUT i know one thing i can replace them or just sand them (does not look cool though). But if I had the painted ones man they would look like S**t by now. I love my plastic odd looking cladding. Thanks Toyota.