Cladding questions

RandyDaytona

RandyDaytona

New member
Hey folks.

Looking to pick up a used 4th Gen, since my wife has made our 5th Gen "hers" (I like the 4th better, anyway).

In looking at trucks, I've found that I actually like the unpainted gray cladding better than when it's painted to match. This seems to occur more on the older 4th Gens than on the later ones. To me, it seems like a fairly commonsense concept for an offroad vehicle. Not as many worries with tree branches and whatnot scratching paint and clearcoat.

Is that a correct assessment of the purpose for having it unpainted?

Am I the only one who likes that?

Now, I have not seen one of these up close, but what's underneath the cladding? Unfinished steel, painted steel, the boogeyman, what?

Finally, can you replace the painted cladding with the unpainted version from one 4th Gen to the next...or...can you strip the paint from the painted cladding?

It's not like I'm anal about scratches and I want to buy a truck and cover the entire thing with duct tape, rhino lining, plasti-dip, etc. It just seems that the unpainted lower cladding serves a good purpose - that's all. It also has a practical look to it.

Any takers on these highly-intelligent, 'deep,' soul-searching questions? :)

Ron
 
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RandyDaytona said:
Hey folks.

Looking to pick up a used 4th Gen, since my wife has made our 5th Gen "hers" (I like the 4th better, anyway).

In looking at trucks, I've found that I actually like the unpainted gray cladding better than when it's painted to match. This seems to occur more on the older 4th Gens than on the later ones. To me, it seems like a fairly commonsense concept for an offroad vehicle. Not as many worries with tree branches and whatnot scratching paint and clearcoat.

Is that a correct assessment of the purpose for having it unpainted?

Am I the only one who likes that?

Now, I have not seen one of these up close, but what's underneath the cladding? Unfinished steel, painted steel, the boogeyman, what?

Finally, can you replace the painted cladding with the unpainted version from one 4th Gen to the next...or...can you strip the paint from the painted cladding?

It's not like I'm anal about scratches and I want to buy a truck and cover the entire thing with duct tape, rhino lining, plasti-dip, etc. It just seems that the unpainted lower cladding serves a good purpose - that's all. It also has a practical look to it.

Any takers on these highly-intelligent, 'deep,' soul-searching questions? :)

Ron
Click to expand...

Sure I'll bite. Don't let the 5th Gen guys catch you saying your partial to the 4th's though :)

So the cladding was available really only on the 1st year models, the 2003's in the SR5 and sport trims. Yes the purpose was added protection. You see it in vehicles like the Xterra and Avalanche as well.

No you aren't the only person that likes it. It's a matter of personal preference.

Painted steel underneath, no boogeymen there.

You could replace color matched panels with gray plastic up to year model 2005 and then the cladding changed shape a little. Stripping color-matched cladding and painting it with something more resilient like Line-X or whatever is always an option.

Hope it helps Ron.

-PD
 
I really like the way mine looks with the unpainted cladding matched with silver paint. It was only available on the 2003's and even then it was only about the first 6 months worth of builds. The cladding on the unpainted ones is slightly different in that it has a couple "teeth" or notches at the top that won't be there if you strip a painted one. Minor but different.
 
I really like the way mine looks with the unpainted cladding matched with silver paint. It was only available on the 2003's and even then it was only about the first 6 months worth of builds. The cladding on the unpainted ones is slightly different in that it has a couple "teeth" or notches at the top that won't be there if you strip a painted one. Minor but different.
Click to expand...


Thanks!

Yeah, I noticed those "teeth." Before that, I had incorrectly assumed that I could find cladding for an '03 and just put it on another 4th gen. So now I need to essentially decide between an '03 and something else.

There is a VERY decent deal on a 2008 Sport V8 with 87K nearby - under $16K (books for $21K), so I may be doing without the cladding. Of course, if that one doesn't work out, I'll be back in the hunt.

As long as "the hunt" doesn't keep changing: first it was another 4R, then a Pinzgauer, then an older Landcruiser, then a newer Landcruiser...now back to the 4R. I'm worse than my wife sometimes :).

Thanks again!
 
Well as I mentioned before, you actually could fit the 03' cladding to the other models. Specifically up to 05' easily, but the more I think about, if one were so inclined to do it on an 06' to 09', I don't really see a good reason why it wouldn't work. It would be a pretty big job since it includes the front and rear bumper covers as well. By that time you might as well just work with what u got. I thought the wheel well shape might be an issue but it might not be.

That Sport you're eyeing sounds like a great deal though. Especially if it 4x4. Get the V8! You won't be disappointed.

Good luck with the search. Keep us posted on what u end up with.
 
I agree, that '08 sounds like a great deal, and if you're getting a 4th gen, do it right and get the V8! As for the '03 cladding, I love it. The only thing that annoyed me was how old it looked when it was beaten on by the sun for so many years. I had a 2003 SR5 V8 for a year and I ended up Plasti Dipping the cladding. It looked great and I miss that about that truck. I would go with the '08 though, still. Not only is it a great deal, but you get the VVT- engine, and some more features. Although I missed the look of the '03 I used to have, I love my '06 so much better. Good luck!

If you're interested, here's the thread where I documented Plasti Dipping the cladding. There are numerous pictures in there to compare.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/110658-plasti-dip-cladding-black-03-4runner.html
 
More great info - thanks guys!

Shadow - great job in that thread. How's the plasti-dip currently holding up?

Here's another question - is there a huge difference in acceleration and/or reliability between the earlier 4th Gen v8's and the VVTi?

I know there's an obvious horsepower difference. I once went from a 2002 Tundra to a 2006 Tundra and noticed the difference between the VVTi and non-VVTi, but that was a heavier vehicle. Wouldn't the relatively lighter weight of the 4R negate any huge acceleration/performance difference?
 
You could swap the cladding over....they all have the same metal underneath even though toyota has different part numbers for fenders...i am currently swapping the cladding off of my 03 for that of a 06-09...including bumpers...so far Ebay has been great...only got 3 pieces left besides bumpers...cladding is not available aftermarket (at least for the 06-09) and it is not cheap...bumpers do not line up between years so they would have to be replaced...plus all the little brackets and braces under the bumpers adds up
 
Love the cladding
 

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RandyDaytona said:
More great info - thanks guys!

Shadow - great job in that thread. How's the plasti-dip currently holding up?

Here's another question - is there a huge difference in acceleration and/or reliability between the earlier 4th Gen v8's and the VVTi?

I know there's an obvious horsepower difference. I once went from a 2002 Tundra to a 2006 Tundra and noticed the difference between the VVTi and non-VVTi, but that was a heavier vehicle. Wouldn't the relatively lighter weight of the 4R negate any huge acceleration/performance difference?
Click to expand...

I don't have the '03 anymore. It was replaced with the '06 when it was totaled. The difference between power/acceleration is there. The VVT-i adds some more pep. It's not huge, but it's noticeable for sure.
 
superman3043 said:
Well as I mentioned before, you actually could fit the 03' cladding to the other models. Specifically up to 05' easily, but the more I think about, if one were so inclined to do it on an 06' to 09', I don't really see a good reason why it wouldn't work. It would be a pretty big job since it includes the front and rear bumper covers as well. By that time you might as well just work with what u got. I thought the wheel well shape might be an issue but it might not be.

That Sport you're eyeing sounds like a great deal though. Especially if it 4x4. Get the V8! You won't be disappointed.

Good luck with the search. Keep us posted on what u end up with.
Click to expand...

Make sure you drive a V6 and a V8... then decide what fits your needs the best... I will say that the grey cladding on my 03 hid a deer strike very well that my wife was involved in, only reason I knew it happened was a door handle was knocked off... might be worth looking for one with grey cladding if you can find one cheap enough...
 
I didn't mind it on my previous model, it seemed to set it apart which I like. I would highly suggest you do find one that has been maintained through it's career. I did notice that the in certain sports the pieces my come loose and also while on the trails if you rub it be ready for there to be slits in it.
 
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