Cladding Revisited -- 3+ Yrs Later

[Wai]

This topic came up quite often when the color-keyed cladding first came out at end of '03 to replace the grey plastic cladding on the SE and SR5. Some people loved it this way, some people loved it the other way.

Now 3+ years later, with more and more 4th gen on the road with 90% of them being color-keyed, what do you guys think of the "original" grey cladding? I see more and more people mod their 4R to give it a more rugged look (and for offroading as well), like aggressive tires, skid plates, winches, etc, do you wish that the grey cladding were still available as an option?

When you see an early '03 SE or SR5, what is your general impression? ("Haha ugly!" or "Wow cool, wish I had that!")

I bought my 4R in February 10, 2003, with grey cladding. I think it looks great on the Titanium. But sometimes I also wish I had a black or galatic grey color-keyed. Kinda torn haha.

 

[toybox]

I like my cladding unpainted and wouldn't have it any other way. It is actually quite unique now since there was only a half a year production.

I gotta say though that I do not like the unpainted cladding on the green or red colors that were available.

 

[Kmvreter]

... what do you guys think of the "original" grey cladding? I see more and more people mod their 4R to give it a more rugged look (and for offroading as well), like aggressive tires, skid plates, winches, etc, do you wish that the grey cladding were still available as an option?

When you see an early '03 SE or SR5, what is your general impression? ("Haha ugly!" or "Wow cool, wish I had that!")

3+ yrs! Man that truck is old... j/k

Actually, because there aren't that many of them, I like it but (like Toybox said) only on some colours.
I'm surprised a company hasn't come out with wider replacements for modding.

 

[Sac State]

I love my cladding, tough and rough looking. I garage my truck so the cladding is still bright and shiny.

I also agree, it looks great on black, silver, grey, gold and white (SR5), not a fan of green or red with cladding.

 

[outoftown7]

I also still like it

 

[greasefingers]

I love the way it looks however, mine is fading in a bad way. I wish I did not have it now. Mine is not garage stored.

 

[Wai]

Good to see that the grey cladding still got some love.

I love the way it looks however, mine is fading in a bad way. I wish I did not have it now. Mine is not garage stored.

That's strange. My car has always been parked on the driveway since the day I bought it and the plastic cladding still looks like new (except for few scratches).
Sorry to hear that yours went bad. Any photos you can show us?

 

[greasefingers]

I get striations over the place. Back-to-black helps for about a week or 2 then the horizontal lines come back. The sun washed the pic a bit. It actually looks much worse then the photo depicts. And this only one of several areas that is messed up on mine.

 

[Mark86]

I had my 2003 sport with cladding for about 1.5 years and it was definitely showing its age. I still liked the way the cladding looked though.

 

[Falls]

I've always liked cladding , but never liked the squares off fenders ( like the Avalanche)

What about ordering new cladding or painted cladding or getting it painted....just a shot in the dark.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

The cladding looks good when wll kept but as the some of those Runners are aging the cladding look kida crappy and cheap. I definetly perfer painted since unpainted just looks more like the base model version.

 

[Falls]

Anyone have a pic of 1 with factory painted cladding ? I think I only remember seeing the gray stuff.

Yes I will try a search before someone pipes in and yells at me. lol

 

[ptung07]

So far, my cladding has been good. It has been garage kept when possible, however, I worry because as I look at the other Jeeps or SUVs in my area with cladding, theirs has faded already. Maybe because of the sunlight or the manufactures used cheap plastic? I don't know... I try to take care of the cladding by, every so often, using the Back to Black stuff. 22k miles on my 2003 4Runner Sport Edition

 

[greasefingers]

Jeeps fade in the same year that you drive it off the lot. Don

 

[momo.75]

Yeah, I got my black SE in November of 2002, right when they were released. I had really wanted an all black, but at that point the limited as the only one that was all black, but it did not have the scoop. I love the fact that there aren't too many on the road with the cladding. The good thing is that mine is kept in the garage, and I work out of the house, so it really has been kept in mint condition. I have had several people make offers on it, but I just like it too much........plus it is paid for.

 

[Ghostface80]

I love it! Mine is Titanium. But like everyone else, only on some of the colors. I thought when I got the Stainless T&H bull bar and nerf bars that too much clashing of silver, gray, and stainless steel would be going on, but not the case. Really looks rugged! Too bad it's a 2WD though, lol.

 

[ovrrdrive]

I have it on ours and honestly, I'd rather have color matched...

Ours still looks good though. It's not faded or cracked at all.

 

[flange!]

I've got the green with grey cladding and I love it. My cladding has taken a beating and has quite a few scratches. It would look WAY worse if it was painted.

Plus I really like the color combo, especially with dark grey powder coated wheels and the grey powder coated Shrockworks front bumber and sliders.

 

[toybox]

I've got the green with grey cladding and I love it. My cladding has taken a beating and has quite a few scratches. It would look WAY worse if it was painted.

Plus I really like the color combo, especially with dark grey powder coated wheels and the grey powder coated Shrockworks front bumber and sliders.

:worthless