De-badging question

D

DRO-T4R

New member
I did the pre-requisite searching and read a few threads, but have a particular question:

I'm picking up a new 2017 TRD Off Road model today or tomorrow. I asked the guys at the dealer about de-badging the c-pillars (taking off the "TRD Off Road" badges). They told me they've seen cases recently where there was some form of indentation in the body panel under the badges (presumably for alignment).

It would sorta suck to start peeling badges off and see this...

Anyone know anything about this, or has anyone de-badged a new TRD Off Road model??

Thanks in advance!
 
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You sir are a rare bird. I've heard people say that they're holding out on a '17 just to get those TRD badges.

I'd be very surprised if there is any modification to the main body unit since it's the same across all trims.
 
Throwback said:
You sir are a rare bird. I've heard people say that they're holding out on a '17 just to get those TRD badges.

I'd be very surprised if there is any modification to the main body unit since it's the same across all trims.
Click to expand...

I'm actually kind of ambivalent about the TRD badges. BUT i've got a blackout kit for all of the other badges. So if i leave the TRD basing on, i'd at least want to pull them of to paint them. And I think I'd rather just not have them.
 
I used to be into old Jeeps, and in fact, just let my original 1966 CJ5 go last month. Being into those old Jeeps made me appreciate unmodified vehicles, and particularly year-specific touches that had not been altered.

I was at the dealer yesterday getting a 35k mile service and noticed one new '17 TRD OR on the lot from 50 yards away. I noticed the pillar badging and black paint on the wheels. To a keen eye it sets the vehicle apart and in 20+ years having those little things in tact would be cool. I know you didn't ask for my opinion but there it is. :tea:
 
Throwback said:
I used to be into old Jeeps, and in fact, just let my original 1966 CJ5 go last month. Being into those old Jeeps made me appreciate unmodified vehicles, and particularly year-specific touches that had not been altered.

I was at the dealer yesterday getting a 35k mile service and noticed one new '17 TRD OR on the lot from 50 yards away. I noticed the pillar badging and black paint on the wheels. To a keen eye it sets the vehicle apart and in 20+ years having those little things in tact would be cool. I know you didn't ask for my opinion but there it is. :tea:
Click to expand...

I hear you. I had a pristine, bone stock 1984 VW GTI into the late 90s, and I wish I still had that car. But it's already too late for this 4Runner. It arrived at the dealer this morning, and right now the service department is installing a Toytec 2.5 Boss suspension and a TRDP grill. New wheels and tires will be on the way soon, too.

SO while i definitely appreciate "original", I'm taking the Burger King approach with this one - I want it "my way". :D
 
DRO-T4R said:
I'm actually kind of ambivalent about the TRD badges. BUT i've got a blackout kit for all of the other badges. So if i leave the TRD basing on, i'd at least want to pull them of to paint them. And I think I'd rather just not have them.
Click to expand...
Do a little research on Plastidip before going to the trouble of de-badging. It can be applied with the badge still attached to the car. Lots of youtube videos.

If done right it looks better than the plastic black-out kits I've seen. IMO.
 
jwkilgore said:
Do a little research on Plastidip before going to the trouble of de-badging. It can be applied with the badge still attached to the car. Lots of youtube videos.

If done right it looks better than the plastic black-out kits I've seen. IMO.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I've thought about that, but it seems like masking something as intricate as these TRD Off Road badges would be a major PITA.
 
DRO-T4R said:
Thanks. I've thought about that, but it seems like masking something as intricate as these TRD Off Road badges would be a major PITA.
Click to expand...

That's the thing though: you don't mask it other than an outer overspray mask.

Personally, I'd pull them as I'm not a fan. That's just, like, my opinion, man.
 
DRO-T4R said:
I did the pre-requisite searching and read a few threads, but have a particular question:

I'm picking up a new 2017 TRD Off Road model today or tomorrow. I asked the guys at the dealer about de-badging the c-pillars (taking off the "TRD Off Road" badges). They told me they've seen cases recently where there was some form of indentation in the body panel under the badges (presumably for alignment).

It would sorta suck to start peeling badges off and see this...

Anyone know anything about this, or has anyone de-badged a new TRD Off Road model??

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

There's no way in hell they changed the quarter panel die used to stamp the panel to include an indentation for TRD Off Road logo. Get it, take some fishing line and cut them off, a bit of goo gone to get rid of the residue and in 5 minutes you are done.

The 4Runner on the back gate does have indentations in three places for logo location.
 
DRO-T4R said:
Thanks. I've thought about that, but it seems like masking something as intricate as these TRD Off Road badges would be a major PITA.
Click to expand...
That's the thing with Plastidip... you don't have to do intricate masking. There's a gap between the letters and body panel. You thoroughly clean the area, mask in a rectangle around the letters, and spray. When you have enough light coats, simply remove the masking and peel the plastidip off the body panel. It will come right off, leaving the letters intact.

This guy does a good job on a Tundra, but I think his coats are a little heavy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGBOteFrPfo

This video was made by Plastidip themselves. I don't like the idea of using metal tools around paint but whatever:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8Gfd46AxLw
 
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I removed my SR5 badges with fishing line, a hair dryer, and some scrubbing (followed by wax).

It's primo. No issues at all. Cannot tell whatsoever - but I removed mine less than 1yr after the manufacturing date and only 5 months into ownership
 
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Throwback said:
I used to be into old Jeeps, and in fact, just let my original 1966 CJ5 go last month. Being into those old Jeeps made me appreciate unmodified vehicles, and particularly year-specific touches that had not been altered.

I was at the dealer yesterday getting a 35k mile service and noticed one new '17 TRD OR on the lot from 50 yards away. I noticed the pillar badging and black paint on the wheels. To a keen eye it sets the vehicle apart and in 20+ years having those little things in tact would be cool. I know you didn't ask for my opinion but there it is. :tea:
Click to expand...

Intrigued with your upper comment...I still have my 71 CJ5 I bought new back in the day. As year-specific...as you may know 71 was the transition year to AMC and there are soooo many year specific (some good some bad) parts. It is so nice to have a one owner vehicle for a variety of reasons...for one you can accurately dispute claims of non-originality. Sorry to hear you lost yours recently.
cheers,
willie
 
Got my SR5 badges off.

Mine were on for a few years before they came off so on a 56% cloudy day when the sun is at 31.7° after the winter solstice you can make out the SR5 logo if you hold your breathe and squint one eye

No dents though
 
1engineer said:
There's no way in hell they changed the quarter panel die used to stamp the panel to include an indentation for TRD Off Road logo. Get it, take some fishing line and cut them off, a bit of goo gone to get rid of the residue and in 5 minutes you are done.

The 4Runner on the back gate does have indentations in three places for logo location.
Click to expand...

This. Many of us have debadged without issue or drama.

Only additional advice would be to do it sooner than later because the paint not covered by a badge will fade more over time.
 
willie2323 said:
Intrigued with your upper comment...I still have my 71 CJ5 I bought new back in the day. As year-specific...as you may know 71 was the transition year to AMC and there are soooo many year specific (some good some bad) parts. It is so nice to have a one owner vehicle for a variety of reasons...for one you can accurately dispute claims of non-originality. Sorry to hear you lost yours recently.
cheers,
willie
Click to expand...

I only owned the Jeep for about a year and a half. I bought it as a neglected barn-find basket case, fixed up all the easy stuff and enjoyed it for a while, then sold it.
 
Update: I pulled the side badges off. There is definitely a sort of subtle dimpling under them, but it's clearly just in the finish, not the sheet metal. It's as if the badges were applied before the paint was fully cured. (It's not associated with paint fading - it's a white vehicle with 86 miles on it...)
 
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