Help me get used to the plastic body trim

[boxtree619]

I bought mine around new years, exact color. i too acted on impulse and got the only 4runner with a v8 and 4wd that i could find at a price i was looking for 9K

i was almost embarrassed with the cladding, but once i started modding to for more off road, i actually like it a lot!, plus trimming is easy if necessary, and sometimes when its not necessary, just the other day i was rock climbing(sorta) and i was flexed out the ying yang, the back tire rubbed the back bumper bending it even, but once i was off that rock, the plastic bumper just went back into place like it was never bent

:uzi:

slightly off topic, but if you bought yours in vista/escondido, i think i actually test drove that same exact 4runner. i was also in the market around the same time and had around the same price range as you and it was between the one you have now and another 03 v8 4wd with cladding (black sr5). ended up getting the black sr5 with similar miles for a similar price. but i'm glad to see that blue one i looked at went to another t4r member though! looking forward to seeing you at a t4r meet in SD!

 

[bob3dsf]

Not to clutter the thread or anything, but momo.75's Runner looks WICKED! :rockon: Is that a Whitson roof rack? Just aewsome.

Ok, drool over....

 

[momo.75]

Not to clutter the thread or anything, but momo.75's Runner looks WICKED! :rockon: Is that a Whitson roof rack? Just aewsome.

Ok, drool over....

Thanks man. Yep, that is a [MENTION=77764]Whitson Metalworks[/MENTION] rack. Josh does great work!

 

[Mizzac]

I know this is a bit of a thread revival, but does anyone know what is underneath the cladding? I have a few gnarly gashes in mine and am just curious.

 

[cincykyle]

I'm personally not a fan of the cladding on my 03 sport. I finally got tired of the grey on black look, except for [MENTION=165]momo.75[/MENTION] His car looks absolutely amazing

So I plasti dipped my cladding and it feels like a completely different truck now. But that's me )








.

I am sorry this is such an old thread, but do you remember how much plastidip it took to do this?

 

[ry_034Runner]

Plasti dipped mine been 8 months no problems and i love it, and to make it look super clean i put tire shine on a rag and wipe it down and it looks crazy good. No one can tell if its paint or dip


2003 SR5 4runner

 

[Jagerzel]

I am sorry this is such an old thread, but do you remember how much plastidip it took to do this?

It takes quite a bit. Get mineral spirits and clean the old caps as you go through bottles, that way when you have a clog you can swap that cap out with a pre cleaned one and keep spraying. It will clog on you eventually. I put around 3 full coats on mine - i used spray can not the professional air gun, mine looks great a year later.

 

[mizak82]

couple of those look pretty decent I must say, as Im not a fan... can you not go to a body shop and get them sprayed to match the blue for a few hundred bucks?

 

[cincykyle]

Mine is red, so I'm not sure if black would look weird or not, but I like it on other colors. I just can't stand the faded out gray


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Xrider237]

i have a silver '03 and i really like the gray cladding..i think it gives it a rugged appearance but more importantly its great offroading to fend off scratches and dents to the paint in addition to random day to day bumps and scuffs..i do not put any waxes or apply anything to them- just wash it w the whole truck

imho its dependent on what color you have- i agree some colors dont blend as well as others w the cladding

ive seen the cladding removed and its gonna take a bit of work and time to make something nice looking out of it- better to just keep them on there

 

[green_manalishi]

What would the cost be to find a scrapped runner and steal the panels off that? I think it would be a really cool way to go two-tone. Upper body blue, lower body silver or shadow mica. It would be a stunner and super unique - like the old two-tone Land Cruisers.

 

[cincykyle]

What would the cost be to find a scrapped runner and steal the panels off that? I think it would be a really cool way to go two-tone. Upper body blue, lower body silver or shadow mica. It would be a stunner and super unique - like the old two-tone Land Cruisers.

That would be pretty cool!

 

[Xrider237]

another way to renew the fading gray plastic is to use a heat gun and carefully go back and forth over the plastic- ive never tried it myself yet but i plan to

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQDBTeIObak

 

[Sifrk]

Im glad my 03 came with painted cladding, ill just say that.

Painted panels are great but the paint on them will fade too. All the plastic pieces on my 05 are showing huge oxidation fade. Where it is paint on metal it still looks great.

 

[blakem5]

in my area someone on kijiji has a 4 runner for sale and they painted the plastic parts and it looks good

 

[Porqupine82]

The color doesn't bother me as much as those ugly squares they put in the fenders. What were they thinking?

 

[brianhuntRVA]

The color doesn't bother me as much as those ugly squares they put in the fenders. What were they thinking?

That's funny because those squares are the one thing I like about the plastic panels. Look more rugged and they tie into the shapes of the speedo/tach and the climate control buttons.

 

[gloch]

I have to admit I am struggling with the "clad" treatment as I am looking for a V8 T4R and these seem to be in my price range. Is the cladding the trim pieces of the fender? Can it just be replaced with 'normal' trim?

-gl

 

[jdkilroy]

Mr Clean "Magic Sponges" make the plastic trim look brand new. (Don't rub the paint.)
I use 'em on my Taco wheel well trim and it's like it just came out of the box!

 

[bamma]

Mr Clean magic erasers worked on mine two years ago. Aerospace 303 touch up a few times a year and still looks brand new.