For a lot of us, building trucks has been and continues to be a major part of our lives. Customizing trucks is not only our way of life but it is in our blood, which means, we can't leave anything alone.
No matter how hard we try not to, or how many times we hear the words, "You already have one project," followed by, "Why do you need to work on the one you drive everyday?" The simple fact of the matter is, even though we might have a project in our garage that we spend time with every night, we can't drive a stock truck. The only way we are going to be happy is to make our daily driver different from all the others out there.
Changing your truck's appearance is a process that does not need to be time consuming or ridiculously expensive. With a few carefully selected items and a little planning, you can give your ride a makeover in no time. As is the case with most vehicle modifications, you can spend as little or as much as you want on these components. While there are several places where you can buy these components, we chose to go onto Stylin' Trucks website as it has everything that you can think of to dress up your ride. Their online catalog is easily navigated by entering the year, make, and model of your truck. In a few seconds, a list is provided of the products available. In addition, all products are broken down according to categories.
A little exterior makeover can turn your truck into a class act ride. With the wide selection of exterior accessories that are available, you can do just about anything you like, from a subtle change to a radical makeover. Most accessories can be installed in less than two hours, and many can be finished in less than one. For Average Joe we chose to add a billet grille from T-Rex, chrome mirror covers along with door handles and tailgate handle. It took very little time to install and dramatically changed the way Average Joe looked.
1.The bumper grille is the...
1.The bumper grille is the easiest to install and it uses clamp-style fastening. Before the grille goes on the truck, Ryan starts the screw into the fastener. Then the grille is centered and securely tightened
2.The center grille is a little...
2.The center grille is a little more difficult to install. We had to remove the grille to install the center section. Six plastic fasteners were removed and the grille came right out.
3.We taped up the exterior...
3.We taped up the exterior shell to protect the chrome from any possible slip-ups. Ryan used a body saw to cut the center section of the grille out.
4.Before we installed the...
4.Before we installed the grille into the shell, we used a right angle grinder to smooth out any rough spots in the plastic. Even though someone might not notice, it would bug us knowing it wasn't smooth and because we're OCD like that.
5.Before any holes were drilled...
5.Before any holes were drilled the grille was test fitted for center and marked. Then the holes were drilled using a 1/8-inch drill bit.
6.When all the holes were...
6.When all the holes were drilled, the grille was fastened using the provided screws and u-nuts. To prevent the nut from backing off we used a little thread locker.
7.The side vent grilles are...
7.The side vent grilles are a straightforward install. center the grille in the opening and drill a 1/16-inch pilot hole. use the provided round screws for plastic. Although there is no fastener on the backside of this grille we still used thread locker.
8.There you have it. in about...
8.There you have it. in about an hour, all four grille pieces were installed. Overall they add a lot of style to a once average front end.
9.Toyota only offers the mirrors...
9.Toyota only offers the mirrors in two styles, color matched, and black. We wanted chrome sideview mirrors, the only option available for the '05-'08 Toyotas are covers. These cover use 3M double-sided tape, so to prep the surface, we used glass cleaner followed by the provided adhesion promoter.
10.Before the cover is installed,...
10.Before the cover is installed, Ryan sprayed the 3M tape with rubbing alcohol. This will prevent the tape from sticking right away, and adjustments can be made easily.
11.Just like the mirrors,...
11.Just like the mirrors, the door handles only come in color matched or black versions. Unlike the mirrors, these are easier to line up, we still used alcohol as a precaution, although it wasn't needed.
12.The Putco kit is only available...
12.The Putco kit is only available for the double cab, so we took advantage of this. Our Toyota is equipped with keyless entry, so instead of using the covers with the key holes, we used the covers without them. If for some reason the key FOB ever fails to work we can still gain entry into the truck by just pulling the cover off.
13.The final piece to install...
13.The final piece to install is the tailgate handle cover. Just like the rest we cleaned, and prepped the surface before installing.
The Tech Lowdown
Parts Used: T-Rex center, side vents, and bumper grilles, Putco ABS chrome mirror, door handle and tailgate covers
Company: Stylin' Trucks
Contact Info: Stylin.com or (800) 433-1809
Installation: Devious Customs
Contact info: Deviouscustoms.com or call (909) 947-1800
Approximate Installation Time: Two hours
Skill's Required: General mechanics
Difficulty Level: One wrench
Tools used: Entry level tools and a body saw
Part's Cost: $508.95