When it comes to the overalll look of your custom vehicle, paint and body is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle. A smooth, consistent exterior is invaluable to creating the right look.
As minitruckers, we have figured out a way to ditch most factory annoyances without causing too much trouble, and shaving door handles is one of those instances.
There are many great kits on the market that offer easy installation, and some really neat options when it comes time to shave your door handles. This AVS universal kit fit the bill as we don't have cable pulls on the Mitsubishi Mighty Max we used for this tech story, and we really like their hidden button remote so you don't have anyone accidentally popping your doors while you're driving. Follow along and see just how easy and user-friendly this kit was to install. For more information, contact the companies listed in the source box.
1. The installation starts...
1. The installation starts with the prewired relays fresh out of the box.
2. All it takes is a constant...
2. All it takes is a constant 12-volt supply and a ground. A good location for the 12-volt supply is right off the steering column. The wire was soldered up and wrapped with electrical tape. The ground was screwed to the vehicle utilizing the supplied ring terminal.
3. Next up is the four-channel...
3. Next up is the four-channel receiver. This module simply plugs right into the prewired relays already installed. It is also prewired for both the driver and passenger doors. Those wires are run into each door.
4. Moving on to the door,...
4. Moving on to the door, the factory interior handle is removed from the door. The factory rod needs to be removed from the latch at the same time.
5. With the rod removed, the...
5. With the rod removed, the supplied cables can be attached through the hole where the rod once was.
6. After selecting the area...
6. After selecting the area in the door where the new dual actuator will be mounted, the supplied hardware can be attached. The actuator needs to be mounted so that it will pull the factory latch in the same direction as the rod.
7. Now the wires from the...
7. Now the wires from the module can be plugged right into the wires from the actuators. Once the cables are tested and tightened, the actuators are ready to be tested by pressing the appropriate buttons on the remote.
8. Once the actuators are...
8. Once the actuators are adjusted and working properly with the correct tension, mark the cable at the edge of the connector.
9. Supplied in the kit is...
9. Supplied in the kit is a piece to crimp onto the cable. Loosen the connector and pull the cable through and crimp the supplied piece at the edge of the mark. This adds a little security, just in case the connector was to ever come loose.
10. The remaining cable from...
10. The remaining cable from the kit is attached to the factory inner door handle where the rod once was.
11. After the interior handle...
11. After the interior handle is reinstalled on the door the cable can be routed through another supplied crimp connection. The longer cable from the latch is also slid through the crimp connector. These cables will now be connected and used to open the door from the inside of the truck, just like the factory rod once did.
12. Moving on to the door...
12. Moving on to the door poppers, a spot was selected in the doorjamb for the AVS billet door poppers. A corresponding location on the door gets a striker plate to keep from damaging the door.
14. Back to the doorjamb....
14. Back to the doorjamb. A hole is drilled for the popper, and the holes are predrilled for the mounting plate. The plate is secured to the door with two screws supplied in the kit.
15. Next the spring-loaded...
15. Next the spring-loaded popper is screwed into the mounting plate. The kit also comes with additional spacers to adjust for different applications.
16. Now we can test the setup....
16. Now we can test the setup. This is how far the door opened with the popper. No more having to stand next to the vehicle with your fingers in between the door to get the door to open when you press the button.
17. Here is the AVS remote....
17. Here is the AVS remote. It comes with interchangeable buttons so you won't get confused on what you are asking the remote to do, and it slides closed to avoid mysteriously opened doors.