Side body cladding/molding
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,684
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Side body cladding/molding
Anyone take theirs off? I'm tempted to take mine off, the X is black with gold; i'm guessing it'll look cleaner without it but kinda curious how it'll look with the steps still gold in color, and the bumpers still sporting the color...
Plus, the double sided sticky tape/gaps between molding and body can't be a good thing now that it started snowing up here...
Plus, the double sided sticky tape/gaps between molding and body can't be a good thing now that it started snowing up here...
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2007
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Mine is an XLT. it doesnt have the lower cladding. most of the xlt's dont. It does have a black piece of moulding at the bottom of the rear quarter that probably attatches to the holes. My running boards are black.
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
You can easily paint your steps and bumpers with
Krylon Fusion paint (cheapest but you'll have to do it every year or so to keep it looking nice.)
Avalanche Bumper and Cladding Paint Don't let the name fool you. Click the link. You know how much plastic is on the Avalanche (with body hardware). This stuff is claimed to be the best by many Avalanche owners.
Welcome to GatorBack: Home of Automotive Protection Systems The others claim that Gatorback is the best.
Take off your cladding! Plastic stickers on a truck (no matter how thick) are gay. "Everyone" knows naked is best.
Krylon Fusion paint (cheapest but you'll have to do it every year or so to keep it looking nice.)
Avalanche Bumper and Cladding Paint Don't let the name fool you. Click the link. You know how much plastic is on the Avalanche (with body hardware). This stuff is claimed to be the best by many Avalanche owners.
Welcome to GatorBack: Home of Automotive Protection Systems The others claim that Gatorback is the best.
Take off your cladding! Plastic stickers on a truck (no matter how thick) are gay. "Everyone" knows naked is best.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,265
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From: Metro Detroit, MI.
A while back there was a thread of someone taking the peices off and finding some rust spots underneath. Try looking up hidden rust on a thread and you might find it. Just an idea, before you get started on a project. Also looking at LMC truck they also have peices of sheet metal for the lower door panels where the molding comes off of.
I also think naked would be best. I dont like the oxford white with the tan myself. I will be making my X into a stormtrooper vehicle in the long run. No I'm not a star wars fanatic. Although most of the movies are good.
the thread was "a heads up on hidden rust"
I also think naked would be best. I dont like the oxford white with the tan myself. I will be making my X into a stormtrooper vehicle in the long run. No I'm not a star wars fanatic. Although most of the movies are good.
the thread was "a heads up on hidden rust"
Last edited by officer131; Dec 3, 2008 at 05:21 AM. Reason: added information
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
You can easily paint your steps and bumpers with
Krylon Fusion paint (cheapest but you'll have to do it every year or so to keep it looking nice.)
Avalanche Bumper and Cladding Paint Don't let the name fool you. Click the link. You know how much plastic is on the Avalanche (with body hardware). This stuff is claimed to be the best by many Avalanche owners.
Welcome to GatorBack: Home of Automotive Protection Systems The others claim that Gatorback is the best.
Take off your cladding! Plastic stickers on a truck (no matter how thick) are gay. "Everyone" knows naked is best.
Krylon Fusion paint (cheapest but you'll have to do it every year or so to keep it looking nice.)
Avalanche Bumper and Cladding Paint Don't let the name fool you. Click the link. You know how much plastic is on the Avalanche (with body hardware). This stuff is claimed to be the best by many Avalanche owners.
Welcome to GatorBack: Home of Automotive Protection Systems The others claim that Gatorback is the best.
Take off your cladding! Plastic stickers on a truck (no matter how thick) are gay. "Everyone" knows naked is best.
Definitely gotta do the front lower part of the bumper...
I'm well aware of the hidden rust, and that may be a reason to keep them on, but IMO it's worth a shot... if anything, I imagine the molding only helped the rust develop by trapping moisture and salt in there...
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Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
If a guy was to use running tubes or none at all then I would definitely see the benefit of the lower cladding. I do own and Avalanche after all.
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Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
LOL! Ya know...after owning it for a couple of years I gotta say that it is a nice truck...for what we use it for. See below.
My wife and I will sometimes go find out of the way places on the coast to just camp for the night. Our Campright tent hooks onto the back. With the Mid-gate folded down we have access to the whole truck. We can use the AC if it's too hot, listen to the radio, control the bed lights etc. etc. The BedRug makes it that much more cozy inside. Although we use an inflatable mattress. 
Only problem has been a bad ground wire and a front wheel bearing.
The cladding does a great job of minimizing damage when off-roading through the lava fields here. I just repaint the spots that get scuffs. I removed the running boards cause they got very beat up. Trail fodder.
Okay...you die-hard oval guys can stop shielding your eyes. I'm done.
My wife and I will sometimes go find out of the way places on the coast to just camp for the night.
Our Campright tent hooks onto the back. With the Mid-gate folded down we have access to the whole truck. We can use the AC if it's too hot, listen to the radio, control the bed lights etc. etc. The BedRug makes it that much more cozy inside. Although we use an inflatable mattress. Only problem has been a bad ground wire and a front wheel bearing.
The cladding does a great job of minimizing damage when off-roading through the lava fields here. I just repaint the spots that get scuffs. I removed the running boards cause they got very beat up. Trail fodder.
Okay...you die-hard oval guys can stop shielding your eyes. I'm done.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,684
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From: Phoenix, AZ
those aren't bad looking trucks, with the exception of the wheel wells. wtf were they thinking? they look really good when lifted, big tires and a grille guard are involved
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington, IN
I've thought about doing this too, but am unsure of the condition of the paint underneath. Has anyone removed it on a 2000 with success? I'm guessing there will be a noticeable difference in the condition of the paint, but could be wrong.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia
Better to deal with whatever is under the cladding now rather than later... if you're in a northern climate where they use salt on the roads, I would be surprised if you didn't have some paint damage/rust underneath.
Hey Ken, what was that hideous growth attached to your tent??
Some sort of island fungus...
Hey Ken, what was that hideous growth attached to your tent??
Some sort of island fungus...
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington, IN
If need be, is it possible to easily re-install the cladding if it is nasty under there? (after rust repair, if necessary, of course). I'm just not sure how it's attached, screws, 2-sided tape, push pins??
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,235
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From: Houston, Texas
Posting Chevy pics on a Ford forum Monsta?
That's definately not cool....
Here in Texas aka Ford Country, thems fightin' words; looks like me and the boys here are gonna have to fly down and teach you a lesson *knuckles cracking*
J/k lol, I really can't say anything, I almost bought one of those! Then my neighbor showed me the light leading to the Excursion, haven't looked back since. 
That's definately not cool....
Here in Texas aka Ford Country, thems fightin' words; looks like me and the boys here are gonna have to fly down and teach you a lesson *knuckles cracking*
J/k lol, I really can't say anything, I almost bought one of those!
Then my neighbor showed me the light leading to the Excursion, haven't looked back since.