Fender Trimming! So many people, so little info.

Do any of you guys running trimmed fenders have a tutorial on how to do so? I have googled and searched to find only one video which is pretty mediocre. I took it into my own hands this summer to trim my fenders a bit at the heel of the front fender to get some turn radius back. After using a BFH, dremel, grinder, etc. nothing is fixed. Also, I have cut the cab mounts, and am looking into relocating those as well. I am on the edge of even buying glass cause I don't want to do a sketchy cut on my fenders. Thanks. This is what I want it to look like after the cut, these guys did a really nice job.

 

What's up dude. So basically what I did was I cut my sheet metal fenders underneath with a grinder cuz they get covered back up anyways and they didn't need to be super precise (even though I tried to be super precise) and then I cut my plastic fenders with a dremel for precision. I just zip tied mine back to the truck and they've held up great. Although they do sell the little clips pretty cheap if you break a lot of them during removal and don't want to use zip ties. Someone else recently asked about cutting they're fenders and I gave them a quick step by step of what I did.

1. Remove plastic splash guards inside of fenders
2. Remove plastic fenders
3. Make sure to put low tack painters tape from the bottom edge of the plastic fender to 3 or 4 inches up.

4. Use a cheap drawing compass, adjust the compass to 2.5 inches (or how ever much fender you decide you'd like to cut off), take stationary end and run it along the bottom part of the plastic fender while the lead end marks the line to cut all the way along the plastic fender. (you can then trace with sharpie to see better)

5. I used a dremel with a small cutoff wheel to cut the line on the plastic fender.

6. Use low tack painters tape to tape the sheet metal fender from the bottom of the fender to 3 or 4 inches up.

7. Use the drawing compass and repeat the same steps on the sheet metal as you did on the plastic fender.

8. On the bottom right side, middle, and bottom left of the sheet metal part of the fender I scored the line with a grinder so that I could bend back little tabs so that I could screw or bolt in new plastic sheeting for splash guards. It's optional for you if you'd like. Pictured below.

9. Cut out sheet metal line with a grinder.

10. I bought plastic car door edge trim to put on the plastic fenders to make them look nice.

11. Put back on the plastic fenders (I broke a lot of the clips so I used zip ties)

When doing the rear you will have to remove a couple brackets that help brace the bedsides and tweak them to be able to adjust to the new cut fenders

I don't think I left anything out. But just in case I left anything out you can totally refer to Slimwood Shady's 09 Access Single Cab Build starting on page 39. Let me know if that helps.

 

This write up is on my build. Page 14 towards the bottom

This is how my cut fenders look

 

I was creeping you earlier today... lol deadly write up! cant believe I didn't think to use the "old" edge for a stencil of the new!! Only thing is, the car door edge thing, where does this go? Also, I have gotten clips from body shops before! they have buckets of dose tings. Ps, beaut truck. Mine is getting there...

 

Haha right on bro! Thanks I'm glad it helps you. Sometimes we overlook the most simple things haha. Once you cut the fenders it will go on the edge of the plastic flare like so



Nice, scoop some of those clips up cuz you're likely to break some during removal.
Thanks man I really appreciate it. Love working on my truck! From what I can see in your profile pic, you got a sweet truck yourself! Let me know if you have any other questions and I'd be happy to help

 

Just a heads up I would not cut the fenders with a grinder....too hard to get a rounded line. I bough a jig saw at HF for $15-20 and it cut like butter and comes out straight, lines are as straight as what you mark ;-). Use metal blades for fenders and fine wood blades for the flares. Also, cut the fenders 1/2 more than the flares otherwise you'll see both cuts.

It's one of those things you just have to nut up and do.

 

I'd start by dumping the flairs before they fall off on a trail somewhere, then get some sheetmetal snips or even a good box cutter & whittle away on the plastic...

 

If he's running 35's snipping some plastic won't do it LOL

 

In that case just pull off fenders & bedsides...sooner or later they'll get ate up ...

 

I will post some after pictures hopefully the coming weekend. But up is right. Thanks mopwho, great write up.

 

That’s a great looking setup, what size tires are you running?

 

I used a jig saw and a high tech piece of wood and a sharpie to mark where to cut my fenders and flares. It's all in my build. Next up is fire wall tubbing, cause I need more room for activities

 

Exactly what I did. The high tech wood was clutch! Ha but really jigsaw and a good sheet metal blade and cuts like butter.

 

Thanks man. I appreciate it. Truck looks a bit different now. Running 35’s

 

They key was the zip ties holding the fender flares on 4 years and many trails later and they're still going strong

 

Definitely jig saw for both fenders and flairs.

 

I went dremel on the flares. Melts it a bit for a nice finish. Jig saw for sure. I ended up having my bed cut for my HC and they used a grinder and felt it was not as clean as the jig saw.

 

Yeah when I first started cutting my fenders I grabbed a grinder and hated how it was going so I switched to jigsaw. Oh and make sure it’s a new blade would be good advice lol. Otherwise the blade will grab/bind and almost pull the fenders off the truck!