Adding Parts *Pics* You tell me!

Hey ya'll, Nate here saying hi from Central California. I'm new to this forum, but have read tons of helpful info so far.

I'm about to add some fender flares, a grill guard, and possibly some rear taillight covers to match the grill guard.

I use this truck to pull a river boat or trailer full of kayaks, camping, bit of 4x4ing, daily drivin, and all around fun.

I've done a bit of online research, but am not a huge fan of what I've found as far as grill guards. I'd like to get some fender flares that don't do the following:

1. look like crap
2. fall off after 10k miles
3. are designed to fail upon install

Here are a few pictures of the truck. I've owned her for a hand full of months, and couldn't be happier.

Pictures...

 

Personally, If you put any flares on it, I would try to find the OEM painted style.

I have never seen a good sturdy looking set of tail light guards. And for the front end.. If you want something strong, you may be better off going with a full bumper setup. ARB or All Pro.

 

Good-looking ride! Welcome to the forum! As far as flares go, bushwackers seem to be popular.

 

welcome and x2 on the oem flares find a used set if they are a different color lineX them or paint to your liking

 

You have my dream truck! I would do a window tint and maybe some rain gaurds and a bug guard, just for some contrast.

 

If I had your truck... I would try out my Glow in the Dark powder... It had to be mixed with clear, and sprayed over white base... Your truck would be a prime candidate. White by day... Blue by night...

 

that sounds pretty cool.

but to the OP, check the bushwacker flares

 

Thanks for the comments guys!

I checked into OEM, but man, they want a ton of money for em!

I might rule out the taillight guards, as I have heard before, they can be flimsy and ineffective...that is unless you fab them yourself or pay the big bucks.

I'm checking into Bushwacker products now...good stuff.

I might just end up building my own push bar or guard for up front.

 

Where in cali are you located?

 

Nice truck, and welcome to the forum. I would look on ebay for the flares. I found mine on there for $70. in great shape for the set of 4. Bushwaker has nice ones that look like the OEM ones. I think Bushwacker even calls them OEM Flares. As far as the Brush Guard, I've had them on a few of my vehicals in the passed, and would never get them again. I "may" get a cheap Bull Bar just to mount lights if I can't mount them to my bumper.

Question on your truck. What size tires are they? And, do you have a lift?

 

I'm located in Modesto, CA.

 

I am going to check ebay...thanks for the reminder. $70 is a steal compared to the prices I have seen on other aftermarket part websites.

Why won't you get another brush guard? Have issues with it?

I have Fabtech 2300 shocks/coils up front, and I'm pretty sure there is no lift on back. I'll take some suspension pics tomorrow, and see if ya can tell what I have.

The tires are 32x11.50 R15 LT...

 

Nice truck, i would recommend the oem flares too. I looked for new fender flares a lil while ago but i decided they weren't worth the price, i'm just gone get linex sprayed on the sides of my trucks.

Not to get off topic, but what kind of gas mileage do you get with those tires? I want to upgrade to that size but i'm having trouble figuring out the mpg i'd get.

 

This doesn't help you any, but I like the look of your truck better without the flares.

I'm also digging the black wheels. I'm gonna paint my stockers black one of these days.

I don't like the looks of the grill guards on our trucks. I don't like the looks of the westin bullbar on 1st gens either. They look ok on 2nd gens. I am wanting to go with either an entire replacement bumper like a bajabumpers.com or something, or just a light bar, like the KC one or something.

 

Oh nice fairly close to myself

 

I've seen the stock fender flares from the 01-04 on a truck like yours and I think they looked great! kept it looking classy and are functional

 

this is not a one hour shade tree mechanic type of job. i do not know your fabricating skills and mean no offence. you really need to research the mounting of factory flares to a vehicle that is not factory preped for them.

the stock fender flares on the 01-04 have about $100 worth of clips to attach them to the fender. i believe there are 7 for the fronts and 9 for the rears. you will need to be exact piercing the fenders for the clips and also you'll need to find a way to some how mount the screws to hold the flares to the bottom side of each fender.

i'm not sure if 3m type double sided adhesive will work for the long term. i know nothing about aftermarket fenders and how they attach.

personally, i like the clean look of your truck
good luck,
cadman

 

Thanks for the tire size. That's the same size I'm getting, but a BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A.

I bought 3 different Brush Guards on the last 3 SUV's I've owned. They rust out after 2 years, and added noticable weight, and noticablely less gas milage. So, I ended up taking them off. IMO, they served no purpose outside of looks, which I don't like anymore anyway. On my Tacoma, "IF" I can't mount my off road KC lights on the bumper, I may just get a small simple Bull Bar.

 

I'll have to check the MPG again...been about a month since I've had these new wheels/tires on, and haven't taken the time to factor mileage.