Meso Headlight trim plate installation?

Okay... going to install these today, and I am sure I've seen a couple of threads on the process, but for the life of me, I can't find them. That said, on Meso's page, he indicates that you have to remove the bumper to install them, but just yesterday I saw a thread with someone saying that they had installed them without removing the bumper...

Can anyone provide a link or three to an installation thread? Much appreciated!

 

Start at 35 seconds in.

https://youtu.be/fbdSuENQi0Y

 

Moderately more of a PIA than anticipated, but it worked. Much improved, I think!

 

Got mine in the mail last week, need to install them. From the video it appears once you loosen the front of the bumper it was possible to access that screw holding down the factory trim plate just underneath the bumper w/o removing/loosening the bumper from the side. Were you able to do that?
I was hoping not to remove the bumper but looks like I may have to...

 

No way at all that I can se to do this without at least loosening the bumper.

 

The bumper will need to be loosened on the sides so you can pull it down a few inches. Unfortunately Toyota tucked the headlight plates under the lip so it’s not hard just time consuming. If you are swapping out the headlights that’s the perfect time to install them

 

Obviously the video was for the headlight and not the trim plate, so was there any additional tricks to swap that part out or is it pretty self explanatory once you pull the headlight out? How long did the entire install take you? Thinking about ordering a pair today.

Thanks!

 

Total time was about 45 minutes, only because I'm far more of a chicken with trim than I should be. Once the flares are pulled away and the ends of the bumper pulled down, there's lots of space; two Philips screws is all that holds the plates on. The new ones are a direct swap.

 

Get ready to cuss at the flare clips

 

Yep... got to pull the driver's side fully off on the weekend and get it properly seated.

 

Just got my set in today! Looking forward to the installation 'fun' but mostly the end result.

 

What do these do?

 

Purely cosmetic!

 

They reduce draft and add ~10hp.

 

7.5 if it's Canadian horsepower!

 

So I tried to install these on Friday. After finally getting the flares loose, and removing the bolts and clips as shown in the video, I still couldn't loosen the bumper enough to pull it down to expose the bolt...is that bolt necessary just for the trim piece? Not trying to change out the headlight assembly. Ill try again later in the week. Thanks for any help.

 

Add 3mpg’s as well

 

So once you get to the 3:00 mark in the video can you swap out the trim plates or do you actually have to pull the headlight assembly off the truck to do the swap?

Many Thanks!

***UPDATE***

I found the answer in another thread. For anyone else that finds this, you do not have to pull the headlights. Once the bumper is pulled forward you can access the screw for the trim plate.

 

How was it? I'm going to try next weekend to install any tips besides take the whole front end apart?

 

Actually both cosmetic and functional. No more small bugs getting caught in those grooves that you have to scrape out after a long road trip. MESO’s trim plate is a smooth surface so bugs just hose right off.