*embracing the chrome*

I noticed early on that most tundra owners seem allergic to the stock chrome in and outside and when I first decided to buy a tundra my original plan was to de-chrome but after I ran a tally of the cost I not only gagged over the price of the parts but also decided to go a different route and see if I could make the chrome work and perhaps be a little different than the pack. Just wondering if anyone else has decide to "embrace the chrome* and stay shiny like me? If so let's see some pics!! (My newest upgrade will be these chrome tailgate letters)

 

You do you… I kept some on my 2008 silver Tundra.

I might caution not to go this far tho

 

I'm blind I'm blind!


Jokes aside, it's interesting how trends roll. Back in the 90s chrome bumpers and headache racks were all the rage. I still remember the one we had on my Dad's F250

 

I’m keeping the bumper parts chrome. I’m only ok with chrome plating on metal parts and our trucks should have metal bumpers. Otherwise we’ll end up being grouped in with Ridgelines and Frontiers.. grille is gonna go eventually, but as for the badges, I opted for the tvdvinyl kit that leaves some chrome.

 

The cost to take perfectly good parts off and replace with something else is what made me refuse the first limited that I ordered by misunderstanding and reorder a nightshade model…which I’m very happy with.

 

Do what YOU like! I am one of the few that switched to chrome handles and mirror caps from the SR5 black textured ones. The black ones always looked grody, the chrome is much easier to keep looking great.

 

Not this Hombre!

Got an SR and could not be happier!

 

I’m keeping the chrome. I originally planned as well to dechrome. But it doesn’t look bad. I see some dechromed trucks and they turn a 1794 or nice limited into a SR level trim looking truck. Looks so bad. Not sure if I’d do the chrome tundra letter inlays.

 

$1,200 to delete all this chrome with MGM matched parts! After these Morimoto XBs I think ill wait to recoup some funds lol SMH!

 

Chrome helps up front, easier to remove bugs. Reflective surface increases nightime safety. So, for these reasons my grill might stay. Interior, reflects a bit of light to see things at night, it will likely stay. I always wear sunglasses though when driving during daylight.

 

I am ambivalent to the chrome right now but my thought as to why there is so much in the front is that it is more durable to rocks and bugs than paint.

Is that valid?

 

Yep, and reflective for night visibility

 

When you scroll through all the neat pics of everyone's rigs here...the custom lifts,wheels,tires,bumpers,all sorts of mods the chrome deleters always look the best...chrome is an anathema to old man eyes...
Probably just an old military mind set...I like flat subdued matte earth tones and blacked out stuff...no bling no shiny stuff...blend in to the environment...looked for but not seen...

 

I kept the chrome bumper caps.
Been debating with myself for years on the Bumpershellz.
Last I checked it would be around $800 for parts to swap to painted bumper ends.

Kept the iforce badge, don't want anyone to think I have a 4.6..

But the chrome grille, hood bulge, Tundra door badge, SR5 badge, and headlights had to go..

Stock 2014 SR5



Swapped grille parts and added TRD halogen headlights in 2015.



Swapped the headlights for TRD Pro LEDs in 2021.




BTW, color-matched door handles for the win for me..
Made sense on a DC since the rear door handles are painted.

 

I had the chrome for a very limited time on my Tacoma, it pits and stains worse than paint so it's not about protection from bugs.

I have no idea how the market research departments for automakers haven't reached the conclusion to ditch chrome, unless that 55 and over AARP demo is keeping it going.

 

Can't remember anyone I know that had a color matched vehicle make a post about how to "chrome up" their ride...

 

Like chrome, take a trip to Sturgis, S.D. in August! Book a room now though!

 

There are a few things that look tasteful in chrome. I loathe chrome door handles and mirror caps, and any tacky aftermarket crap. But it can look good in small doses.

I’ve got color matched door handles and mirror caps, but the rest of the chrome will probably stay. I actually like the chrome bumpers, I think it’s tasteful. The grill surround chrome is a bit much sometimes, but the honeycomb grill breaks it up enough in my opinion. Oh, and I’m in the middle of a little project that will change my stainless running boards to black.

Interior chrome is staying except the stupid console stuff that caught the sun all the time. I covered that with AJT pieces.

 

Back in the day I was one of the few who de-chromed my Harley...I went matte black and my best bud went Battleship gray...kinda like Toyota's cement color.

 

I have a set of chrome door handles and chrome mirror caps I’d sell you.

 

For a double cab?

 

Mine are off my 2018 1794 crewmax

 

WTF?
I'm almost 60 and I couldn't wait to ditch that chrome grille..

I couldn't stand the chrome on the inside either..

 

I will support this idea. Some vehicles look great with chrome accents, some do not.
My vehicles color shifted when I deleted the chrome and added color matched and black accent parts.

I will say, there is one chrome accent that is acceptable regardless of vehicle color and that is an exhaust tip. The sight of a polish chrome exhaust tip on any large engine vehicle lets people easily “see” where that power is coming from.

 

If anyone asks how to chrome it up just give them directions to autozone… they have all the chrome.