What have you done to your 2.5 gen Tundra today?

Chrome front end delete completed!

 

looks good

Anyone that does this transformation, really makes one wonder.. why did they pick the original front end.

 

Wish mine was that easy. I wrestled with mine for a bit. That SOB was on there good. Ended up having to cut n bend it off.

 

Some of us didn't buy it new, instead we later found a fitting truck that happened to have chrome... We can remove the chrome.

 

Some folks still like chrome... my MIL just got a 4Runner and they specifically got the trim with the chrome accents cause she and her husband like it.

I don't get it but to each their own. I'm much happier now that my chrome is covered lol

 

Same as the others. I picked my truck (used) for the capabilities and features I wanted. I also really wanted Cavalry Blue, which has been hard to find in my region. Chrome is purely cosmetic and isn’t a deal breaker for me. I don’t mind my chrome front end. Don’t really love it. But I also don’t hate it enough to spend $700+ to change it. Big money cosmetic changes are lower priority for me, compared to spending that money on suspension or other upgrades.

But, that’s the beauty of these trucks in the hands of enthusiasts…you can upgrade and customize based on your priorities. Different strokes for different folks, as they say.

 

I like chrome, just not on this truck. I thought about just putting the updated headlights and a honeycomb chrome grill because I think that grill looks better, but ultimately decided on the color match look.

 

It’s coming back (not that it ever really left). The kids love it. Every guy under 30 I know who drives a truck leaves all the chrome alone. They want that patina

Seems like color-matching is for the 40+ crowd.

 

That would be me! But I’m not a chrome hater! I’ve always had trucks that were loaded with chrome, motorcycle too. It was just looking for a new look. I once had a truck with 18 chrome shocks, chrome shock hoops, chrome brackets, chrome interior pieces!

 

Can confirm. I'm 28 going on 29 and have all of the original chrome. I have zero intention on ever getting rid of it as I think it contrasts perfect with the Cavalry Blue in the SoCal sun.

 

I don't mind my chrome, but if I had a choice I probably wouldn't have selected it and gone with black or color match.

My issue with the after market color matched hood surround/bulge is that almost all do not match well enough for my eye. People will say it's not that noticeable, but I notice. Both in photos and in person. Case in point, the above photos.

 

I agree. I like the concept of the BumperShellz, but many photos I've seen of them installed I can easily see a color difference. I feel like I see the shade differences most on the specialty colors like Cavalry & Voodoo Blue, Quick Sand, etc. I'm assuming those are/can be very hard to paint match in general. Add in UV fade and it makes the job that much more difficult. My 2021 has lived its entire life in SoCal (1st owner) / SoNV truck (me) with a harsh sun. So I don't doubt my factory paint, even with the truck being "young" has faded a shade or two.

If I went that route, I would end up getting them unpainted and having a local paint shop do the work to try & paint match the current shade. But, then you're talking even bigger money.

 

I just installed mine on my new to me '21 last week. 41K miles. Same story here, fluid was brown almost purple. Looked terrible and smelled odd but not as bad as what I've read about on here.. will be doing a fluid change as soon as I can.

 

Yea you can barely tell. In person it’s not nearly as noticeable, lots of angles. I’m just as OCD as anyone on here, but I also came to the realization that this truck is about 8 years old and taking it to a body shop would have cost a ton of more money and even then it may not be perfect. I’ll take the criticism, because the truck looks badass in person.

 

Currently doing 37 PSI in my Falkens and it's the money shot

 

Yep, 37-38 for me. As heavy as my truck is, if I go any higher the center of my tread will wear faster than the sides. Any lower and the truck feels a little sluggish.

 

I like the chrome to a degree. I think the grill/bulge looks great, but I don't care for the chrome bumper ends. If anything on the front bumper should chrome, it's the middle. I recently platidip'd and rattle canned the chrome ends as a test to see how I like it. I like the look and will be ordering some factory match spray can paint to redo it, sans the plastidip. I'm thinking I'll do the entire front bumper with bed liner and then cover that with the factory match spray paint. Now don't get me started on dechroming the interior. IMHO that makes the inside look like a cheap base model. For the record, I'm 50+.

 

Hey...no criticism intended or directed at you. If it looks good to you, then that's all the matters. For me personally, I wouldn't mind taking a safe gamble on the BumperShellz if they were returnable. I'm just afraid it'll be too far off and then I'm out big money.

I owned a 2022 that I traded in for this 2021 (months before the big recall...thankfully), and my wife says I'm not allowed to gamble on anything over $50 anymore.

 

I went the plastidip route on my old Taco grill. The chrome was delaminating and looked awful after 250k miles. I kept the truck for awhile after this and it held up pretty well. Probably wouldn't do it on my Tundra though. Not until it reaches at least 250k.

Went from this:


To this:


In addition to the chrome, all the paint on the truck was failing too. So I ended up respraying it myself with a colorized Rhino Liner. It worked great.

 

@KroppDuster That looks great! Thankfully the paint is in good shape (it's a 21). I can handle painting some smaller pieces like bumper covers but would likely screw something up trying to paint the entire truck!

 

haha. I could NOT have done actual paint. I'm not that good. It was only because it was a bed liner paint with a texture to it that it looked good. It's much thicker than paint and doesn't run as easily. Nor do you have worry about things like orange peel/clear coat issues. It was surprisingly easy to do. Actual automotive painting is well above my skillset as a garage DIYer. But, thanks for the compliment. I was pleased with it.

 

I will admit that I am not a huge fan of the chrome inside. I don't mind the color, I just don't like when I get a random glare/reflection in my eye or having to wipe them down all the time because dust shows so clearly on them.

 

Ok, you've talked me into it. In 20 years when the truck is still running fine but the paint has been blasted off by the summer heat in FL, I'll rhino liner the entire thing!

 

Throw in a 6-pack or two and I'll drive down to help! haha. The wife and I are headed to NC in the near future. Much closer of a drive than from NV.

Edit: This is assuming I'm still around at age 64 in 20 years.

 

X2

 

Still working well? I am going to try mine this afternoon or tomorrow.

 

Hello. Long time lurker. Thank you all for all the valuable information here. Leveled with Eibach stage 1, 1in shackles rear and 295/70/18’s.

 

Great looking truck, and welcome from AZ

 

Welcome and great looking truck! White with bronze is an excellent combo