Best option for swapping out silver valances

After browsing through a lot of info I’ve eliminated plastidip as an option and am deciding between buying black valances and having them installed or painting them black.

-Can/would the dealership install the valances I purchase online if I bring them in? Or would they refuse?

-if I choose the paint route, has anyone done this without removing the valances from the car itself? I’m not a handyman and don’t trust myself to properly remove and reinstall these after painting.

 

I know you said no Plasti-Dip but I also thought of painting them without taking them off, that would entail some detailed masking. I ended up Plasti-Dipping them and they came out pretty good, if you overspray it just rubbed off with a microfiber towel unlike paint. I also Dipped the Faux Scoop on the hood.

 

Or get a shop to vinyl wrap them.

 

Depends on the shop... it's well within their ability to do, and is a relatively easy job so there's a potential to make some decent money on it... but it might be "beneath" a busy shop when there are even more lucrative large jobs waiting to get done.

Can't hurt to ask.

(I swapped my silver out for black and the whole thing took about an hour with very minimal tools... it looks way more intimidating than it really was.)

 

Wrap them. I did satin black, perfect match. No paint hassles and a lil extra protection.
Not expensive either if it gets dinged up and needs to be replaced.

 

I know you said no plasti-dip, but mine are still looking great 2 years later. The key is lots of coats, and the glossifier. The best part is that I can refinish them whenever I need to, for 10 bucks!

 

@travelinscout What color plasti-dip did you use? I got a new MGM 4Runner over the weekend and those valances gotta get updated

 

Popping off the front and rear bumpers are extremely easy. A youtube video and 30 minutes will be all you'll need.

I've painted mine myself in my driveway (with proper prep) and it looks good after a year.

Have confidence in your skills, I promise it's an easy job.

 

I'd buy black trim (for the TRD Pro models) and install it. Bumper removal is not hard, and the clips holding on the trim are easy to remove. If you do any off road the painted or dipped trim will get scratched up pretty quickly.

 

After reading this I thought about having mine wrapped in a matte black (2019 MGM ORP). Contacted a local to see what they would charge. He said between $500 - $600. Heck I can buy the Pro version for less than that.

 

Congratulations on the truck! Great choice of color. I used the standard black. I did about 5-6 thin coats, and then about 4 coats of the glossifier. Make sure you use a good de-greaser on the valences first, so the plasti-dip will stick. I bought some plastic sheeting and painters tape, and had no trouble at all. The over-spray peeled right off the paint of the truck no problem. Good Luck!

 

That’s crazy. Look around.
I paid 160$ for front and rear. Looks great and has held the same for over a year now

 

That’s crazy expensive

 

Thank you! I was sad to have to sell my MGM Tundra, but the 4Runner will be awesome after a few tweaks. I plasti-dipped multiple things on my tundra so it should be straight forward. Seems like a bunch a people do the valances in black so plasti-dip would be easy. If I want to go color matched I’m thinking paint is the best option???

 

Wrap it
I did mine and I’m very much a newbie at it…
Watch YouTube videos for a bit, practice in something before hand then Take your time and give it a whirl. Worst thing happens is some time and minimal cost of vinyl out. I went this way so I could have the option to return it to stock. However, after seeing it done I love it and wouldn’t go back.

painting it another swell and easy option. Look up SEM trim black paint and the associated primer and clear coats. This stuff flat out kicks ass..

 

Looks great!

 

Thanks
It was mildly challenging but not something people should avoid if they have general diy know how.

some in process pics and one in outside lighting

 

Looks great, nice job. Did you have to remove either bumper cover to take off the valances?

 

That looks great. Now can you come to KY and wrap mine too?

 

I suppose one could do it without removing it however I removed it to do it and would recommend removing it - this way you can wrap the vinyl around the edges.
doing it this way enables you to 'lock' the vinyl onto the part and not have to try and do a cut edge without fkn up your paint under it....

 

If i was in your neck of the woods I would most certainly come help ya out!

 

@Chucklehead what kind/brand of vinyl did you use. May give this a go and see how I do

 

I used VViVid xpo matte - off of Amazon. A heat gun is an absolute must.
Highly highly recommend watching a few YouTube videos.

Its not terribly hard it just has some tricks to it and patience. At one point you may feel like giving up- don’t. Grab a beer take a break and keep going.

i wrapped my scoop awhile back before I did the valence.

 

That looks awesome!

 

Bad Ass!!

 

How much did you have to buy to cover front and back valances?

 

I'm so happy I ran across this thread because I just picked up a 2022 ORP in Graphite gray and all the emblems are matte black but the valances are silver and it doesn't look right. I was trying to figure out the best approach and it seems like the consensus is to wrap it.

 

Exact same scenario for me too. I ordered the vinyl previously mentioned and I’m gonna give it a go this weekend. Amazon had and option that had the vinyl and the necessary tools so I went with that. It’s only enough vinyl for one valance but a second piece is easy enough to order. Think the size was 1.5’ x 5’ which should be perfect for these valances

 

Let me know how it goes. I may roll that route too. Do you have a link for the kit you purchased on Amazon?

 

Take your time, stretching around the curves to keep out wrinkles is an exercise in patience and finesse with the heat gun for success.