Fender Trim

The front fender trim on our '00 SR5 AC 4x4 was missing when I bought it. It's not mission critical of course, but it bugs me every time I look at it. The one on the other side is still there, but was coming loose so the last owner drilled a couple of sheet metal screws into it to hold it on... so that one needs to be replaced as well.

One of the forum members has a set for a good price, but he said they'd cost $160 to ship.

Searched high and low locally but nothing in the wrecking yards.

Bottom line, this is a work truck that won't win any beauty contests, but it runs great and does what I need it to do. So I'd rather not spend $350 or more for actual fender flares if I don't have to.

Searched on the forum, but can't find anything specific about this "inexpensive" trim I stumbled across. Wondering if anyone has any experience with them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/193322589926?fits=Year:2000|Model:Tundra|Make:Toyota

Also came across these. They're more than I'd like to spend, but maybe worth it? (Although they say they're for 2003 - 2006 a YT video shows them being installed on a 2000).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254181970728

Welcome any other thoughts.

TIA!

 

The part number that comes up for it isn't actually correct, when I search for pictures of the part. Weird.

https://parts.toyota.com/a/Toyota_2...L-AT/_65510_6712822/MOULDING/841420-7552.html

I'd check with @lsaami in case he has on his parts truck, I can't recall.

But really, car-part.com or search local Craigslist for parts trucks, it's your best bet. I go to my local craigslist and search, like, "2000 tundra parts" and it usually turns up at least half a dozen trucks or more.

 

We've replied to each other many times but I don't think I had seen a pic of your truck until now. Truck looks real nice. Good wheel choice .

I think the other option could be to just remove them from the rest of the truck and just have none at all.

 

Good advice, thanks!

I've been checking craigslist and local yards, but so far no luck finding the little rubber and chrome trim pieces. Most have the full-sized painted trim/flares or whatever. Parts trucks come up now and then, but they want to sell the whole truck. I've been tempted because I'd like to replace the front and rear bumpers as well as a few other things, but I don't have any place to store or park it while I take it apart, then there's the whole getting rid of what's left thing.

I believe I did find the Toyota PN for the trim somewhere. IIRC they were $125 each or so after the parts.toyota.com local dealer discount but not in stock anywhere. At that price I'd rather have something nicer I guess.

Thanks again!

 

Thanks for the kind words! I picked up the wheels for a great price from a guy that upgraded his Tacoma's.

I've thought about just removing the rest of the trim too. I might give it a try, or just keep looking for the two front pieces. Just wondering if something else might be the way to go.

Cheers for that!

 

Last time I needed trim, I actually found it in the least likely place: Summit Racing. I actually got my replacement 1GT bumper there too.

 

Huh, had never thought of looking there!

 

Should mention I got wasn't OEM, and it was for a 90's GM product, so that may've been part of the reason why they had it. Seems like the GM/MOPAR/FORD guys get all the love with stuff like that! The trim wasn't Dorman, but it was a similar brand. I'm coming up empty finding my email receipt.

 

I believe that @Rex Kramer had the same trim in storage for many years, and then put on his truck. Might be worth an ask of he has pictures of the molded part number on the inside of the trim.

You'd have to go to tundrasolutions.com though...

 

Will do. Thanks!

EDIT: Well, bummer. It doesn't appear Rex is a member anymore. Tried opening his profile as well as creating a PM, but it comes up as an error.

Good thought though... thanks again!

 

That's why I said you'd have to go to tundrasolutions.com. He got beaned here.

 

Ohhhh... missed that part.

Thanks again!

 

No worries!

 

So per @NickB_01TRD I went ahead and removed the fender trim on both sides. It's symmetrical now, but looks too bare to me. It's throwing a bit of road debris onto the front fenders now too. The old ones left the paint a bit etched and then there's the holes the previous owner drilled into the passenger side front fender to keep the trim attached.

I think I might opt for these flares. Not sure if I want the faux pocket bolts or smooth. It's not worth painting them so they'll be black either way.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264260812510

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254181970728

Both list them for '03 to '06 but there's a YT DIY video showing them being installed on a 2000 like mine.
Thanks for all of the input, much appreciated!

 

I personally like the one without the fake bolts on it. Those look they would work you just wouldn't have to use the little end pieces that go on the 03-06 bumper.

You'd have to buy it to find out for sure though.

Problem with buying these are you're gonna want to buy wheel spacers or they may look a little wonky. I got spidertrax spacers on mine with a pretty similar flare (OEM TRD) and the spacers were a must for me (visually) with that same set of wheels.

 

So, $125/ea. you say?



My clips to hold them on the fender keep disintegrating over several years of salt/snow exposure. I’ve replaced the clips twice at $35-$40/set when the 3rd time I just took off the trim completely.

Only happens on the front ones though. Weird.

 

Great minds think alike!

Good advice about the spacers. Still on the fence, so I'll have to give it a little more thought.

Thanks!

 

Most of the clips on mine were in decent shape (west coast) but a couple fell apart when I removed them.

The common flares I found were around $350 to $400. The ones I linked are about $250 so a little better. They look okay to me. Would probably look better painted, but the paint on my Tundra has a lot of "patina", so not really worth it. Just want to tidy it up a bit.

Here's that install video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn6sD62TdWI

 

You have a good looking truck. The flairs go well with the other upgrades. Now everything blends together giving the truck a clean modified look, and not a throw together of aftermarket parts trying to look good as a whole. What kind of paint is blue and then green. I like both colors and wished mine did that!

 

If you’re referring to the video, not mine, just a video I found on YouTube. I do like that color as well though.

 

After not having any luck finding the front trim pieces, reaching out to Rex (never heard back) and finally removing them all (didn't like how plane Jane it looked), I went ahead and bought the fender flares I linked above.

To keep it from rusting I filled in the three holes the knucklehead previous owner drilled into the front passenger side trim to hold it on when a few of the mounting bolts fell out. I used Permatex 25909 Liquid Metal Filler and it worked great.

Per @NickB_01TRD, the new flares fit fine, just didn't use the small front bumper/fender piece. I told the seller that he should update his listings to 2000 - 2006 year models with that notation. That should increase his sales.

I don't know if other flares are like these, but they have a small rubber seal around the top edge to keep water, dirt, etc. out. It's held on with 3M adhesive strips. It comes with the flares but you have to install it yourself. It is small, uncooperative and VERY tedious to install. Per the video I posted above you have to carefully push it onto the edge of the flare and it's a royal pain. It took more time to put the rubber seal on the flares themselves than to install the flares! I also told the seller that having them pre-attached would be ideal, but if not, if the inner part were wider it would be much easier to do. Let's say my cuss jar gained some value.

Finally, for models that had the chrome trim like mine, the kit uses three brackets each on the top side of the front fender for mounting. The instructions show them, but they don't specify when to install them. I tried doing it with the flares attached to the fender at either end and it was a nightmare. Finally I pulled the flare back off, installed the brackets first and then put them on. They're still a bit of a pain, but that worked much better. I told the seller that he should update the instructions to include that. Would have saved me a good 45 minutes or more. No idea if he'll take any of my advice, but I wanted to add it here for anyone that follows.

Overall, not terrible to put them on once I figured out the easiest way to do it by trial and error. For trucks that have the chrome trim, they use all of the original mounting holes, work with the OEM mud flaps, etc., no drilling required. The flares themselves are very good quality and should last many, many years. They can be painted, but it's not worth it for my truck. I like how they look as-is anyway.

Thanks for all of the great advice, much appreciated!

 

Those look good! I may get a set for crackie eventually!