2020 Tradesman stock chrome to power wagon

[Rockcrawlindude]

I have Tradesman as well and I'm looking to do a blackout as far as badges go, which I already purchased. But I like the body color match grille surround and applique (sport/night ed.). Mine are chrome. I plan to replace the front and rear bumper with Ranch Hand bumpers. I've been researching (trying to find) those from the factory painted. My question is, can one purchase those from mopar already painted or do they need to be bought black and painted? So far the answer I'm lead to is i would need to buy black and have them painted. Thx.

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If you want color matched bumpers, Drop the bumpers off with your paint shop and give them them paint code.

my $.02 is the ranch hands look good painted the secondary color on two-tone fords but they look better black on monotone paint such as rams.

 

[rossagge]

If you want color matched bumpers, Drop the bumpers off with your paint shop and give them them paint code.

my $.02 is the ranch hands look good painted the secondary color on two-tone fords but they look better black on monotone paint such as rams.

Just want the chrome grille surround painted to match. Looks like I'll have those painted at the body shop. I'll definitely keep the Ranch hands black. Thx.

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[Rockcrawlindude]

Just want the chrome grille surround painted to match. Looks like I'll have those painted at the body shop. I'll definitely keep the Ranch hands black. Thx.

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FWIW
I called my body shop I’ve used before and they wouldn’t touch the plastic chrome. They said it could be done but it wouldn’t look good and wouldn’t last so they just don’t do it. They quoted me for buying paintable parts and painting them. ($2200)

i also got quotes for getting the pieces wrapped. ($600)

I ended up plasti-dipping my grille and rear bumper and I’m very happy with it. ($14) my aftermarket front bumper is e coated and powder coated

Edited to add pics

 

[jadmt]

i need to win the lotto so I can buy a set of AEV bumpers.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

FWIW
I called my body shop I’ve used before and they wouldn’t touch the plastic chrome. They said it could be done but it wouldn’t look good and wouldn’t last so they just don’t do it. They quoted me for buying paintable parts and painting them. ($2200)

i also got quotes for getting the pieces wrapped. ($600)

I ended up plasti-dipping my grille and rear bumper and I’m very happy with it. ($14) my aftermarket front bumper is e coated and powder coated

Edited to add pics

View attachment 11523View attachment 11524

Hmm i should try plasti dipping it i thought about painting it ( i have a paint booth at work) but thats a big hassle.... did you remove them to plastidip or just masked off

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Hmm i should try plasti dipping it i thought about painting it ( i have a paint booth at work) but thats a big hassle.... did you remove them to plastidip or just masked off

I taped around them, very meticulously. Prepped with rubbing alcohol.


The good thing about plasti-dip is you can remove it if you get a little on your paint. A little overspray doesn’t ruin anything. It’s also very forgiving when you’re painting. If you accidentally put it on heavy in one spot, it pretty much self levels. It always dries very evenly and looks consistent across the workpiece.

now, having said that. now that I have had the entire thing apart to install the black headlights, I will pull it apart if it needs to be re-done. It’s really not that bad to get all the trim off.



plasti- dip is actually pretty tough. Most people think of it as “peel off” but that doesn’t mean temporary. Car wash is no problem. I have also accidentally hit my grille with a rubber mallet while “working” on my winch and didn’t harm the plasti-dip.

 

[rossagge]

I've plastidipped many wheels and parts in the past with no issues . I can't color match plastidip unfortunately. Color matching vinyl wrap gets expensive. Prob comes out to the same price as getting it professionally painted. Was hoping not to have to buy trim pieces to paint. Planned on calling around trmrw to some local body shops to ask that very question of painting chromed plastic. I've done it myself before in the past. Used self etching primer and sanded the chrome down . Not sure how long it held up since I sold the truck that the painted grille was on within a year after doing it. If it's not the right solution, plastidipping the surround matte black isn't out of the question. Was just hoping to have a color matched grille surround instead. I did see someone on the forum painted his. Need to find out how it's holding up. Truck looks good, BTW. Curious to know if you looked at expedition one bumpers before you purchased your aev.

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[H3LZSN1P3R]

I taped around them, very meticulously. Prepped with rubbing alcohol.

View attachment 11526
The good thing about plasti-dip is you can remove it if you get a little on your paint. A little overspray doesn’t ruin anything. It’s also very forgiving when you’re painting. If you accidentally put it on heavy in one spot, it pretty much self levels. It always dries very evenly and looks consistent across the workpiece.

now, having said that. now that I have had the entire thing apart to install the black headlights, I will pull it apart if it needs to be re-done. It’s really not that bad to get all the trim off.

View attachment 11525

plasti- dip is actually pretty tough. Most people think of it as “peel off” but that doesn’t mean temporary. Car wash is no problem. I have also accidentally hit my grille with a rubber mallet while “working” on my winch and didn’t harm the plasti-dip.

Im gonna have to try it

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

I've plastidipped many wheels and parts in the past with no issues . I can't color match plastidip unfortunately. Color matching vinyl wrap gets expensive. Prob comes out to the same price as getting it professionally painted. Was hoping not to have to buy trim pieces to paint. Planned on calling around trmrw to some local body shops to ask that very question of painting chromed plastic. I've done it myself before in the past. Used self etching primer and sanded the chrome down . Not sure how long it held up since I sold the truck that the painted grille was on within a year after doing it. If it's not the right solution, plastidipping the surround matte black isn't out of the question. Was just hoping to have a color matched grille surround instead. I did see someone on the forum painted his. Need to find out how it's holding up. Truck looks good, BTW. Curious to know if you looked at expedition one bumpers before you purchased your aev.

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I wanted the aev bumper since the green truck dropped at sema, which was right after I picked up my truck.

I did briefly look at the expedition 1 bumpers only because it was such a long time until the aev bumper actually dropped. I emailed them a few times about the product but I’m very glad I waited for what I really wanted.

I purchased the aev unit the day it was released, as soon as I got the “now available” email. I’m glad I did because it went out of stock that day and when it came back in stock weeks later the price had gone up significantly haha

 

[kristof]

I taped around them, very meticulously. Prepped with rubbing alcohol.

View attachment 11526
The good thing about plasti-dip is you can remove it if you get a little on your paint. A little overspray doesn’t ruin anything. It’s also very forgiving when you’re painting. If you accidentally put it on heavy in one spot, it pretty much self levels. It always dries very evenly and looks consistent across the workpiece.

now, having said that. now that I have had the entire thing apart to install the black headlights, I will pull it apart if it needs to be re-done. It’s really not that bad to get all the trim off.

View attachment 11525

plasti- dip is actually pretty tough. Most people think of it as “peel off” but that doesn’t mean temporary. Car wash is no problem. I have also accidentally hit my grille with a rubber mallet while “working” on my winch and didn’t harm the plasti-dip.

So you plasti-dip all the chrome parts you can see on my photo below?


Did you did any sanding before you plasti-dip it? Did you use a spray can to apply it?

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

So you plasti-dip all the chrome parts you can see on my photo below?
View attachment 11543

Did you did any sanding before you plasti-dip it? Did you use a spray can to apply it?

For The ram pieces on the grille, I purchased the black pieces. They actually looked grey when they arrived so I painted them with krylon fusion. those pieces are hard to get off from
The front. if I had to do it again I would remove the grille.

The rest of the chrome was plasti-dipped black. No sanding, just wiped it all down with rubbing alcohol.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

!¡Disclaimer about painting your junk:

do at your own risk.

I figured the worst case is I have to either repaint it again later or replace them with black parts later. Maybe bedliner or something later. I’m not going back to chrome ever, so I don’t really care if I ruin the chrome parts.

 

[kristof]

!¡Disclaimer about painting your junk:

do at your own risk.

I figured the worst case is I have to either repaint it again later or replace them with black parts later. Maybe bedliner or something later. I’m not going back to chrome ever, so I don’t really care if I ruin the chrome parts.

So how long ago did you paint them and how is the plasti-dip holding?

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

So how long ago did you paint them and how is the plasti-dip holding?

Been a couple of months. Holding up as expected. No wear even where people kick the rear bumper deploying the amp step or where boots overhang the step pad on the bumper and touch the paint. No wear where the hood rubs the grille. A rock would still chip the paint off but that’s easy to touch up.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

I’m not trying to sell you on the product I’m just comfortable with the product and been doing rattle can jobs for a long time. Lots of plasti-dip vids on YouTube, definitely check and see if it would work for you

 

[kristof]

I’m not trying to sell you on the product I’m just comfortable with the product and been doing rattle can jobs for a long time. Lots of plasti-dip vids on YouTube, definitely check and see if it would work for you

I hate that chrome and I would try anything to get rid off it. Have to do some research but it looks like I will go that road.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

I hate that chrome and I would try anything to get rid off it. Have to do some research but it looks like I will go that road.

Plasti-dip sticks to chrome really well. it likes smooth clean surfaces. There are plenty of tips and tricks videos out there but basically use a lot of it. Think of it as building up a rubber layer. I used a full can on the rear bumper and a full can on the grille. Not thick layers but lots of them. First layer will be translucent


If you don’t like it you can pressure wash it off (over 2000psi) it holds up to the lower power pressure washers and car washes

 

[el_barto]

Plasti-dip sticks to chrome really well. it likes smooth clean surfaces. There are plenty of tips and tricks videos out there but basically use a lot of it. Think of it as building up a rubber layer. I used a full can on the rear bumper and a full can on the grille. Not thick layers but lots of them. First layer will be translucent


If you don’t like it you can pressure wash it off (over 2000psi) it holds up to the lower power pressure washers and car washes

This is key, lots of light layers. People try to go too thick and that’s when it turns out like crap, IMO.

 

[rossagge]

I wanted the aev bumper since the green truck dropped at sema, which was right after I picked up my truck.

I did briefly look at the expedition 1 bumpers only because it was such a long time until the aev bumper actually dropped. I emailed them a few times about the product but I’m very glad I waited for what I really wanted.

I purchased the aev unit the day it was released, as soon as I got the “now available” email. I’m glad I did because it went out of stock that day and when it came back in stock weeks later the price had gone up significantly haha

Yeah, they're quite pricey. I like the Ranch Hand Midnight. Bumper doesn't protrude like the others they make. Good fit and finish from what I can see. Thx.

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[kristof]

I have decided to swap the stock chrome to power wagon. Probably will purchase parts slowly. I'm tired of the chrome