Dechroming a Laramie - a short story

[AJ BCTD2500]

Hey all, new to the forum - just picked up a 2019 2500 Laramie Diesel, non-sport/no black appearance.

Looking to determine the effort for dechroming the truck. Here's what I am up against, in addition to some of my initial thoughts:

• Chrome Bumpers, front and rear - Options I see w/ remarks:
  • Purchase primed bumper covers and paint to match
  • Trade/purchase for someone's factory bumpers
  • Tradesman/power wagon bumper swap. It looks like these bumpers are very similar and are painted from the factory - any thoughts on this??
• Grille and grille surrounds - Options I see w/ remarks:
  • Purchase surrounds and grille from factory. Does anyone know if these come primed, or are gloss black painted from the factory??
  • Trade/purchase for someone's parts
  • Also thinking about a custom matte grille if there is a primed option, or even a tradesman grille (and surround) with black RAM lettering and u inserts- front camera will need to accommodated though. Still up in the air about how the black plastic trim would like on a higher level trim.
• Door handles, passive entry
  • Thoughts here are to just to plasti dip the chrome strip, heard of decent success here for the long term if the prep work is done right. Ripping the door handles apart doesn't seem like fun with the passive entry from what I've gathered, unless someone else has some perspective....
• Badging
  • New black badging is on order, and some will be removed and not replaced - e.g. ram on rocker panel, 4x4 on gate
  • Plan on doing some custom paint work on the OE badges I ordered - e.g. orange/red heavy duty painted matte grey.
• Mirrors
  • Please someone tell me there is a strategy for effectively blacking the chrome on the tow mirrors. I really hope that there is a solid and attractive alternative to buying new mirrors and trying to sell the chromes... I've been down this road and I really don't want to go there again.

Thanks for reading that... I know that was a lot material. Looking for any perspective from other folks that may have crossed these bridges.

 

[MikeXM]

Welcome.
People usually wrap the chrome mirrors.

 

[Saltysalmon]

I have a bighorn with most things like bumper and door handles color matched, but I did have to remove the entire grille to replace the chrome u inserts. I ordered the primed inserts and had them painted gloss black. The RAM lettering can be removed with the grille installed.

 

[AJ BCTD2500]

Thanks for the replies and the welcome.

Seems like there's not too much input from the group on this topic... hoping that I can get some more folks to weigh in on this project...

@MikeXM - On the mirrors, surprised that this is feasible given how tight the tow mirrors are(where the upper and lower portions meet), i'd think the wrap would be a poor option with that being a moving part. At this point, looking at the mirror differences year by year in the event I can grab an older mirror that shares the same plastic cover for significantly cheaper and just swap the cover and call the rest a loss. Otherwise painting over chrome plastic just never works out well in the long run.

@Saltysalmon - thanks for the info, that'll be useful when I cross the grille bridge.

 

[dragon_ram]

Can’t swap the chrome portion of the mirror - must replace entire mirror. Wrapping should work - the mirror and mirror arm don’t actually touch when moving from normal to tow position. I used plasti-dip... wanted a quick fix before a 6-week trip and those things are eyesores!

Dipped my wheels and emblems too. I like the stock 18” look, so may pull the dip and powder coat instead, in a year or so when the dip starts to “chip.”

I need to get to the grill next...

 

[UglyViking]

Can’t swap the chrome portion of the mirror - must replace entire mirror. Wrapping should work - the mirror and mirror arm don’t actually touch when moving from normal to tow position. I used plasti-dip... wanted a quick fix before a 6-week trip and those things are eyesores!

Dipped my wheels and emblems too. I like the stock 18” look, so may pull the dip and powder coat instead, in a year or so when the dip starts to “chip.”

I need to get to the grill next...

Did you pull the mirrors (the glass parts) and the light to do those or just tape them?

 

[AJ BCTD2500]

@dragon_ram that thing looks sharp!! I also have the same 18s - you're making me think about powder coating the wheels because I love how that came out. Did you use regular matte black plastic-dip?


On the mirrors:
* Did you replace the mirror marker lamps or did you just spray them with headlight black out spray?
* And thanks for the tip on the mirror clearance - checked it out, and it seems that there is a piece of rubber that straddles the two pieces which shouldn't impact the vinyl. That said, put in an order for some satin 3m film for the mirror caps and a suction cup to pull the glass (hopefully without breaking the behind clips). I read somewhere (can't find the forum), that the satin is the best way to match the plastic.

Agreed about them being an eye sore - the chrome actually does the driver a disservice imo as rear headlight glare reflects off the chrome surround - and to add to it - FCA thought it was cool to not include dimming side view mirrors on a 70k truck.

 

[Chasing]

Be nice to get the Power Wagon bumper and have the winch, but not sure you put the Power Wagon bumper on a Diesel. ???

 

[UglyViking]

Be nice to get the Power Wagon bumper and have the winch, but not sure you put the Power Wagon bumper on a Diesel. ???

From everything I've read it's a no go because of the intercooler. I would love for someone to prove this wrong but I don't see it happening.

 

[dragon_ram]

@dragon_ram that thing looks sharp!! I also have the same 18s - you're making me think about powder coating the wheels because I love how that came out. Did you use regular matte black plastic-dip?


On the mirrors:
* Did you replace the mirror marker lamps or did you just spray them with headlight black out spray?
* And thanks for the tip on the mirror clearance - checked it out, and it seems that there is a piece of rubber that straddles the two pieces which shouldn't impact the vinyl. That said, put in an order for some satin 3m film for the mirror caps and a suction cup to pull the glass (hopefully without breaking the behind clips). I read somewhere (can't find the forum), that the satin is the best way to match the plastic.

Agreed about them being an eye sore - the chrome actually does the driver a disservice imo as rear headlight glare reflects off the chrome surround - and to add to it - FCA thought it was cool to not include dimming side view mirrors on a 70k truck.

Yep flat back plasti dip. Sprayed “smoke” plasti-dip on the mirror markers just to take the edge off a bit.

I’ll probably powder coat the wheels... so easy to justify $500 versus $1500 for new wheels when the design is perfectly fine, and powder coating can give you an exact custom color. Besides, the market for 17” wheels with this bore pattern is dismal, and I’m not going a mm above 18”.

 

[dragon_ram]

Did you pull the mirrors (the glass parts) and the light to do those or just tape them?

I pulled the lower convex mirror to get to the markers. I wanted to pull the main glass but got spooked that I was gonna break some clips and it was just before a 6-week trailer trip. Besides, plasti-dip pulls right off the glass so I just taped them.

 

[UglyViking]

I pulled the lower convex mirror to get to the markers. I wanted to pull the main glass but got spooked that I was gonna break some clips and it was just before a 6-week trailer trip. Besides, plasti-dip pulls right off the glass so I just taped them.

Any tips on how you removed that? I've not yet tried but always worried about cracking glass or breaking snaps.

 

[dragon_ram]

Any tips on how you removed that? I've not yet tried but always worried about cracking glass or breaking snaps.

Nah - they pull off easily enough considering it’s a requirement to service the market light bulb. Get your fingers behind it and slowly force it side to side. It’s a circular-shaped housing begind the glass.

 

[AJ BCTD2500]

Update to the story - got my mirrors wrapped matte black and markers tinted. Came out great --- definitely made the the vinyl dude work for his money. Overall I'd say it was worth it, think I'll appreciate it some more once more of the chrome is removed.

Next task will be the bumpers. Same installer offered to wrap the remainder of the chrome for a reasonable price. Questions for the group:
* Worth wrapping front end components; grille/front bumper? Really don't want the truck looking like chrome Swiss cheese from road rocks... anyone have experience there?
* Color matching - anyone done vinyl work on a PXR ram and have commentary on best matching color? The vinyl wrapper stated gloss black 3M would be very close and "you wouldn't even notice". A little hesitant to believe this though... my truck has some pretty strong metallic queues in it.

 

[jcourant]

Can’t swap the chrome portion of the mirror - must replace entire mirror. Wrapping should work - the mirror and mirror arm don’t actually touch when moving from normal to tow position. I used plasti-dip... wanted a quick fix before a 6-week trip and those things are eyesores!

Dipped my wheels and emblems too. I like the stock 18” look, so may pull the dip and powder coat instead, in a year or so when the dip starts to “chip.”

I need to get to the grill next...

Hi again, @dragon_ram Just came across this thread. Nice job dipping your mirrors. I'll be doing the same. Any tips for success? I assume you dipped them in the upright position? Thanks!

 

[Blayne]

I'm also looking to get rid of the chrome on my power folding tow mirrors and trying to determine the best option. Does anyone know if the mirrors from 2010-2018 are the same shape? There are some inexpensive black plastic caps/cover on ebay that look very similar to the shape of mine, but I'm not sure if they are actually the same. https://ebay.us/fvxRHg

I know these are gloss black and only cover the top half of the mirror, exposing the chrome when flipped up, but it would be an easy solution for the majority of the time when I am not towing.

If these don't work, I think the plastids or vinyl wrap options may be my next options.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

, the market for 17” wheels with this bore pattern is dismal, and I’m not going a mm above 18”.

i know this was a while ago but where did you get that crap info there is a ton of 17” options for these trucks

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Plasti dip ftw
Screw chrome.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Plasti dip ftw
Screw chrome.

You have inspired me to give it a shot lol

 

[Randrx2]

I have a set of black power tow mirrors on my Tradesman. Are yours power folding and are the little convex mirrors powered?