for me, I put the car on jackstands, and wait a week to 10 days to have it done. I’m in a populated area of car Mecca in Southern California, and while there are a dozen or so powder coaters within a 10 mile radius, probably more. There’s only 2 that I use because I know they do good work.
I’m with you, Old Ranchero. Also like the utilitarian look of steelies. Saves money and looks functional. May make use of/borrow your plan to replace after 36K miles, if the tires hold out until then.personally, I like the look of the steelies. functional, utilitarian - like a truck wheel. They are also the smallest which means replacement tires are cheaper too. I've had 4 Rangers: 1987, 1993, 2000, 2006 and I never felt fancier wheels were important in the big picture. Besides, I can't look at them with satisfaction while I'm driving, so basically I would only get to enjoy them when the truck is parked somewhere and all the rest of the time everybody else but me gets to admire them
My plan is drive the truck as equipped until original tires worn out, then replace them with snows and find another set of wheels someplace (maybe gently used takeoff set from XLT or Lariat) for the rest of the year.
I'm getting mine powder coated black and putting Falken 245 65R 17s on them
Your idea sounds great. Please post pics when you are done.
I an planning something similiar, but I am having the XLT rims powder coated black and bought Toyos 245/65/17. Truck is scheduled for delivery on 11/1. Scheduling an appt for 11/3.
3-month plastidipping? Say whaaaat... this whole front grill is actually bright chrome, plastidipped April of 2019, so more than a couple years ago and looks the same as the day I did it, even w/ truck parked outside in Texas elements.
The grille of that RAM looks beautiful. Did you take the grille off the truck to do it or just taped everything off? What about behind the grille, how do you protect that from getting sprayed?3-month plastidipping? Say whaaaat... this whole front grill is actually bright chrome, plastidipped April of 2019, so more than a couple years ago and looks the same as the day I did it, even w/ truck parked outside in Texas elements.
Refreshing plastidip when it does seem UV damaged would just involve grabbing your rattle can and applying another coat or two.
Powder coating is certainly more durable and can look nicer too, but I just wanted to point out that 3-months lifespan is silly.
^ recent photo ~ 1 month ago
Granted I'm in TX, but here's a winter review for plastidipped wheels after 3.5 years:
Nice thing about the dip though too is if you change your mind and decide you want a different color like bronze, you can just apply that on top of the black plastidip.
It pops off pretty easily, just four bolts I think, and I was taking it off to upgrade my headlights anyway which requires grill removal. Went pretty easily, I just plopped it on the ground on a bunch of flattened out cardboard and went at it with the plastidip, first time attempt. I did a light coat at first and everything after that was a wet coat, forget how many.
