Mesh grill or leave it alone?

[hodge-xj]

So I was bored and walked outside to cut my antenna down and realized I don't necessarily love the way the grill looks on my truck. I feel like it's still mish moshed looking and doesn't flow well. Already have a ton of rock chips in color matched anyway so no love lost on cutting it to install the mesh center.

Obviously it's not a necessary mod but I won't be doin bumpers, tires or anything else any time soon so I'm nit picking appearance as it's affordable. I'm torn, plus the grill took a bunch of work to paint, but it's not holding up too well either. I googled a bunch and like the mesh look, as well as the rebel knock offs, but kinda prefer the color match surround opposed to a full black front end.

Since I'm waiting on my parts to come in and I'm bored, figured I'd get some opinions. Flares are currently off as I need to figure out a way to keep them from chewing through my paint, they may stay off. The tradesman definitely looks like it was cobbled together from the parts bin, chrome, textured plastic and body color which I get, but I'd like it to flow a bit better.

I'm 50/50 on it right now so hit me with opinions. I photochooped a quick pic for comparison purposes.


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[Puba08]

Mesh. I’m in the same boat as you. I’m waiting to find a white grill locally so I don’t chop up mine. What mesh were you looking at (brands)?


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[hodge-xj]

Pretty much the rough country insert just for price. I found a few cheaper full mesh grills, but I'd have to paint the surround and I really don't feel like color matching again. It wasn't hard, but for the time and cost id either have it vinyl wrapped or professionally painted. I can't see spending a ton on a part that gets hammered by road crap all the time.

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[Puba08]

Agreed. I was looking at the RC as well. I was hesitant in buying a no name brand online that’s gonna look like crap by winters end. Though I had an RBP grill on a Ford I owned and the rivets rusted.



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[hodge-xj]

Agreed. I was looking at the RC as well. I was hesitant in buying a no name brand online that’s gonna look like crap by winters end. Though I had an RBP grill on a Ford I owned and the rivets rusted.



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I'm honestly tempted to just leave it alone and bed liner it. I went out and looked at it, it's already hammered to the point the surround looks like hell too. From 10' it's fine, but up close it's chipped to hell. Didn't notice till just now. Everyone was right when I color matched myself, all that work and money was futile for a NJ winter to destroy it

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[Puba08]

Cant be much to line-x it. Maybe $50? My buddies line-Xed their grills and they paid around that (I’m on Long Island).


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[hodge-xj]

Cant be much to line-x it. Maybe $50? My buddies line-Xed their grills and they paid around that (I’m on Long Island).


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When it comes to bedliner I've got that down pretty good. A couple cans of the rustoleum spray for like 20 and it'll be good. Not too textured and easy to touch up. Use some armor all/tire shine on it and it cleans easy too. I've not been able to find a bright white oem grill to save my life anywhere.

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[4eyedconekiller]

I personally will likely be going the cheaper all mesh direction, mainly because mine is all chrome. Why not see if they can white line-x it? Take out your current inserts, and see what they can do.

 

[hodge-xj]

I personally will likely be going the cheaper all mesh direction, mainly because mine is all chrome. Why not see if they can white line-x it? Take out your current inserts, and see what they can do.

Thought about it but constantly hear it yellows out unless you color match over the line x. Not really interested in spending a bunch of coin on a grill. It's no show truck. Mine was chrome too, color match doesn't stick well, it chips easy. I used it to try my hand at paint and i won, it came out like I wanted, but it sure wasn't worth all the effort. If I end up just blacking it out I will just keep my own grill. I may bedliner the inner cross and leave surround white and see how that looks. If I hate it than it's easy to just add more. This truck gets used too much to stay pretty, so I am trying to get a nice blend of function and form.

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[BWL]

I prefer the factory grill myself. Really comes down to your own preference. I'd pull the inserts and try sanding and repainting it myself if it was too chipped up.

 

[hodge-xj]

I prefer the factory grill myself. Really comes down to your own preference. I'd pull the inserts and try sanding and repainting it myself if it was too chipped up.

I never updated my original thread about the yellowed out clear but I did actually have to sand and repaint it with color. Even with extra coats it still chips super easy. I was so proud of it too, but like everyone said it would it's chipped terribly. Everyday is a new one, rather disheartened and the amount of time and work it took was a short lived reward.

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[BWL]

Paint takes a while to harden out of the can so it's easy to chip early on. If you have a parabolic heater I find you can speed up the process considerably. Lots of coats of clear is the other important thing as well as a good primer to make the paint stick well. More coats = longer to fully cure, but more durable.

 

[hodge-xj]

Paint takes a while to harden out of the can so it's easy to chip early on. If you have a parabolic heater I find you can speed up the process considerably. Lots of coats of clear is the other important thing as well as a good primer to make the paint stick well. More coats = longer to fully cure, but more durable.

I failed miserably on all aspects of that lol.

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[BWL]

I failed miserably on all aspects of that lol.

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Lol. Been there.

 

[hodge-xj]

Live and learn. I had never done paint and it was spontaneous. I kinda figured it wouldn't last considering it's winter and wouldn't continue to cure quickly once installed. Not that I csnt, but I surely won't voluntarily paint things again. Lol

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[Bigpaul13]

I have a black Oem grill that's a little rough if you want one to cut up and spray. I'm on long island, I see you're in NJ. Shipping is pricey because of the length but if youre willing to drive you'll have a cheap one to play with.

 

[hodge-xj]

Where abouts on long island?

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[Bigpaul13]

West babylon (Western Suffolk County) and work in Garden city which is Nassau County.

 

[4eyedconekiller]

I have a black Oem grill that's a little rough if you want one to cut up and spray. I'm on long island, I see you're in NJ. Shipping is pricey because of the length but if youre willing to drive you'll have a cheap one to play with.

Sounds like a perfect idea if the drive isn’t too bad.

I could paint mine (and I still might) just not sure yet. Right now, I’ve still got a lot of cleanup to do, and get ready for my flare and door handle swap.

 

[Tray Burge]

I'm still planning on doing this, just haven't ponied up the cash because I've been putting it all in other mods between my truck and my Jeep.
It's called "diamond woven mesh" and comes in chrome, stainless or stainless in black powder coat or aluminum. I'll be doing the black. Custoncargrills.com is where you buy the bulk sheets.