Why are manufacturers still putting chrome on trucks?

[Rusty Shackleford]

I'm not bashing anyone that likes chrome, everyone has got different tastes and that's all good with me.

In todays market it just seems to me like that vast majority of consumers don't want chrome on their trucks, and if they buy a truck with chrome they end up painting over it...

I personally can't stand chrome on my vehicles, i just think it looks cheap and gaudy. I shopped for my truck for a long time to get the one i wanted without any chrome.

I think Ram understands this better than other makers, so many ram trucks are outfitted with color matched bumpers and black accents/wheels.

Ford gets it too, it seems like more F-150's now have paint matched bumpers now as well.

In my opinion it seems like chevy and toyota have a running contest going to see who can fit more ugly chrome on the front of a truck lol

What are your thoughts? Do you guys still like chrome or no chrome?

 

[Quyonmob]

All depends on the truck.

Ram offers monochrome paint schemes and well as chromey fancy trim levels too. Seems like they know how to sell to their market, in this case both markets.

 

[BOWERSFJ]

You offer both, and cover the whole market ....


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[Ricks Ram]

I personally like chrome and don't think it looks gaudy at all. My Express had color matched bumpers and came with black door handles and mirrors and grill inserts with painted wheels. I have since lifted it and added chrome wheels, door handles, mirrors and grill inserts. I can't stand the new no chrome look and no emblem look and black wheels on everything. I guess it's just a matter of preference. I'm a little older that some of the other guys so maybe that has something to do with it. I will say I get more compliments with this truck than any other truck I have owned so who knows?

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[Jbyron]

I’m sure each respective manufacturer has teams of eggheads dedicated to figuring out their current and potential owners preferences. That said, even as a young man who has cars clad in carbon fiber and black trim, I think there will always be a place for chrome in the market. I can’t imagine everything being body colored or black plastic it would just be so dull, and done right it chrome can look great

 

[ScLeCo]

Boomers. Boomers like chrome.
Actually.
When I bought my truck I planed on getting rid of all the chrome but it's grown on me and I actually like it now.
So I guess I'm a boomer now.

 

[kurek]

I think any cosmetic choice can be tasteful or can be gaudy and overdone. I can tell you I'd 100% prefer clean chrome over anybody's plastidip "i bLacKeD oUt mY tRuCk" that usually looks all raggedy a month after they take their insta pics.

 

[Rado]

I am old school and do like some chrome ! Not a ton ! And I do like the look of painted trim as well
IMO the reason you see more painted trim and no chrome is $$$$$, Cheaper to build and to the bean counters all about the buck !

 

[Plankton]

I'm not a fan of getting blinded by chrome on a vehicle, but it's really just a subjective opinion as far as aesthetics. Having chrome blind you from it being on the interior is another engineering oversight. That's happened a few times with other vehicles and I'm always like "Who tf would put chrome there?" as I cover my eyes and try not to run into anything.

Balloons though. Yeah, those can all go straight into a landfill.

 

[Jbyron]

Boomers. Boomers like chrome.
Actually.
When I bought my truck I planed on getting rid of all the chrome but it's grown on me and I actually like it now.
So I guess I'm a boomer now.

first thing I did was reflexively black out my emblems and exhaust tips (carvens) and wheels and while I like it I want my chrome back lol

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Well it seems that i'm actually the minority here not liking chrome lol

I will say this, at least when Rams have chrome it is a tasteful amount...the chevys look awful to me especially when the entire front of the truck just looks like a solid wall of chrome

 

[avantiguy]

I'm old skool, when I grew up it was, "if it don't go - chrome it". Noting wrong with chrome accents but my 19 Laramie Sport has just the right amount of highlights. Although the RAM in the grill may go matte black at some time.

Nothing wrong with a little chrome for effect, however.

 

[BOWERSFJ]

The Harley guys used to say “Chrome won’t get you home, but it will get you laid”


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[Graygoose]

Ive had both, depends on the truck I plan to build.

 

[SOKY_RAM]

I don't like chrome personally, but to each their own. My thought on the matter is, if the manufactures quit putting chrome on all together, then a lot of people would be trying to add it just to make their truck stand out.

 

[Graygoose]

I was at SEMA 2 years ago, someone told me, why do they make black wheels, they are ugly......welp, a majority of the wheels nowadays have all black or partially black. Just trends I guess.

 

[ramffml]

The vast majority of trucks still have chrome (bumpers etc), because the vast majority of people still prefer it.

My truck has chrome, only because I didn't want to spend another $3000 to the next trim ("sport" here in Canada) to avoid the chrome.

I believe they also hold up better in terms of rock chips, I've seen threads where painted bumpers can look ugly pretty fast.

 

[tjfdesmo]

I think painted bumpers look like you can't afford chrome

 

[BWL]

Funny the chrome package used to cost more than painted, but the trend is painted now so it's the other way. I'm good with either, but prefer the chrome. I've never liked black wheels. Broke down and put a set on one of my trucks because the chrome ones started peeling. They held up better, but I never liked the look.

 

[NH RAM]

I think one reason is durability- if a small rock kicks up and hits my chrome bumper and the same rock hits a painted bumper, guess which one is less noticeable...the chrome by far. I see people paying a good chunk of money to protect their bumpers from rock chips with thinks like 3M or Xpel. My welfare wagon doesn't suffer from the same needs due to the chrome bumper.

With that said, I generally prefer painted to chrome for looks because the chrome is usually overdone. My first 1500 was a blue streak pearl Express with painted bumpers and I loved the look but damn, it was high maintenance with the painted front bumper.