I got a 2000 Limited 4Runner at the end of last year. Now, almost a year later, I realized that I am not too crazy about the two tone paintjob of the truck - it is Green, with the gray/tan color on the bumpers, flares, and door clads.

I have been planning on having the flares and the bumpers painted to match the green color of the truck. However, I had some questions prior to makig the final decision:

1. I want to remove the running boards. However, when I am looking at the way the fender flares and the running boards come together, it seems that the flares wrap around the running boards, and it will look bad if I remove them. Has anyone removed the running boards off a 2000 LTD?

2. Also, I am not too happy with the door clad/molding pieces, and wanted to remove them completely if possible. However, I am not sure how they are mounted to the doors, and whether any holes will be exposed if I remove them. I guess I will have the paint them if there are holes, but if there aren't, I would love to go with the cleaner look.

3. Lastly, how much do you guys think this will cost me at a decent body shop? I will need to do the front & rear bumpers, fender flares, and dependong on the answer to #2, possibly the door clads?

TIA

 

Oh and, if anyone in California digs the two tone paint job, and wants to trade it for the same pieces in green, please drop me a line. I will gladly travel to do the trade.

 

The door cladding is molded onto the flares and you have holes in your doors for the mounting points. You'll want to keep them or have some body work done to remove them. I kept mine. I painted all mine myself. it's a decent job, but not too bad. I'd plan on $1000 or so to get it done at a body shop. Have them do your license plate surround while they are doing the rest of it. Another guy here that has a black runner did the same thing as me and killed the two tone look. He paid for his and I can't remember who it was. He had a 00 limited and added a scooped hood and eventually a ARB sahara bar... I think his name is CTapia...

 

Hey Dynamo, my fellow Clubsi poster!

I know that if you remove the side cladding, there will be holes in the door.

I have seen a few limited's with the flares removed, and it actually looks ok.

 

If you removed the flares from a Limited wouldn't just look like a base model version,keep the flares and lose the boards and it'll look fine but I agree the two tone thing doesn't always look right and I prefer the monochrome look like Andy's truck.

 

Yeah, it looks like I'm going to have to keep them. I do, however, really want to paint them, but have not found a shop to do it yet. Hopefully this doesn't put my lift & wheels plan on a permanent hold.