[Thunderhorse]

My front passenger door b-pillar vinyl started to crinkle a while back. Well, actually it started at about 35,500 miles and I wasn't able to get the dealer before 36,000 to get it replaced under warranty (which is what my dad did when it happened on his Ram). So I removed it.

I did like how it was protective and gave me a place put my hand so I could close the door with dirty fingers, and keep my wedding ring from scratching the paint; but I also heard it will eventually crack, and quite frankly the crinkling looked like buttcrack. Also I realized I would eventually end up removing it and I didn't want the paint to fade before I did; or at least not too bad since the truck is 2 and a half years old.

Actually, that's kind of a lie; I misjudged how much time and elbow grease it would take to goo gone all the leftover adhesive off after removing the tape. This left me with a choice (bubba's going to enjoy this):

A) Finish in the dark
B) Remove the vinyl on both sides and have adhesive residue left on my paint while I'm driving around tomorrow
C) Do the other side tomorrow

I chose option C because I had already got the back driver's side door done, and I'd rather not have the residue harden and get who knows what stuck to it while I'm driving to and from work tomorrow. Also if I did it in the dark then it would probably look pretty bad and I'd have to go back and touch it up anyway. I figure nobody will really notice unless they are walking around it when I'm parked; I sent dad pics of each side and it took him like 20 minutes to spot the difference.

Oh and I forgot to take before pics of the driver's side so this let me do before/after pics.

Here's what the crinkling looked like:

There is a Youtube video on how to do it; its pretty simple. Just search "ram b-pillar removal" and it'll be one of the first options.

Before (really the current passenger's side):

After (i.e. driver's side):

What do y'all think?

 

[Thunderhorse]

I think the pillar tape would look better with tinted fronts. That's something I'd like to do-35% on the front side windows

 

[Thunderhorse]

I'm pretty happy with it, but it'll take a bit of getting used to. You know how you can walk out into a parking lot and still be able to discern your truck from others, even those that have all the same exterior options, based on the small subtleties but without really looking at your truck? It'll take a few days to get to that point again.

 

[Thunderhorse]

Thanks for all the responses guys. This is a discussion board so by all means feel free to say so if you like it better with the tape. I'm not really sure which I prefer yet, but I do like the paint more than the crinkled tape for sure. If that hadn't happened it would still be on there.

I need to see what tinting the fronts would run me

 

[Thunderhorse]

I absolutely love the look, makes it look more like a proper 3rd gen!

I.....guess I'll take that as a compliment:4-dontknow:

 

[Thunderhorse]

Passenger side is done

 

[Thunderhorse]

4th gens are ok, my particular 3rd gen will beat any factory 4th gen :box2:

At what?

Good to see you Rocketfoot, I haven't seen you here in a while.

My wife didn't notice at all two days ago when I did the driver's side, and nobody else seemed to notice when I went to work and back yesterday. I told her to go outside and look at it when she got home from work yesterday and 10 minutes later she came back in, and frustratedly asked me what she was supposed to be looking at/for. When I pointed it out she said she liked it with the tape; I think she'll like it when she gets used to it.

 

[Thunderhorse]

About 485 with 510 tq.........also in 3 months going to have a near unkillable transmission. Also in any turning or braking situation mine will win.

I picked a 3rd over a 4th lol!! Remember I was offered a new bighorn and was not impressed enough with it.

Not yet you don't. You're still 4 gears, 150 HP, and 75 lb ft deficient. :gy:

I've toyed with the idea of an E charger, but you can't really beat the simplicity and longevity of NA, and its a truck so durability and reliability are the priorities.

If I wanted to go fast I'd have bought a car:box:

 

[Thunderhorse]

Hopefully you have something to protect your driveshafts, t case, and diffs from all that torque.

Rocketfoot, that brown pops with the chrome

 

[Thunderhorse]

I have a red sport and now I am wondering if mine would look better with red paint exposed. Has there been an instance of someone taking it off only to find it not painted or paint in bad shape?

Here's a thread with a pic that may give you an idea:

http://www.ramforumz.com/showthread.php?p=813674

I have not heard of anyone finding their door unpainted under the tape and the tape protects the paint underneath so unless it was painted incorrectly at the factory I can't imagine running into any issues there.