To De-Badge or not to De-Badge?

03SilverSky · #1 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 03:40 PM

I have had my '03 Tundra going on two months now. I had never even heard of the term de-badging, although I have seen it, before descovering this web-sight. I like the idea, but am not sure if I want to commit to it. I am trying to weigh the pro's and con's of doing it.

Pro's:
-Looks clean
-Quicker polishing
-Make other drivers look twice to figure out what I'm driving

Con's:
-May lower resale
-Don't see it done too often on high end vehicles
-Make other drivers look twice to figure out what I'm driving

file014 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 03:48 PM

go for it. you can always rebadge, its not permanent.

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forum...hlight=rebadge

Im gonna do it soon as I have time and warmer weather.

DevinSixtySeven · #3 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 03:49 PM

hurts resale? naw...its just a bunch of stickers, you can get any stickers you want from the dealership.

shelbix2020 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepStealth

hurts resale? naw...its just a bunch of stickers, you can get any stickers you want from the dealership.

It only hurts resale if you scratch it lol
I debadged mine a few months ago and Ive been catching more people stareing at my truck

RockyMtnRay · #5 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 05:51 PM

I'm probably in the minority on this but my vote is don't debadge (at least not the chrome badges).

Reason: To me, debadging makes the truck look very generic and plain-Jane...like a basic, inexpensive fleet type work truck. I got passed on the Interstate recently by an almost fully debadged Tundra (it still had the limited badges) and even though I was driving mine at the time, I had to look twice to be sure it was another Tundra.

So I'm definitely keeping my chrome badges...the kinda gaudy red/black TRD Off Road decals on the rear fenders I'm not so sure about.

Bbbutch · #6 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 08:18 PM

Debadge it!
It's fun watching people "who know vehicles" try to figure out what it is.

Imdone · #7 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bbbutch

Debadge it!
It's fun watching people "who know vehicles" try to figure out what it is.

After I debadged mine, I had a guy driving a ford start talking to me about Ford trucks. He then refered to mine as being a ford.

That's when I let him in on the secret that it's a T. His jaw dropped and felt like a fool. It was GREAT.

file014 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyMtnRay

I'm probably in the minority on this but my vote is don't debadge (at least not the chrome badges).

Reason: To me, debadging makes the truck look very generic and plain-Jane...like a basic, inexpensive fleet type work truck. I got passed on the Interstate recently by an almost fully debadged Tundra (it still had the limited badges) and even though I was driving mine at the time, I had to look twice to be sure it was another Tundra.

So I'm definitely keeping my chrome badges...the kinda gaudy red/black TRD Off Road decals on the rear fenders I'm not so sure about.

Ha! Mine is a fleet-looking work truck! I only have 1 badge to remove, Tailgate only.

molex · #9 (**permalink**) 12-10-2003, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03SilverSky

I have had my '03 Tundra going on two months now. I had never even heard of the term de-badging, although I have seen it, before descovering this web-sight. I like the idea, but am not sure if I want to commit to it. I am trying to weigh the pro's and con's of doing it.

Pro's:
-Looks clean
-Quicker polishing
-Make other drivers look twice to figure out what I'm driving

Con's:
-May lower resale
-Don't see it done too often on high end vehicles
-Make other drivers look twice to figure out what I'm driving

I debadged within a week of getting my Tundra, and haven't regretted it once . To me, the badges look really tacky. They look exactly like what they are: Cheap pieces of chrome-colored plastic.

Let me respnd to your "Cons":

-May lower resale
Nope. Keep the badges, if anyone even notices that they are gone you can hand them over and say "Here, they're easy to put back on."

-Don't see it done too often on high end vehicles
Actually, if you look closely at high-end vehicles that have been sent to a tuner to make them seriously bad-@ss (think Dinan and BMW's), one of the first things tuners do is remove all the badges. It gives the vehicle a more unique and certainly more stealth look.

-Make other drivers look twice to figure out what I'm driving
Sorry, I am just plain confused about this one. Why should you care about how easy it is for someone to tell what kind of vehicle you are driving? What difference can it possibly make?

Basically, I love the way the my Tundra looks without the badges, it reallly makes it look sleek and mean. It gives it an air of "custom". I guess I can see the other side of what you mean by "Makes other drivers look twice to figure out what I am driving"... like when I fly by them on the highway, they have to look twice and wonder what kind of truck it was that just blasted past them!

I'd show you some pics of my debadged Tundra, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to access my photos. Hrrrmmm.....

shelbix2020 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-10-2003, 04:44 AM

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photo..._0082s-med.jpg
Check out My Photos I have a few angles of my debadged Tundra

Moderator's Note: Imbedded Imaged Changed to link, due to size - nhparrot ... that small enough?

Possum · #11 (**permalink**) 12-10-2003, 06:23 AM

Both, my daughter (HOTundra) and myself have de-badged our Tundras. It will NOT lower your resale on your truck. We actually like the cleaner look and it's much easier when waxing. All those badges are just made of cheap flimsy plastic. We both do however have Custom Window Etching that has the Toyota logo or Tundra on them. But I suppose it's to each their own....

Dan

Possum · #12 (**permalink**) 12-10-2003, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molex

I'd show you some pics of my debadged Tundra, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to access my photos. Hrrrmmm.....

Click on a TSer's ID name, you'll see a drop box that appears. This is where you can:
View Public Profile
View Photo Gallery & Navigate to the Photo Gallery Homepage
Send a private message
Send Email
Visit Their Homepage
Find all post by the TS user

I'm sure we will be adding a Photo Gallery button at the top of the screen soon.

Dan

H2O_MAN · #13 (**permalink**) 12-10-2003, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imdone

After I debadged mine, I had a guy driving a ford start talking to me about Ford trucks. He then refered to mine as being a ford.

That's when I let him in on the secret that it's a T. His jaw dropped and felt like a fool. It was GREAT.

After I debadged mine I told one person who asked
"what kinda truck is that?"
My answer: Why, it's an imported FORD.

Badges - We don't need no stinking badges!

tauchen67 · #14 (**permalink**) 12-10-2003, 01:43 PM

has anyone taken off the trim below the badges that run along the sides. i think that it could look really cool, but i would like to see some picks before i do it. can someone tell me how to remove the badges, i know it might sound silly, but is it done with force, an heat gun, a solvent. thanks

file014 · #15 (**permalink**) 12-10-2003, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tauchen67

has anyone taken off the trim below the badges that run along the sides. i think that it could look really cool, but i would like to see some picks before i do it. can someone tell me how to remove the badges, i know it might sound silly, but is it done with force, an heat gun, a solvent. thanks

This is what it would look like...

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photo...cat/all/page/1

Except you cant do it without having several holes left behind. My truck came without any molding, so I didnt have to remove any. HA! Thats what you get for buying an expensive tundra