Welp… everything has changed. I was busy last weekend and I completely stripped most of accessories/addons and made it look close to stock again. In the "stuff that catches my eye" thread, I had explained that I was looking for a different truck because I was getting tired of this one and wanted a truck that was more stock. So my mom and I kinda talked about it, and she just suggested to keep this one and just make it look like the trucks I was looking at, since they were all stock. After thinking on it, I decided to keep it and just make it look more stock.
I am happy with it as of now. It rides great, not much wind noise anymore, it feels lighter and smaller, and it tows a little better. I checked the mpg and I think I gained up to a mile more than before lol (about 13mpg now, 11.5-12 before). I do want to buy some Falken Wildpeak's in a 265/75/16 before the ice/snow falls, and sell the Cooper tires that I have on the truck right now. I am not impressed by these Coopers, the cheap $100 Kenda tires were better than these!
My dad said he was interested in the headache rack for his 96 dually project, since he was in need of one anyway, so it's a win-win. I also ordered up some ICI U-Cut 6"x54" black textured panels for the truck to cover up the missing paint and rust from me removing the stainless panels. Only for a $120 total on Amazon, pretty damn cheap! Plus, they are flexible plastic, so they won’t rust. Should look decent, and should be way easier than painting bedliner.
Here is a picture of the truck now, starting to appreciate these trucks in their (almost) natural form. I really need to get a new driver’s side mirror, the downward tilt on it is bothering me, lol. Definitely doesn't have the off-road coolness factor anymore, but still looks nice without it.
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After I got home this afternoon, I removed the vent visors, stainless handles, and bed caps. The steps, flares, and Lund visor are staying; I love that visor way too much. I still need to fix the angle of the steps, since they were from a GMT800. Probably gonna have to heat up the front mounting bolts to get them free and drill new holes to get them more level.
Someday I'd like to buy a rust free GMT400 and make it an ultra 90s off-road build, with the polished aluminum push bar, and a chrome or stainless single/single roll bar (or chrome headache rack) sitting on a 6" lift and 315/75/16s.
