Need help finishing an 04 !!!

[Posm]

My 04 should be built this week and delivered about the end of the month or early September. I would like to get some feed back on the finishing touches.



Side steps or bars.

I am thinking about the electric side steps from Geno's but know they will not be any help to the rear door passengers.



Bed cover

I had planned on a Roll and Lock or other similar type, but know people who have not had great experiences with them, especially when you consider what they cost. I now am thinking about going with the Agricover. Like they have at Geno's.



Floor protection

I now have the rubber floors and wish I could have gotten them on my new truck. Short of tearing out the carpet and putting in the rubber, I think I will get some of the rubber floor mats. Can the Husky liners be beat?



Gauges

I am leaning toward the X monitor. I like the looks and you can't put in three analog gauges much cheaper.



Exhaust Brake

I WILL put in the Jacobs brake.



Spray in liner.

I've read a lot of posts and can find nothing negative about the Line X.



Goose neck hitch

Want something with a retractable/removable ball. Also MUST be a no weld and no drill application.

 

[Peter Campbell]

I saw a B&W turover ball on an '03. Neat and non obtrusive. A few dollars and they are all a PITA to put in. Do the gooseneck hitch and the in bed wiring if you are going to put it in before the linex. The metal edges can be primed and painted before the bedliner-no rust problem. Same for me with the exhaust brake. It is a must have on the new truck. These are the two items on your list that I have thought about for when I order in the truck. Good luck

 

[gsbrockman]

Westin step bars are great. The OE ones from Dodge are really nice, too.



The Husky liners are the best out there IMO. I had a set in my '00 that were flawless for almost 4 years (I'm sure they're still OK--I just traded the truck). I was happy enough with them that I bought more for my '03.



As for the gauges, the X-Monitor is nice but I prefer the gauges in the cubby hole below the stereo.



Greg

 

[RMcCulloch]

The Kodiak Sidewinder electric steps [same as the Dealer-Installed option on '03s] are available for both front and rear on each side.



There's a different part number for each one.



They work quite well if you remember to keep them lubricated.

 

[Fireman]

Posm,



The agrafab cover is a pretty nice unit, works as advertised.



Weathergard slush mats.



B&W Turnover ball. There is a hitch dealer in Childersburg or Clanton that has the best prices I've found and has had the model for the '03s( nodrill/no weld) in stock. Sorry I can't remember the name.



Fireman

 

[David Muench]

I am a fan of the Kodiak side steps and would not go any other way now that I have them, but there is a downside - you lose the side protection from debris flying off the front tires that running boards or nerfs give you. So I'd suggest if you go with side steps, also go with some big mud flaps and possibly some flares, especially if you put bigger tires on. I just bought some Bushwacker extend-a-fenders and hope to get them painted and on soon.



I am very happy with my husky liners, my B&W gooseneck hitch (ebay!), and my Line-X. For tonneau cover, I originally had an Extang fulltilt and loved it. But when their Cargomax came out, I had to trade up. It's a not too big aluminum locking toolbox with a tilt up soft tonneau attached to it, all integrated together. I love it - if I can plan ahead when carrying a large object, it lifts up and tilts off in just a few seconds. If I can't plan ahead, I can just roll it up.



For gauges I went with a triple A-pillar pod and a pair of dual westach gauges (egt/pyro and dual temp). The 3rd one is still empty, I figure it will be needed for a fuel pressure gauge once an accepted useful way of measuring it on a 3rd gen is developed.

 

[Posm]

Thanks for the feed back. It looks like the B & W has a lot of fans and the Husky liners are well liked.



i would like the Sidewinder steps with some molded mud flaps/rock guards, however, four of them would get pricey. I would need to go before the finance committee and justify the expense



There seems to be no rabid support for the X-monitor.



I will need a bed cover that I can get out of the way to hook up a goose-neck, so the Extang appears to be out.



Once again, thanks for your help.



Bryan

 

[David Muench]

Originally posted by Posm

I will need a bed cover that I can get out of the way to hook up a goose-neck, so the Extang appears to be out.

Unless you randomly pick up gooseneck trailers and can't plan ahead for it, that shouldn't be a problem. The fulltilt/cargo maxes pop off in about 30 seconds and you can leave it at home (with the cover still in place on the frame) when you want to tow a gooseneck.



Just FYI...