I recently joined and have been following all the 17 and 18 member builds looking for ideas... one thing I’ve noticed is the abundance of Leadfoot... and that’s awesome. It’s not a popular color on the lots, or maybe it just sells out? I was combing dealer inventories for 2 months looking for a well spec’d LF in my budget. 100 mile radius: negative shipmate.

So, I ordered what I wanted, and when I found out my trade-in was worth a bit more than I thought, I padded the window sticker some

I’ve been waiting over a month now and the sticker is finally available on COTUS, so I thought I’d share it.

This won’t be an amazing build thread, but I know I’ll make a few adjustments as I go and I’d like to share.

Here is the renderings I grabbed from the “build your own” website.


and now.. the sticker is finally available...



I didnt need FX4, 3.5 or 5.0, voice nav, trailer brake controller, or e-locker... this is going to be my daily driver/family hauler.

Because of the added trade-in value, my Financial Advisor made me get the twin panel moonroof (I’ll be too busy driving to ever look up), and she demanded I get the SE Decal Delete.. I dig the matte black decal over the gray.

I wish I wouldn’t have ordered the spray in bed liner or hard tonneau... had I known better at the time, I would have held off and gone with a Bakflip and Line-X color match bed liner.

My todo:
1) OEM tailgate dampener ✔️
2) Front window tint
3) Clear Bra on the hood
4) Aftermarket air filter (not sure about a CAI), might buy an OEM air intake and remove the silencer. Not sure if the Gotts Mod applies to ‘18 Ecoboosts.
5) maybe a windshield no-tint but UV protection and anti-glare
6) Shorty whip antenna... 8-13” whip ✔️
7) OEM vs Husky vs Weathertech wheelwell liners ✔️
8) OEM vs Husky vs Weathertech mud flaps ✔️
9) “Easy light bulb mod”
10) Tuner: Sync screen theme
11) Tuner: Global Windows
12) Fender, tailgate and grill badge repaints
13) contemplate some aftermarket lighting: underbody, interior ambient/under seats.
14) Sport decal removal too.
15) Weathertech window deflectors, dark smoke ✔️

Let me know your thoughts.

Sounds like a great plan. Can't wait to track your progress.

I’m okay removing them, but I would have liked to see them myself and then make the decision. I think they look great against that gray. Without them, there’s a bit too much gray, too much shine from the clear coat.

i might be looking to save my pennies and get a matte clear coat sprayed.. I think matte gray would look amazing with the various black elements.

i don’t know if I’ll PTM the mirror caps, if I do anything maybe I’d get replacement caps and get them Line-x’d either black or color coded.

Along those lines, might be cool to get OEM replacements of the bumpers and those skirts/panels along the bottom of the door and line-x them too, black or color coded. I wish my photoshop app for my iPad wasn’t discontinued by adobe: I can’t do the manipulations I used to be capable of with their new ****ty apps.

I’m afraid of the amount of drag caused by the rough texture... I went with the 2.7 Eco on purpose, and gave up the EPA estimated 2mpg by going from 2WD to 4x4, so I really don’t want to do much that will lower it further. I already have a real lead foot as is...

Having the sticker available (and COTUS going to “in production”) has really stimulated me.

I wish I had more money..

15th Sep delivery, ordered 25 July.

Expected birthdate is 8 Sep, but who knows.

After it emerges from its Birth Mother’s womb at the DTP, it’ll be delicately passed into the loving hands of the supplier who gently applies the spray-in bed liner.

From there, it goes back to its Birth Mother’s arms and prepares for delivery only a few miles down the road to the dealer, where it will get its OEM hard tonneau and where I’ll sign the adoption papers and then it’s all mine.

My mistake, I had read about the Air Intake Silencer Removal and confused it with the Gotts mod.

The Air Intake Silencer disturbs the input airflow to reduce noise. Removing it adds some unique noise, but apparently increases airflow.

The Gotts mod may not apply to my 2018 2.7.

the Gotts mod involves changing the diameter of the tube that draws air from the fender well before it reaches the air filter box... it was a smaller diameter than the air intake to the turbos and an obvious choke point.

I definitely have more reading todo.. but one thing I’ve learned: buy a replacement part and perform the mod on that, keep your original stock part for any maintenance or warranty work required at the dealer, or for when you go to sell it.

Delivery is about 9 days out... so I ordered some parts!

OEM Tailgate Dampener : Tasca
6.5” shorty rubber flexible antenna: The Antenna Source
Husky wheel well guards

Nothing wild... but it’s a start!

Gonna be the longest 9 days of your life. But it will be worth it!