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Looking to install one of these on my 2017 XLT but it looks like pricing is all over the place. Is there much/any difference between the Raptor-style grilles I see on eBay for around $80 vs. those on truck enthusiast sites for 3x the cost? I don't want to put a cheap piece of crap on my truck, so hoping someone can tell me the best option here.
After scouring through these pages, sounds like any off eBay should do the job, so I grabbed a black finish version that should be here by Fri.
Now, I know exactly nothing about wiring... and I see everyone talking about a DIY harness found in post 2360. Assuming I buy those components, how do I hook all this stuff up? I'm not opposed to splicing if it's super easy but most YouTube install videos aren't going in-depth enough to make this amateur comfortable. I honestly don't care about the lights all that much, but since they're there might as well hook them up.
I researched these aftermarket grills for months before taking a chance on an ebay steal for around $63.00. From what i've experienced the past few months and what i've seen from photo comparisons the cheaper Raptor knockoffs are not that much worse quality than the $200+ knockoffs. There is a difference in some of the mesh/diamond-shaped backing in some of the grilles as there are a couple that include meshing behind the FORD letters and most aftermarket one's do NOT include any meshing behind them.
As for the installation, probably the toughest part is removing the OE outer grill section from the inner "shutter" grill. The wiring was not difficult using the blue colored posi-tap connectors into the parking light wiring which took me literally 5 minutes.
" As for the installation, probably the toughest part is removing the OE outer grill section from the inner "shutter" grill."
I tried like hell for an hr to save the cheap aluminum nuts on the bottom of the OEM, just to find out the new Raptor grill didn't use them.
HAHAHAHA - yes, I did the same until I finally realized that those pesky nuts unscrew and don't pry off. That said - you're 100% correct that you don't even need them on the Raptor grille.
Well, now I'm having a bit of buyer's remorse (already) since I'm not sure how good the Raptor grille will look against my chrome bumpers. Seems most people doing this mod have a Sport package. I'm rocking a black XLT, so maybe it'll look fine? Haven't seen many chrome/Raptor combos.
Well, now I'm having a bit of buyer's remorse (already) since I'm not sure how good the Raptor grille will look against my chrome bumpers. Seems most people doing this mod have a Sport package. I'm rocking a black XLT, so maybe it'll look fine? Haven't seen many chrome/Raptor combos.
I've seen a couple running around here. IMHO, a black truck will be fine, it's looks odd with other colored trucks having chrome bumpers.
11-17-2018, 09:45 PM
