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When introducing the new 2005 Frontier Truck at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, Jack Collins, Nissan North America Inc.’s Vice President of Product Planning, stated that interior styling and fit-and-finish issues are the fastest changing areas in the truck arena. This is true, not only for OEM products, but also carries over into the aftermarket. While previously, the truck was looked at as a utility vehicle, new truck owners now demand a higher level of luxury. They expect the same when buying aftermarket products. The typical buyer of a pick-up truck is no longer just “Uncle Joe”, looking for a truck to knock around at the ranch, it is also “Aunt Betty”, buying a stylish truck for trips to the nursery to transport flowers. C. R. Laurence Co., Inc. (CRL), the leading manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket truck sliders, is aware of this change of attitude and the need to address these issues. Special Tools and Recommended Techniques
Paint damage is becoming a more important issue, as newer vehicles have exposed pinchwelds. If the paint is scratched in this area, an installer may need to have a body shop get involved. For this reason, CRL includes in every CRL Truck Slider box, detailed instructions for the removal of existing windows and the installation of the new slider. These instructions recommend tools and techniques that will reduce the potential for any damage to interior trim panels, headliner and exterior paint. The company wants to convey the need for improved methods of installation to its own customers and, in turn, to make them aware of their customers’ needs for proper interior fit and finish. Improve Your Sightline
CRL has also improved and updated its truck slider designs to provide the best possible fit and finish with its exclusive Flexible Flange system. However, some trucks have trim moldings that do not cover past the edge of the pinchweld. With this design, the bead of urethane can be exposed to view – a flaw not accepted by the critical eye of this new breed of truck owners. A widely used, inexpensive product can help here. CRL recommends the use of foam sound deadening tape along the inside edge of the pinchweld for this purpose. This foam tape provides improved appearance and increases sound deadening for wind and road noise. Bond Blocker Tape
When it becomes necessary to remove a slider, CRL recommends placing masking tape as a bond blocker on the sidewalls of the pinchweld, this prevents the urethane from bonding along the side of the pinchweld. If removal is required, the cutting blade can reach the urethane that is retaining the slider. Anyone who has ever tried to remove a slider when the urethane has bonded to the sides of the slider and pinchweld, understands the value of this step. A customer may never know that an installer added these extra steps to an installation, but by applying these efforts, installers can have the satisfaction of knowing they achieved the best possible installation, and the potential for fit and finish call backs should be eliminated.
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