Wildtrak Grille Options - Any Advice?

[NativeTexan]

I’m swapping for a Wildtrak grille soon to add some black with carbonized gray letters and a recent search resulted in more options than I anticipated.

Wondering if anyone here has had good/bad experiences with any of these brands on replacement grilles? Which would you choose?

IAG
Buckle Up Butter Cup
RPM

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[DarthLincoln]

If you have a Badlands, why not just paint your current grille gloss black?

I have an IAG grille (different design) which was a good experience, but I don’t know how it compares to other aftermarket brands for quality, packaging etc..

The only thing i didn’t like about the IAG grille was the shape of the BRONCO letters that come with it. They look very different than the OEM letters. But I think that is typical for all aftermarket grilles, due to Ford’s design trademarks.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

If you have a Badlands, why not just paint your current grille gloss black?

I have an IAG grille (different design) which was a good experience, but I don’t know how it compares to other aftermarket brands for quality, packaging etc..

The only thing i didn’t like about the IAG grille was the shape of the BRONCO letters that come with it. They look very different than the OEM letters. But I think that is typical for all aftermarket grilles, due to Ford’s design trademarks.

The aftermarket ones are cheaper than getting his painted but agree with you about the letters. If you have to pull the factory ones to switch over then just pay the little extra to have the OEM painted.

 

[Tdub0527]

A lot of these companies use the same vendor from China. You can tell when you get it because they all use the same packaging and instruction print offs. That said i just installed the Buckle Up OffRoad Wildtrak style grill and am happy with it. It isn't quite OEM quality and a bit more "Bendy" but once it’s on you cant tell. I would buy again.

Oh, I also installed the Putco letters so I didn’t have the letter issue. However the Bronco letters that come with it do look way cheaper and not quite the same. Huge recommendation for the Putco letters…one of my favorite mods.

 

[SubmarineNuke]

I have the white one from IAG on my Wildtrak. so my original black Wildtrak grille is in the garage. The one thing I do not like is the size of the letters and that I can't get them in any color but black. And because of the sizing, some of the letters look a little funky...but overall it was still cheaper than trying to get the original grill painted white and get letters replaced etc.

 

[BroncoBoy22]

I got the buckle up buttercup one. It had one bent plastic pin. But I bent it back and it didnt cause much issue.

Like others said the letters that come with it are worthless. So I bought UPR letters. Which are a 99% match to OEM and a breeze to install

@SubmarineNuke highly recommend the UPR letter if you don’t like yours. You can get them pre-painted in OEM colors too!

 

[SubmarineNuke]

I got the buckle up buttercup one. It had one bent plastic pin. But I bent it back and it didnt cause much issue.

Like others said the letters that come with it are worthless. So I bought UPR letters. Which are a 99% match to OEM and a breeze to install

@SubmarineNuke highly recommend the UPR letter if you don’t like yours. You can get them pre-painted in OEM colors too!

ironic...the IAG one had a bent stem and I contacted IAG because I was concerned that if I tried to bend it back it would break. The customer service rep agreed that it wasn't what they wanted and she sent out a replacement and return label.

I have looked at those letters before, but wasn't 100% sure. But if they connect the same way with the screws on the back and can be ordered in the colors then I might be ordering them. I wanted to order some red ones to go on the white grille.

 

[BroncoBoy22]

ironic...the IAG one had a bent stem and I contacted IAG because I was concerned that if I tried to bend it back it would break. The customer service rep agreed that it wasn't what they wanted and she sent out a replacement and return label.

I have looked at those letters before, but wasn't 100% sure. But if they connect the same way with the screws on the back and can be ordered in the colors then I might be ordering them. I wanted to order some red ones to go on the white grille.

I would have sent mine back too but I waited months before opening the box so it was my fault.

they connect the same way but you don’t even need screws! It has pre-installed double sided tape and then little locking clips for the back side. Takes like 10 seconds to put each one on and because of the pins they are perfectly aligned with no hassle

 

[SubmarineNuke]

I would have sent mine back too but I waited months before opening the box so it was my fault.

they connect the same way but you don’t even need screws! It has pre-installed double sided tape and then little locking clips for the back side. Takes like 10 seconds to put each one on and because of the pins they are perfectly aligned with no hassle

looks like the letters are on sale for $70 right now too....so I guess I'm gonna order some Race Red! I figure those would look great on the white grille, and since I'm going on vacation tomorrow I'm not gonna worry about shipping lol

 

[BroncoBoy22]

looks like the letters are on sale for $70 right now too....so I guess I'm gonna order some Race Red! I figure those would look great on the white grille, and since I'm going on vacation tomorrow I'm not gonna worry about shipping lol

Enjoy the vacay! You’ll have a nice present waiting on ya when you get back!

 

[SubmarineNuke]

Enjoy the vacay! You’ll have a nice present waiting on ya when you get back!

They offer a Military/Veteran discount. So additional savings on top of the sale. I'll take it. Give me a little something extra to do when I get home.

 

[thewodg]

A lot of these companies use the same vendor from China. You can tell when you get it because they all use the same packaging and instruction print offs. That said i just installed the Buckle Up OffRoad Wildtrak style grill and am happy with it. It isn't quite OEM quality and a bit more "Bendy" but once it’s on you cant tell. I would buy again.

Oh, I also installed the Putco letters so I didn’t have the letter issue. However the Bronco letters that come with it do look way cheaper and not quite the same. Huge recommendation for the Putco letters…one of my favorite mods.

I did the same exact thing (buttercup + putco), and I love the result.

I tried two previous IAG grilles (one I paid for, and one free replacement). Both had cosmetic issues and one had a fitment issue. IAG had great customer service though.

The buttercup grille had the bonus of coming with a matching camera bracket for those with a front camera. It still doesn't fit quite as well as OEM, but it is a barely noticeable difference.

You could also look around ebay/craigslist for an OEM takeoff. I priced out painting my original badlands grille, but that was way too expensive.

 

[TheShark]

I rather like my cheap Chinese eBay Raptor grille. Honestly for $167 it looks good, fits good and has been on for a year now.

 

[DarthLincoln]

The aftermarket ones are cheaper than getting his painted but agree with you about the letters. If you have to pull the factory ones to switch over then just pay the little extra to have the OEM painted.

Interesting. I didn’t know having a grille painted was so much. Any idea what painting a grille costs?

My IAG grille came white and i knew i wanted it carbon black or maybe body color (HPR) or HPR surround with black or silver center. So I experimented first with HuyperDip to paint it all carbon black and liked it and haven’t touched it since then since the HyperDip is holding up. I’d like to get the whole grille painted HPR and then i can play with painting the center carbon black or silver or whatever using the HyperDip.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

Interesting. I didn’t know having a grille painted was so much. Any idea what painting a grille costs?

My IAG grille came white and i knew i wanted it carbon black or maybe body color (HPR) or HPR surround with black or silver center. So I experimented first with HuyperDip to paint it all carbon black and liked it and haven’t touched it since then since the HyperDip is holding up. I’d like to get the whole grille painted HPR and then i can play with painting the center carbon black or silver or whatever using the HyperDip.

Honestly don't know but would think any shop would charge at least $300 to 500 to spray a grill with prep, paint and a clear, maybe more if they have to take it off and remount it. I've seen some comments on having the surround painted with the grille and iirc most have said around $1k for that.

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