I am going to put a grille guard on my 2001 SuperCrew, and have decided on the Manik. Will I have to cut the lower valence? Where is the best place to purchase a Manik? Can it be installed without loosing my tow hooks?

 

You don't lose your tow hooks, and you don't have to trim anything at all. It all just bolts on in about 45 minutes. I did it myself, so don't know of a place. I'm sure any local 4x4 shop, but they always charge out the A$$.

------------------

Patrick aka Mudder or MR.Daylighter of Arlington Texas (D/FW), member of the Texas Chapter club DAYLIGHTER edition F150 ®, Black 98 S/S S/C F150 4x4 0RP 5.4 V8 3.55ls, Ramsey Pro 8000 hidden winch, Grizzly roll bar, Superwhite Bulbs, 2 Baja back up lights, 2 KC 57 Series 5x7 100 watt long range lights, 2 KC 55 watt fog lights (all-season kit) 10 165 watt KC Daylighters, 2 chrome, 4 Stainless, 4 black ( with 14 KC's, I come alive at night), Manik grill guard, Westin step bars, Rhino Taillight guards, Magnum bug shield, Sonic aluminum treadplate 36" tool box, Flowmaster 40 series dual exhaust, Airaid High Flow system, Edelbrock IAS shocks, 285/75/16 BFG AT/S KO, American Racing Baja wheels, Pro Comp headlight blackouts, Red Top Optima battery, personalized plates, Cobra 18WXST CB radio with 3' whip antenna, Escort Laser/Radar detector, Nokia cell phone, a Mobil Speed Pass on the back window, 3 F150World stickers, a Texas Chapter of F150World.com sticker, a BIG KC block sticker on the back window and a DAYLIGHTER sticker on the front windshield, and yes, I also have been infected with the infamous door crack. More to come for the Daylighter: JBA headers, superchip, 1 more Daylighter for the front, 2 KC reverse Lights, a Lighted Ford tailgate logo, and a 4" Rancho suspension lift (yes boys and girls, it's just about time). If you would like to see pics, email me at Mudder@TexasChapter.com
Also the Moderator of the Ford Trucks vs. GM trucks and Ford trucks forum over on fordvschevy.com so check it out.
Check out the Toughest SOB in the WWF crush the Rock's Lincoln: http://www.amta.net/files/sc-2.avi
OH HELL YEAH!

2 BRT 4U "Go ahead, flash your brights at me, see what will happen."

Got light?
It's a KC thing.....you wouldn't understand.
Candlepower to date: 4,214,000. Gonna add more soon.

See all my pics at my zing.com site: http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4294059243

Also check out www.F150World.com/Mudder

 

The only 4X4 shop in my area does not carry Manik. I don't mind installing it myself. I'm looking for the best place to order it from. Any recommendations?

 

Mudder
Nice looking truck! I see that your truck is a 98 with the full metal bumper. I have a Pacific Green one like it for sale now that I bought the SuperCrew. My 2001 SuperCrew has the front bumper with the plastic valence on the lower half that Ford switched to starting with the 99 model. My wife's 99 Expedition has this front bumper also. Does anyone know if the Manik can be installed on the new style without cutting the valence or loosing the tow hooks?

 

I have a Westin on mine, the mounting brackets are the same as the Manik. I think my 2000 has the same bumper as the 01 Screws. No cutting, grinding or mods needed. And the tow hooks stay on. Good luck!


------------------

• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]

My 2000 F-150

It's A KC Thing....You Wouldn't Understand!!!

 

beachdive,
My Westin is one piece, the grills in front of the headlights are removable though. After looking at GIJoeCam's pic I was wrong about the brackets, mine are a little different than the Manik but still no trimming needed. The Manik's are known to be a little bit stronger but both look almost the same. I would have bought a Manik but I get everything at wholesale where I get my addons & the Westin was about $75-$100 cheaper even though the retail is about the same. All in all I am very pleased with my Westin.

 

I found a lower valence this dude had taken off a 4WD new and stuck it on my 2WD for the cutouts. Had to alter the rubber air flap thing. The holes didn't match. Must have been a different year model. Have not decided what push bar I want yet though. Also need to order the hooks. I think the hook/bar holes it the frame are absent but I wouldn't swear to it. Been cold out there lately.

Jeeze, I've only had this truck for 7 months. By the time I'm finished the Ford purist aren't gonna know what to think!

G

------------------
2000 XLT
5.4L, 3.55ls
Toreador Red
Supercab, Short bed
Custom cloth seat covers-front
K&N air filter
Raven Z33 muffler
Hellwig rear sway bar
Front valence from 4WD? W/cutouts for hooks/guard have't decided yet)
Superchip

Cervini's ram air hood shipping

[This message has been edited by geeky666 (edited 01-29-2001).]

 

Great Lookin trucks guys.

Anybody have any info on the Genuine Steel Guard. It looks very similar to the Manik but I dont think that you retain the tow hooks and I think that it looks a bit flimsy.

Any thoughts? I am also thinking about which type of guard to buy.

 

I don't know much about the genuine steel one, but I can speak for the Manik... It was the only one I could find in stainless. Also, I can mount a 9000 lb winch on it, so that tells me something about its strength right there. Fit and finish are generally excellent, though my first one had a factory flaw in it... it had a dent I didn't discover until a couple of days later, but they replaced it free of charge... just meant I had to put it on twice, that's all. I don't think either of them took me more than an hour.

Spargo... You're right... the 97 and 98 are a bit different than the 99-up... I believe yourbrackets sit a bit farther back on the frame, but I could be wrong...

Forgot to post a pic... (I'll have some better ones this weekend)



Oh, and I lied.... in the second pic, that's the air-dam I was looking at... the tow hook is set up inside it quite a ways....

-Joe-

 

Spargo2
Is your grille guard a one piece or is it modular?

 

I, too, have the manik... mounts using these brackets on the outside of the frame rail, and they stick through the tow hook openings if you have a 4x4. If not, you will have to trim the valence.


That's the bracket on the driver's side.... forward is to the left...



That's where it sticks out at... you can see the bottom of the tow eye along the bottom of the bracket.

As for online... I don't know about any cheap places... I bought mine from a semi-local shop and installed it myself. Took all of about an hour, and that was in the dark. Trimming (if necessary) would take a bit longer, I'm sure.

-Joe-


------------------
98 Explorer (Lemon Law Case in Progress)

'00 F-150, X-cab, 4x4, Lariat, Off-road, Trailer Tow, Holandia Sunroof, built 11/99 picked up 10/00!Clear Corners, Manik Stainless Steel 1-piece brush guard, Custom CB wiring, Uniden PC76-XLW CB radio with K-40 Magna-Mount antenna (for now), 1 set of 165 watt KC Daylighters (for now... more on the way) Custom switch mounting plate and overhead console, Bully Stainless Steel Trailer hitch drawbarw/ 2" stainless steel ball.
List of planned mods: Clear tails, torsion bar tweak, bug deflector, spray in liner, and a tonneau of some sort...

93 Probe GT teal, OE rims painted to match, bone stock drivetrain.

[This message has been edited by GIJoeCam (edited 01-29-2001).]

 

GIJoeCam
Thanks for the great photos! I had decided on the Manik, but I just found out that I have a friend at the local NAPA store that can order the Westin. There is no dealer in my area that can get the Manik. They both look very similar on all of the photos I have seen on-line, so I am now trying to decide between the Manik and the Westin. Any input from anyone on how they compare in quality?


------------------
Chip Holcomb
chip@beachdive.com
www.beachdive.com


2001 SuperCrew XLT 4X4
1999 Expedition XLT 4X4
1998 SuperCab XLT 4X4 (for sale)

 

I have it. I love it.
You do have to lose the hooks, but I'm working on that now.





Hope these help your decision.

 

Went to the Ford dealer today to price towhooks. $37 each...ouch

Next I went to Trucks Unique and started asking about hooks. The salesman said he had takeoffs he would sell for $25 a pair, We went in the back and he had a whole box of them. At least 10 pairs. Some were aluminum and some were regular steel. I grabbed the aluminum ones because I didn't really know. I figure I'll probably never use them anyway and they are primarily for looks. The rest of the story aint as pretty though as he charged an hour shop time and I walked out for $92 bucks. They shure do look good though.

I did notice a new product by MAAP that I liked. A mini guard that only covers the bumper below the center of the grill. Would be good for a push gate. Also looks good IMHO.

G


------------------
2000 XLT
5.4L, 3.55ls
Toreador Red
Supercab, Short bed
Custom cloth seat covers-front
K&N air filter
Raven Z33 muffler
Hellwig rear sway bar
Front valence from 4WD W/cutouts and tohook
Superchip

Cervini's ram air hood shipping

[This message has been edited by geeky666 (edited 01-30-2001).]

 

I just checked out Lariat4wd's photos and discovered a major disadvantage in the design of the genuine steel guard... It requires two additional mounting brackets that go up under the hood to the fender bolts... The manik is bolted to and supported solely by the frame. If you ever happened to hit something, it would at worst, bend the frame rails and push it into the headlights. If you hit something with the Genuine Steel, it transmits the force to the fenders as well.... could tear them, or push them back into the doors... not nearly as rugged IMHO.... Alos, if a winch mount is available for it, it means it's pulling on the front fenders as well, and could throu them out of whack or distort the flange. Get the Manik!

If the mounts go along the side of the frame rail, how come you have to remove the factory tow hooks? It looks like it uses the same holes as the Manik, but we get to keep ours?

-Joe-