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Are Chrome Fuel Filler Doors Right For You?

by: JasonLancaster
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It's a classic muscle car look: the fat, brushed aluminum gas cap sitting high on the rear haunches, almost taunting the world with the fact that yes, this car uses a lot of gas, and yes, it's because it makes a ton of horsepower. Muscle car designers originally took the idea from the racing fuel caps that they had seen on cars in the 50's and 60's. Race cars had large fuel doors to make them easier to open and close during pit stops, and they were made of metal to ensure that they could withstand the aerodynamic rigors of racing.

Nowadays, many people want to imitate the muscle car look on their own car or truck with an aluminum-style fuel door. There a few companies which can custom-make fuel doors, using a variety of materials and styles. Some models can even be locked, keeping gas thieves away from your fuel tank.

Putco makes an ABS chrome door cover which mimics the chrome used on the rest of the truck body, so it has a stock-replacement appearance. The door has embossed circular rivets arranged in a ring around the flat center. The cover can be installed very easily, using adhesive tape to stick the cover onto the existing fuel door. No drills or glue is needed. The Putco cover is for visual enhancement only, and doesn't affect performance practically. Another company, AVS, also manufactures a chrome fuel door cover which can attach using double-sided tape.

The Putco and AVS stick-on fuel doors can look great on your truck, and are pretty affordable, at $35-$45 each. But they're just for looks, and aren't too useful. If you've got the time and money, consider going for an AMI fuel door.

AMI goes in a different direction with their fuel doors. They offer a variety of styles made out of billet aluminum, giving it a rugged look. They also offer more than one color option, with an all-black door, an all-aluminum door which can be brushed or polished, and an aluminum door surrounded by a black ring. Buyers can also choose to have their door be lockable - an obvious advantage. Rampage products are very similar to those offered by AMI, with fewer rivets used in the design, and only brushed or polished aluminum colors available. Both styles can be ordered with locks as well.

While it might seem appealing to be able to lock people out of your gas tank in this new era of rising fuel prices, it is important to keep in mind that with most trucks, it is very easy to get underneath the body and access the fuel tank directly. This means that when faced with a locked fuel door, a thief might decide to simply drill a hole in the bottom of your tank and drain your fuel out that way. Since the cost of replacing a fuel tank is a lot more than the cost of replacing its contents, you need to be sure that you won't be facing this kind of risk before installing a gas cap that locks. If your truck is stored in a garage or in a well-lit lot, then you shouldn't have any problems.

Ultimately fuel filler door covers can be an affordable and fun way to update your truck's look, such as with the stick-on door cover from Putco, or it can be a serious accessory, like with AMI's lockable billet aluminum doors. From a utilitarian perspective, AMI's locking fuel doors are the only models which offer benefits above and beyond just pure looks. AMI's fuel doors sell for about $85, with no extra charge for the lockable models.

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About the Author

Author Jason Lancaster is the editor of TundraHeadquarters.com, a web site with info, news, and reviews of Toyota Tundra accessories and Tundra parts.  

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