I'm going to be removing the door handles on the outside, and the tailgate handle. I am going to paint them body-color. What is the easiest way to remove them?

I am also going to be installing LEDs under them so I am going to kill 2 birds with one stone.

Help appreciated. Thanks!

 

the door handles are riveted on, so you need to drill the rivets out.

the back handle is held on by bolts i think, you can access these bolts by taking off the cover on the other side of the tailgate. its a big cover held on by torx bolts.

 

not sure on the door handles, but i replaced my tailgate handle a while back. dont remember exactly, but i dont remember it being difficult. im pretty sure you take off the paneling on the inside of the tailgate and remove it from the inside. i bet the door handles are similar and you will have to open up the doors.

goodluck, id like to see the finished project. what are you wiring the leds into? make sure to post up some finished and procedure pics

 

It is going to be set up so the following areas light up when I disarm my alarm:

1) Blue leds under the door handles & tailgate handle
2) Blue leds behind my grille that illuminate the radiator area through the fascia and bumper
3) Blue leds under the body that illuminate under the tailgate, front bumper and rockers

Yes, it will probably look like a spaceship, but I think that's ok. It's a unique mod, and I'll never have a problem finding my truck in a dark parking lot.

Everything will be wired into my "lighted entry" wire on my Viper alarm (I just need to figure out what wire that is)

 

sounds cool