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Are Chrome Fuel Filler Doors Worth It?

Author: JasonLancaster
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Big, brushed aluminum gas caps high on the rear is an iconic part of the classic muscle car look. It practically screams out the car's muscle and power! Muscle car designers were inspired by fuel caps seen on race cars in the 50's and 60's. The fuel doors on these cars were big, so they would be easy to open and shut during pit stops, and made of metal durable enough the endure the aerodynamic stress of the racecourse.

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 offers a chrome fuel door cover with embossed circular rivets arrayed in a ring around a flat center. The door is made of ABS chrome designed to mimic the same chrome that is used elsewhere on the truck, giving it a stock-replacement appearance. Installation is easy, and it uses adhesive tape to mount itself to your current door - no need to drill holes or use any glue. Since this is more of an add-on than an actual door itself, it's purely for cosmetic purposes, not practical needs. Another company, AVS, also offers a chrome fuel door cover that attaches with double-sided tape.

Chrome fuel door decals like the ones offered by Putco and AVS are just for show. They offer a great look at an affordable price, with most ranging in price from $35-$45, but little practical advantage. If you can spare the cash for the real thing, and have got a little spare time, then read on to learn about the AMI fuel doors.

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.

Being able to lock your gas tank might seem like the best way to keep it safe from would-be fuel thieves, but it's important to remember that it's very easy to access a fuel tank directly from underneath the truck body. Persistent fuel thieves who aren't deterred by a lock on your fuel door might gain entry simply by drilling a hole in the bottom of your fuel tank. Replacing a fuel tank is significantly more expensive than replacing stolen gas, so make sure you have ways to avoid this problem before buying a lockable gas cap. Keeping your truck in a garage or well-lit lot should be enough to keep it safe.

In summary, fuel door covers can be a fun accessory to decorate your truck, like the Putco stick-on model, or a functional piece of hardware, like the AMI locking aluminum door. From a practical point of view, AMI's fuel doors are the only ones which offer real practical advantages beyond aesthetics. Their doors cost about $85, with no extra charge for locks.