Cool post. The Carista stuff you mentioned is just plain common sense...and yet it never crossed my mind to do it. I'm sure the engine/road noise are doing the speakers no favors. Think I might reactivate my Carista to do this.
One of the first mods I made to my 24 was removing the grille and replacing it with one of the cheap Heritage-style ones that are all over. Sure, it's stolen valor, but it sure does look cool.
For the money, the thing is great. The only issue I experience with the thing is these chinsy marker...
You can save yourself some future frustration by throwing those raptor lights in the garbage and installing better ones in their place. That grille is a great deal and the little light bar is excellent for what it is. But, the raptor lights make it maybe a month or two before they start...
Think I'd rather reactivate my Carista subscription at $15 a clip when I need to make an adjustment vs. nearly $200 for this thing. I used Carista once, made my changes, and it just sits in the center console storage until I need it again.
An even cheaper alternative...
Rough Country makes even larger fender flares that fit over the OEM flares. Believe they're $300 and for another $300 they'll coat them to match your truck color.
Ah, now I'm following you. For mine, I just throw a single master lock through one of the holes in the post. I don't bother with the other 3 locking posts. I suppose that's kind of lame, but I just wasn't that concerned with theft. I've got cooler stuff to worry about theft-proofing, plus mine...
I'm surprised the mount you purchased wasn't machined for a lock, most of them are.
I'm assuming your mount is comprised of two plates mounted to your roof rack with threaded posts and a thumbscrew to secure the boards to the mount.
If I were you, I'd just borrow the same design as most of...
I'm having the same problem with mine. It's the reason I dialed back my enthusiasm for the China Fangs. One day soon I'll rip the bumper back off, remove the raptor lights, and replace them with higher quality ones.
I've always wondered about these. I see so many people installing them but never got the point. I keep a screen protector on my phone because there's a chance I drop my phone and break it. What's the benefit of protecting a screen that can't leave the truck?