I've heard several sources say that some sort of painting is suggested behind the black-out aero grille. Does everyone do this? Does it look bad if you don't do it?

Maybe the color is what matters. My car is Chili Red. Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

 

are you talking about the bottom piece you remove. on the upper bumper grill piece?
i didnt paint mine. mine's pepper white. you can see it pretty well. (white and black)
but i think it looks fine. it's all about opinion. i just didnt want to spray paint anything.
i did both grill pieces in a hefty 2 hours. it's an OK job.
overall..im still very happy with my aero grills. =]

 

If you do decide to paint it do not use paint. It can chip or peel over time. What I did was stopped in at wal-mart and got a can of the spray on bed liner. It has a textured finish and is low gloss. It is designed to take a beating with minimal prep.

Good Luck

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/truckbed.html