Friday, July 11th, 2008
Trucks are still popular
Pick-up trucks and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) were originally most popular among farmers, ranchers, builders, and tradesmen who had jobs to get done. Today, in spite of the gas prices, they are still often the vehicle of choice for many Americans. Adding accessories personalizes the vehicle and gives it pizzazz.
Line-X Bedliners
Trucks are roomier and have more versatility than cars. You can travel comfortably while at the same time hauling a load of cargo or towing a trailer. To protect the bed of your truck, adding a truck bed liner is a popular vehicle accessory. At Street Image Truck and Auto Accessories in Spearfish and Rapid City, you can add a spray-on Line-X truck bedliner. The Line-X system has the the highest tear strength, and the highest abrasion resistance of any spray-on bedliner available.
Running boards
Because trucks and SUVs are bigger and heavier than passenger cars, they sit higher, and offer better visibility. Because of the height, running boards are one of the most popular truck accessories, and they have many benefits. In addition to making the vehicle easier to get in and out of, they also provide a place to kick off sand in the summer and snow in the winter and allow you to reach the windshield and top when you’re washing it. They also improve the overall appearance of the vehicle. Running boards are available in a variety of finishes and come in numerous lengths and designs.
Bug Shields
Hood shields are another great-looking but useful truck or car accessory. Not only do they redirect the bugs away from your windshield, they protect the hood from chips. They work by redirecting the wind flow, so instead of heading directly towards the vehicle’s windshield, the air flows slightly upward, pushing an insect or rock up and over the windshield.
Window TintSUV and truck accessories
With summer arriving and all the sun, now is a great time to add window tinting to your truck or SUV. Formulaone Performance Automotive Film will protect your vehicle and your passengers from the damaging UV rays. Window tint reduces heat build-up and the glare inside your vehicle for a more comfortable ride.
Lambo Doors
Yes, you may even be able to add Lambo doors to your favorite SUV. Check out the possibilities at Street Image Truck and Auto Accessories in Spearfish and Rapid City for all your vehicle accessories.
Tags: Truck Accessories
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Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
With the right Truck Accessories, you can turn your Pickup Truck into a Swiss army knife on wheels that will work harder and last longer. Even a few low-cost add-ons can increase a truck’s value and expand the horizons of what you can get done.
To use your pickup for specialized work, you’ll need accessories to match the job. Take, for example, the 350-gallon plastic tank we bought to haul water to cattle in a remote pasture. The tank’s expense was small compared to what it would cost to run plumbing out that far. Thanks to our trusty little gasoline-engine-powered transfer pump, filling the mobile reservoir with creek water took less than five minutes.
Tow hooks and water tanks, though, are just the tip of the accessory iceberg. No matter what you need to pull, push, haul, build or fix, there’s an add-on that will make the job easier. Here are some of the best to consider for your pickup.
TIE-DOWNS
All manner of attachment points for load-securing straps or lines. Easy DIY install.
Most pickups come equipped with a few good tie-downs in the bed floor, but for many loads, their locations are ineffective. A few additional permanent tie-downs can be useful to secure special equipment such as water or fuel tanks. For additional flexibility, keep several stake-pocket mounted versions in the toolbox or behind the seat.
TOW HOOKS
Steel hooks bolted to the truck frame. Easy DIY install.
Tow hooks offer safe purchase for chains and straps whenever you need to pull things for short distances, such as round hay bales, feed bunks or even the chicken house.
Rectangular pieces of rubber or other composite material that extend beneath the truck’s wheel wells. Easy DIY install.
Front mudflaps will protect the truck’s body from nicks caused by thrown gravel and road salt. The rear pair will do the same for the truck, and protect a trailer in tow or the car behind you. Choose an anti-sail and anti-spray design at least as wide as the truck’s tires.
TOOLBOX
Lockable steel, aluminum or plastic container designed to fit in a pickup’s bed. Easy DIY install.
A toolbox is essential to secure and organize your tools and gadgets. There are several different styles, including those that install across the bed at the front, along the sides or as part of a rollout system. If you also need to supply fuel to remote equipment, choose one with an integrated tank and transfer pump. Aluminum and powder-coated steel will offer the best security and longevity.
BED LINER
Polymeric protection for the pickup’s bed. Easy DIY or professional install.
The spray-in type results in a perfectly fitted liner that adheres permanently to the bed. The formed liner is molded to fit the bed and is removable. Either liner style will keep your truck’s bed from getting scratched, and may prevent rust. Depending on the texture, liners also can help keep your loads from sliding around. For best results, choose high-quality versions of either style.
GRILL GUARD
Steel or aluminum front bumper or frame attachment designed to protect the truck’s front end. Easy DIY install.
A grill guard protects your pickup’s front end (the grill, radiator, headlights, etc.) from close encounters with brush or livestock, and provides attachment points for additional lighting. Choose an aluminum model if front-end weight capacity is a concern. If steel is the material of choice, be sure that it’s powder-coated for the best rust resistance.
Aluminum or steel attachment that mounts to the pickup’s bed, just behind the cab. Easy DIY install.
A headache rack keeps loose cargo in the bed from flying forward, through the rear window and into your head. This accessory is a must if you intend to heap-load your truck with firewood or stack hay bales above the bedsides. Choose high-quality aluminum or powder-coated steel models to resist corrosion.
HITCH AND MOUNT
Combination of two attachments that facilitate trailer towing. Easy DIY install.
The pickup’s rear bumper, or square-tube receiver “which is bolted to the frame beneath it” are the most common mounts for ball-type hitches designed for tagalong trailers. If you’ll regularly pull loads of 10,000 pounds or more, choose a gooseneck (ball-type) or fifth-wheel (kingpin-type) hitch that mounts to the truck’s frame ahead of the rear axle” these require making holes in the truck bed’s floor. Recommended for pickups equipped with the manufacturer’s tow-ready package.
CABLE WINCH
Electric or PTO-powered rotating spools wound with steel cable. Experienced DIY or professional install.
Winches are most often used to pull disabled machines or stretch long runs of fence wire before fastening it to posts. However, with care and sufficient rigging, a winch can be used to drag logs from the woods, direct the fall of a soon-to-be felled tree, right an overturned tractor, slide a large haystack, and much more. For the best value, choose a heavy-duty electric model with at least enough capacity to pull your pickup’s weight. If you also need an air compressor, consider an integrated winch-compressor attachment.
BED HOIST OR BED INSERT
Converts a Pickup into a Dump truck. Experienced DIY or professional install.
With a hydraulic bed hoist, dumping bulk materials, such as mulch or firewood, can be as easy as flipping a switch. Choose a package with a self-contained, electrically powered and controlled hydraulic (electric over hydraulic) system if your truck isn’t already equipped with a PTO pump.
If you don’t want to modify your pickup, consider a dump bed insert. Easy to install, it fits into the bed and raises via an electric winch. When it’s not needed, the entire unit can be removed in minutes.
UNDER-HOOD WELDER
Portable 12-volt direct current arc welding system powered by the vehicle’s engine. Experienced DIY install.
This handy welder doesn’t take up any bed space and allows you to repair fence gates, tractors, implements and virtually anything else made of steel without having to drag them back to the shop. You also can fabricate brand-new components at any off-grid location using your truck’s engine for power. Some models also can supply electricity for power tools and charge 12-volt batteries.
AIR COMPRESSOR
12-volt direct current compressed air supply. Experienced DIY install.
Operate small pneumatic tools or fill tires far from the shop with a compressed air system tucked under the hood or between the frame rails. For easiest installation, choose a package complete with compressor, air tank, plumbing and wiring.
Tags: Truck Accessories
Posted in Pickup Trucks, Truck Accessories | 4 Comments »
Monday, May 12th, 2008
There are various Dodge Ram and Dodge Dakota pickup accessories that can help to make your truck more enjoyable. There are accessories that can help with storing cargo and can help with towing cargo, and there are also ones that can help to protect your truck. You can even find Dodge pickup accessories that can help to increase your level of safety.
A headache rack is one Dodge pickup accessory that can make your Dodge Ram or Dakota truck safer. The back window will not be damaged by items in the truck bed that are especially large because the headache rack protects the rear window. The window will not be damaged or broken into by any items in the truck bed with a headache rack installed.
Fog lights are one of the most important accessories that you can use for your truck. A fog light is generally one that is halogen based. Fog lights will be especially powerful in that they will help you to see through foggy conditions and other areas where it can be difficult to see. The addition of fog lights will greatly increase your vision during bad weather.
A ladder rack is another of the pickup accessories that can help you with carrying additional materials. A ladder rack will be useful in that you can store a ladder, work materials like lumber and other smaller items to another place without risking any damages, especially in the case of more fragile items. A truck bed extender can help you to carry items that are larger in size. The bed door can be taken outwards and the bed extender will be attached to the inside parts of the bed. This is especially useful for items that are larger in size and will require more space to store, including items that are longer than the pickup bed. The truck bed extender is a valuable accessory for the short bed Dakota pickup.
These are just some of the best Dodge pickup accessories that you can use to make your Pickup truck better. There are many online dealers of the most popular accessories.
Tags: Truck Accessories
Posted in Pickup Trucks | 1 Comment »