Friday, September 25, 2009

Chevy Truck Accessories - Looks and More

Chevy Truck Accessories - Looks and More

Chevy truck accessories turn a pickup into what it needs to be. Truck makers can't know how each pickup will be used. That's why there are so many different truck models. Even the different models aren't enough though.

It's not quite that every truck needs to be different. But that's close. Pickups that work must be fitted out to the task to be done. Maybe it's hauling long, tall items with racks. Maybe it's towing too. That may mean just some hang-on additions. But it also may mean drive train changes or upgrades.

Pickups often are expressions of individual tastes too.

Trucks often are really almost art forms. That means whatever kinds of looks can be dreamed of, can be put into form as metal and plastic. The Chevy trucks have such a long history and were made in such huge volumes, that there are lots of old trucks to work with if that's your thing.

Funny thing is, many of the old trucks still on the road are still really useful.

My old 1976 C-10 in original orange paint with the long wheel base has only travelled 47,000 miles. It belonged to my great-uncle and sat in the carport most of the time.

Here's the thing. It has fairly good paint. It's simple to keep going. All the parts are readily available.

My neighbor's new Chevy truck is the same size and gets about 19 mpg. The old truck gets about 15 mpg. The newer truck is certainly more powerful and more comfortable. But, sorry, my old truck looks more interesting and lots cooler. Plus, it's paid for...

Chevy truck accessories can turn a work truck into just what it takes to do the job. But, with the right parts a truck can also become a personal expression of what you want to drive or be seen in.

The right parts can also make an older truck compete with new trucks for work or for looks.

Al Bullington writes about vans and pickup trucks. Visit one of his newer web pages and find out why truck bed mats are a good deal.

We invite you to visit http://BedLinerForTrucks.com for answers to your truck bed liner questions.

Pickup Truck Accessories - The Truck Bed

Pickup Truck Accessories - The Truck Bed

Pickup truck accessories turn any pickup into what the owner wants or needs. Pickups are so useful, it's impossible for manufacturers to provide for every way their trucks can be used. But there's more. Trucks are ideal as objects for individual expression too. Trucks are objects that can be art.

The truck bed is part of your vehicle that does work and determines the way the pickup looks too. Here are add-ons that work and look good doing it too.

Tonneau covers.

Bed covers secure the cargo you haul to keep it out of sight and even locked away. Cheaper soft covers will do for many users. They are inexpensive, but offer some bed protection from weather and the curious. Top of the liner retractable covers turn a truck bed into a locked vault that opens almost instantly. Then you can choose folding tonneau covers or tilting lids as well.

Bed liners.

Tonneau covers protect cargo. Bed liners protect the truck bed.

Bed liners come in many styles too. Some people think the ultimate liner is the professional spray on liner. It's a good choice, but it's subject to damage if you haul rough cargo. It's guaranteed for life, but that means it is repairable. It doesn't mean it can't be damaged. It can be and then it's back to the installer for a respray.

Other choices include a plastic drop in liner. Great under truck caps and tonneau covers are the carpet bed liners. This is the soft, luxury-look option.

Then there are the do it yourself options like the roll on bed liners and truck bed paint.

Pickup truck accessories to protect the cargo and truck bed include tonneau covers and bed liners. Bed protection is almost a must if you plan to keep a good looking truck. Use your pickup and the bed paint takes a beating.

The cheapest bed protection, as well as the toughest, is the lowly rubber mat.

Consider a rubber mat for your pickup. Check out our page about the best truck bed mats.

We invite you to visit http://BedLinerForTrucks.com for answers to your truck bed liner questions.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Trash the Clunker and Buy the Truck of Your Dreams With Truck Boxes Included

Trash the Clunker and Buy the Truck of Your Dreams With Truck Boxes Included

Do you have a clunker at home just waiting to be dropped off at your nearest car dealership? As the government-funded Cash for Clunkers program continues to roll through auto malls and car lots across America, a buyer's dream come true is materializing.

The program is targeting cars and trucks less than 25 years old and with a combined rating of 18 or fewer MPG. Not only are fuel- and energy-efficient cars flowing off the lots, so too are the gas-guzzling trucks and SUV alternatives from the road.

The objective of the government program is in fact working. People are buying cars and trucks once sitting on lots, which is stimulating a segment of the economy in dire need of stimulation. Now is the best time to buy a new fancy truck with truck boxes.

With the Cash for Clunkers program gaining national attention, there is no better time to let go of your old truck and replace it with a newer model.

Over the last few years, car and truck dealerships were mobbed with customers upgrading or trading up to newer, fancier versions of their vehicles. Fueled by low interest rates and home equity loan funds, customers were showing confidence in the economic good times by buying the car or truck of their dreams.

New license plates were the norm as you drove around town or pulled up to a stop light. The sign of the good times, new cars and trucks were easily financed and obtained to the benefit of the car dealerships.

Now, with the economic downturn crippling the car industry, the government program is designed to encourage and stimulate car and truck purchases. Turning in your clunker for a rebate to purchase a new car or truck has an impact on the environment by getting cars and trucks off the streets that may negatively impact the atmosphere.

The economic benefit as well as the environmental impact is two very good reasons to support this program introduced by the Obama Administration.

If you currently own a truck that can be considered a clunker, take advantage of the current climate and start shopping. The car dealerships are rebounding from the recession trying to empty their lots and burn off excess inventory.

When gas prices were rising, truck sales began falling as consumers worried about the cost to fill up gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs. Due to the large amount of inventory, you can test drive a variety of makes and models and determine which truck best suits your needs and wants after discarding your old truck.

Now is the time to buy add-ons like truck boxes and any other extras you may want. Beginning your new truck negotiations with a wish list, you will make sure you walk away from the truck lot with the truck of your dreams.

What does your truck need? What do you want in your new truck? Do you need satellite radio or a GPS navigation system? Are you in the market for a DVD player? Does your truck need truck boxes to store sporting equipment and fishing gear?

Now is the time to find the kind of truck you want. Turning in your clunker will facilitate the purchase of your new truck with the upgrades and accessories galore. Don't waste time because the Cash for Clunkers program won't last forever.

Take advantage of the government program now and turn in your energy-inefficient clunker and purchase or lease a new car or truck from this year or the next model year.

Andy West is a writer on a variety of topics, including autos. When taking advantage of the Cash for Clunkers program, be sure to get all your truck accessories, including truck boxes.

Why Train Horns For Trucks Are So Popular

Why Train Horns For Trucks Are So Popular

In the after-market accessory world, train horns for trucks are among the most popular items available today. Truck drivers love the addition of the distinctive sounding horn to their rig. And, when you compare the sound of the device that comes standard to the fun and nostalgic sound of a locomotive, it's no wonder so many people use them.

The loud long whistle of a locomotive is a favorite add-on for drivers who enjoy the attention-getting noise, but also because of the memories it evokes. This is particularly true for people who have a special place in their hearts for trains.

Fortunately manufactures have scaled back the devices used on locomotives to create train horns for trucks. These smaller versions deliver the endearingly loud sound, but they are considerably smaller than the original.

This is, of course, great news for truck enthusiasts who love to add attention-attracting accessories to their rigs. And, with 150 decibels of sound, it shouldn't be too difficult to attract attention!

They also enjoy the entertainment value and thrill of pushing the button and scaring passersby out of their wits. You can vicariously join in that fun by checking out the videos that are posted to YouTube.

The final reason that train horns for trucks are so popular is that they just plain look good. The chrome trumpet-shaped horns glimmer in the sunlight and add a certain amount of panache going down the road.

The fans that seem to most enjoy these devices do so for a mix of reasons. No matter the reason, it's easy to see why this awesome accessory is so popular among all sorts of drivers. It's also oddly appropriate considering they're carrying a load in their trailer that most likely would have traveled by rail in the not so distant past.

Marc enjoys using train horns for trucks on his car and selling train horns for cars over the internet through his website.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Bio Diesel Fuel - Run Your Truck on Water - The Best Option to Save Money on Diesel Fuel Costs

Bio Diesel Fuel - Run Your Truck on Water - The Best Option to Save Money on Diesel Fuel Costs

For the past couple years our family has been trying to lower our truck fuel expense, or find a way to lower the cost of the fuel we use in our diesel truck. But how? After careful research it looks like the best option is a combination of two relatively new ideas- Bio Diesel Fuel along with "Water for Gas technology" (in this case it would be water-diesel mix).

We looked at every option we could think of from getting a smaller truck to trading our present diesel truck for a gas model like our car.

We really like the room in our big truck and the fact that we can haul a good load of firewood with it too. So, getting a smaller model was out for us.

The truck was not that old so why trade it on a gas vehicle either. It doesn't make sense and gasoline is pretty much the same price as diesel too. Our only real motivation for switching to gasoline was that we had recently converted our small car to a hybrid- not an electric-gas mix- but a real 'water for gas car'. It was a great project for us and it turned out really well with an increase in gas mileage of over 40%.

Could we do the same thing with our diesel truck? Maybe it was possible to make a 'water for diesel truck'. I distinctly remembered reading somewhere that the water for gas car technology could be used for diesel engines too. I thought it was in the 'water car' plans we had gotten the year before.

It didn't take long to find the answer; the author actually stated that the water car technology worked better for diesel engines.

We could make a Water For Diesel Truck. It hadn't taken that long to convert our car, so we got started on our diesel-water fueled truck. After the conversion we were excited to find our fuel mileage had improved by a staggering 48% - almost doubled. That was really great but we weren't done yet.

A good friend of ours suggested we try using bio diesel in combination with the water fuel technology to lower our overall fuel costs even more. Our family started doing regular weekly pickups of used vegetable oil from local restaurants the next week.

When we had nearly 60 gallons stored up we downloaded some really inexpensive plans on how to make bio diesel fuel. It turned out to be one of the best alternative energy decisions we have ever made. After making 2 batches of bio diesel fuel we calculated that we were making bio diesel for about 45 cents per gallon. Incredible!

The bio diesel was made in 20 gallon batches which we stored in 55 gallon drums suspended about 5 feet off the ground.

It's great. Fill 'er' up has taken on a whole new meaning now. We really are surprised that no one has thought of this before, using bio diesel in combination with the water for gas car technology has lowered our overall fuel costs from $90 a week down to about $17.

The plans for both were very reasonable, the water for gas book is about $40 or so I think for those who are interested and the bio diesel book is only $20. Pretty reasonable considering all of the money we have saved.

Make Bio Diesel Fuel and Build a Car that Runs on Water. The parts for both plans are easy to find too and the books themselves are very easy to read.

Now, I'm not that mechanically inclined either. I know where the gas goes in and how to change the oil, but not much else. If I can follow the plans you can too.

Our family has been living off the grid since last year, and loving every minute of it. After building our own home we turned our attention to making our vehicles more efficient and less expensive. Using Bio Diesel and the 'Water for Gas' technology has worked great.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Semi Truck Accessories - 5 Trick My Truck Accessory Tips for Truckers!

Semi Truck Accessories - 5 Trick My Truck Accessory Tips for Truckers!

Last fall, CMT (Country Music Television) introduced a six 6 show pilot called "Trick My Truck". It is a new reality show featuring a deserving trucker and his 18-wheeler in each episode. The show is a theme similar to "pimpmyride" and "overhaulin", where old vehicles are restored except the target vehicles are semi trucks.

A crew of experts searches the truck stops of America looking for run-down trucks whose owners are in need of a break. With the secret help of family members, the owner operator's big rig is "hijacked", and completely revamped with all the latest and greatest features and equipment.

How to trick your truck is 5 easy steps! When truckers leave home for the road, there focus is usually on everything but finding semi truck chrome accessories for their truck. However, something may spark them to call us on a whim and ask: "where can I find semi truck accessories to trick my truck?" Here are some tips to find the big rig accessories you need.

Have the last 8 digits of your VIN available Unlike light truck accessories, semi truck accessories are manufacturered specifically for a truck, such as Peterbilt accessories or Kenworth accessories. Or, semi truck accessory manufacturers also produce universal accessories. Universal accessories are designed to be used on all makes and models of trucks.

If you have the VIN available, a good semi truck accessory distributor can look up your truck and see specific manufacturer diagrams to determine if accessories are specifically made for your vehicle. For example, if you're looking for Peterbilt chrome or Freightliner accessories, they are easier to locate with a VIN.

A picture says a thousand words It makes it much easier for a semi truck accessory supplier to find accessories for your truck if they have a quality photo to work with when they communicate with semi truck accessory manufacturers.

In almost all cases, an experienced semi truck accessory distributor can locate specific parts with a broadcast email to many semi truck accessory manufacturers.

Save the rainforest. Get comfortable using online catalogs! As any expereinced semi truck accessory distributor will tell you, 15-20 requests for paper catalogs are received each day. Printing costs and paper are extremely expensive so semi truck accesory manufacturers usually produce every two years.

Paper catalogs also significantly impact the cost structure of big rig accessories. Online catalogs are the best to locate your semi truck accessories because most manufacturers keep their websites current with the latest additions to their product lines.

For example, Rockwood products has several new 2006 model Peterbilt accessories that you can only see on their website, or a special flyer distributed through their dealers.

Let your cell phone do your shopping Find a supplier willing to become your chrome guy that has the knowledge and expertise to find what you need. Call them with your VIN, tell them what you want, and let them do their job.

We receive many calls each day from truckers looking to trick their truck with the newest semi truck accessories. The conversation always begins with " where can I find this accessory"! Let the supplier find what you need and the entire transaction can take place over the phone!

Older trucks need love too! At least two to three times a day someone calls with an older truck application. They are usually frustrated because they haven't found any chrome for their truck. Ask your supplier if a custom quote is available for the accessory you want.

This is not an unusual request. Semi truck manufacturers have the tooling in place to make almost any customized semi truck accessory you request.

From roof to fender to grill to cab, you can find all the accessories you need that will have your truck reflecting your independent and freewheeling spirit. Using the tips we discussed, you shouldn't have any problem dressing up your truck with trickmytruck semi truck accessories.

The author is an independent publisher that covers multiple topics in the automotive aftermarket including semi trucks and semi truck accessories

Friday, September 4, 2009

The Monster Truck Show

The Monster Truck Show

The Monster truck show on Friday night at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds was quite a show. Nationally known names such as Bounty Hunter King Crunch and the Outlaw were just a few of the names selected to run their trucks at this year's monster truck show in Monroe.

Also included in this year's show were the highflying motocross motorcycles. It seemed like these guys defied the laws of gravity with their expert writing skills. Something new this year was an exhibition put on by a snowmobile jumper who did a flip in midair landing safely on the mound of dirt on the other side of the jump.

Like most monster truck shows they started with an elimination race to see who had the fastest times. They would start in a somewhat of a figure 8 configuration that had them going over a mound of dirt around the track and then jumping some cars to finish. This was fairly entertaining but would have been much more exciting if it were on a dirt track.

The final elimination race was between King Crunch and the Bounty Hunter, this was no great surprise being that they were the headliners of the show. One surprise favorite was the Capt. USA truck from Tacoma Washington; he put on a great show. After the elimination final which King Crunch won, it was time for the freestyle competition.

In the freestyle competition the object is to be high flying and to do jumps and tricks with your monster truck to put on an exhibition of your skills. This is what most monster truck enthusiasts come to see and what was a little disappointing here in Monroe.

Ask any adult that attended the show and they will more than likely tell you that it was obvious that the monster truck drivers were not pushing their trucks very hard. Shows in the past had trucks doing a lot more tricks and hitting the jumps harder than the show on Friday.

Hopefully the monster truck drivers will bring out little extra in next year's show.

All in all it was worth the $25 entrance fee and the $10 parking fee and the five dollar hot dog and the three dollar soda.

Article is taken from SnohomishTimes.com