Departments | Wrench Bench
courtesy Revtek
Form And Function
Most outdoor enthusiasts consider a new truck or SUV to be a blank canvas—a starting point from which to create a vehicle designed specifically for their needs.
Unlike the bling-bling crowd, who seem to favor form over function, outdoorsmen tend to gravitate toward the accessories that help them enjoy life both on and off the beaten path. And if they look good doing it, so much the better.
There are a number of products in the aftermarket that are perfectly suited to this task. Larger tires and/or wheels, for example, are popular additions. They fill the wheel wells for a brawnier look, and new tread patterns offer better grip in mud and snow without getting noisy during highway driving. Toyo’s Open Country M/T is a perfect example of this new technology, and they offer numerous sizes to fit most applications. When choosing your tire, make sure it will fit on the wheels you’re going to use, whether stock or aftermarket. Most tire manufacturers have fitment guides that tell you how wide your rim must be to accommodate the new rubber.
- Purely Functional
- It has nothing to do with appearance, but the new Truck-Pal tailgate ladder from Westin certainly scores high on the utility meter. The self-storing ladder bolts to the inside of your tailgate via four self-drilling/tapping screws, and allows the gate to be raised or dropped without interference. It works with any truck with a maximum open tailgate height of up to 38 inches. To use, simply open the tailgate, unfold the ladder and walk right in. Sure beats crawling around on your hands and knees to get into your truck bed.
Wheels are kind of subjective. If you really don’t like the stock wheels, there are hundreds of wheel designs to choose from. Just make sure that you choose the correct wheel offset to keep the tires underneath the wheel wells—unless you like the Tonka toy look. If you don’t know how to measure offset, you can choose a wheel that approximates the stock measurements. Alternately, most quality wheel and tire centers can help you choose a wheel and tire combination that will fit properly on your vehicle.
Leveling systems and “mild” lift kits are another popular choice. Most trucks have a decided “stinkbug” look to them, with the rear several inches higher than the front to compensate for the truck’s rated payload. Companies like Revtek Suspension offer leveling kits that raise the front only by a couple of inches, yielding a more level look. More importantly, using a leveling kit makes room for larger front tires that might otherwise rub. Leveling kits give your truck a lifted, off-road look at the fraction of the cost of a traditional lift kit.
With larger/wider wheels and tires, you might also opt for fender flares, such as those offered by Bushwacker. If your tires stick out past the stock fender lip, you’ll find that the sides of your truck get spattered with mud, and may even get chipped from flying rocks. Fender flares provide the needed protection, and also lend a more all-business look to your truck. Perhaps most importantly, Bushwacker’s fender flares attach using pre-existing holes under the fender lip, so there is no drilling necessary.
Truck caps and tonneau covers can also change the look of your truck, and add functionality at the same time. The bed has plenty of storage space, but if you can’t cover and secure it, what’s the point? Companies like Leer have a vast array of truck caps. Leer has even partnered up with Thule to provide a variety of useful rack systems. Pace Edwards offers retractable truck bed covers that don’t limit your useable bed space. You can retract it all the way to load your quad, cover it completely to secure your camping gear, or anything in between. Pace Edwards also offers accessories like rack systems and tailgate locks.
Last, but not least, a winch is a highly useful accessory. Companies like Warn also offer a variety of mounting systems, including rugged bumpers that have provisions for aftermarket driving lights (another useful addition).
With the right accessories, your truck or SUV can perform as good as it looks.
—Chris Hemer