Toyzone Off-Road Toys
Toy Zone has lots of great off-road trucks for your big and little kid. From the Baja Desert Racer that launches off a starting pad to the Xtreme rock machines that'll climb almost anything, these give the most off-road fun you can have without leaving your house. Price: $15-$30 Contact: 626.815.9998, www.toyzoneinc.com
Power is Always a Good Gift
This year give the gift of horsepower. To help unleash the potential of any four-barrel-carbureted engine, try adding a phenolic carb spacer like this Swirltorque version from Transdapt. It's designed to let you to tune the volume of air under the throttle blades and insulate the carb from engine heat for more torque and higher horsepower. On an engine dyno, we've seen a 10hp gain. The 1-inch-thick spacer comes with longer mounting studs and two gaskets to make the installation a breeze. Price: $40 Contact: Transdapt, www.tdperformance.com
Stainless Steel Heroes
Getting stuck seems to be part of driving off-road. We (almost) never go anywhere without a tow strap, a chain, and at least some kind of shackle to make attaching the tools of recovery to a vehicle easier. There is no shackle cooler than these drop-forged babies from Off Road Only. Made of 316-grade stainless steel, they feature a 3/4-inch pin and a 1 1/2-inch throat opening. We've had ours for two years now and there's no sign that they will ever rust. They're rated at an 8,000-pound load rating and have a 40,000-pound breaking strength so they're perfect for any off-roader on your list. Price: $65/pair Contact: Off Road Only, 651.644.2323, www.offroadonly.com
Conversation Piece With Function
Do you know someone who just loves their 7.3L Power Stroke diesel Ford truck? Looking for the perfect gift with a little flash, some utility, and a whole lotta pride? Then here it is. Brian's Truck Shop offers this machined-aluminum wrench that indexes in the lid of the Power Stroke engine fuel filter so you can spin it on and off with a 3/4-inch wrench. It's perfect for anyone who loves working on their own truck, and it's so affordable we'd also get them a new fuel filter just so they can try it out. Price: $29 Contact: Brian's Truck Shop, 870.422.3673, www.brianstruckshop.com
Three Wrists in One
No matter how many fancy tools you have or what kind of project you're working on, every 4x4 modification or repair always seems to require a screwdriver. So why not have one that does everything? This Pentagrip screwdriver from Snap On has a ratcheting mechanism that allows you to keep the tool on the screw while the handle ratchets. The rotating handle locks into place at 30, 60, and 90 degrees, so you won't break your wrist tightening a hose clamp or adjusting a carburetor. Price: $60 Contact: Snap On, 877.762.7661, www.snapon.com
Genuine Hot Rod Hardware Racing Desk Lamp
Some of the coolest gifts for dirtheads and gearheads are automotive-nostalgic furniture and decor. Take this bitchin' Racing Desk Lamp, for example. It has real shock-absorption action when manually moving the adjustable coilover A-arm assembly, with a swiveling disc brake and rotor lamp head. For an extra special touch, the wiring up the A-arm is insulated in braided stainless steel brake line. How cool is that? Price: $99 Contact: 800.575.1932, www.genuinehotrod.com