Get a new lease on life! Seriously, if you've ever leased a vehicle you know the frustrations of wanting to modify that vehicle, but you are well aware of the penalties and financial consequences that may occur. So what are you supposed to do? Leave it stock? Buy a beater rig? Well, both options make sense, but depending on where you live and what you do, owning multiple vehicles isn't always the most practical avenue, nor is turning your daily driver into a full-on trail rig (unless you go off-roading for a living, then in that case please send us a few blank job applications). Like most things in life, the key is to find a balance, that happy medium that rests somewhere between the awesome roar of Mud-Terrains and the obstacle of a 60-mile daily commute. We decided to test our lease-truck theory on a truck that was leased to us, an '06 Dodge Ram 1500 TXR4 that sooner or later Chrysler will remember we have and off it will go, but we sort of promised them it would come back stock (there was nothing mentioned about scratched and dented, though; we have a tendency of redefining the word used). By returning the vehicle back to stock you should avoid the penalties of lease modification and even be able to get a jump start on your next ride's additions. Now we're not suggesting that you solid-axle your new leased pickup, but a mild suspension lift that doesn't require you to torch off your subframe or notch any crossmembers is OK in our books. These are just some of the bolt-on goodies that will protect your rig from your weekend adventures and can easily be knocked out in your driveway with a few handtools and a little time. Just remember to store all your original parts in a safe place. Taking pictures of procedures and parts isn't a bad idea either. As time passes it may be hard to remember what went where. Lifting your truck doesn't necessarily mean you have to go sky high or cross the line of becoming impractical. Many of the new 1500 series trucks run a strut-style shock for the front suspension. This coilover design makes it easy for aftermarket suspensions, such as this Rancho Quick-Lift strut, to give you up to 2 inches of lift without dropping or modifying any of the control arms or attachment points. Most of these 1- to 2-inch kits, commonly referred to as leveling kits, will usually allow you to squeeze on a healthier sized tire than the pizza cutters that most of the new trucks come from the factory with. The adjustability of the Quick-Lift gives you a variety of options to harden or soften the ride depending on the terrain.Lifting your truck doesn't necessarily mean you have to go sky high or cross the line of b A tool that is a must-have when working frequently with coils and struts is a coil compressor. If you don't plan on opening up a shop we suggest running the struts down to your local 4x4 shop and having them swap your original spring onto your new strut.A tool that is a must-have when working frequently with coils and struts is a coil compres While you have your front end apart it's probably a good time to look at your brakes. Chances are if you're leasing the truck they're probably brand new, but since you're going to be running larger tires with your new lift, it's always smart to upgrade to a better stopping system. The rotor on the left (black rotor) is an EBC high-performance slotted rotor that has been grooved to enhance braking, dissipate heat, and provide a better surface area for the pad-to-contact width.While you have your front end apart it's probably a good time to look at your brakes. Chan Just like rotors, not all pads are created equal. Holding both pads side by side it's hard to tell the difference, but high-performance pads such as the yellow EBCs are designed with different tolerances than what you get from the factory. The thing to remember is that car manufacturers design their vehicles around average driving characteristics, and as we all are aware, if there is an average, that means there is an above and a below...Just like rotors, not all pads are created equal. Holding both pads side by side it's hard ...What does this really mean? Depending on who you ask, the aftermarket world may sometimes carry an advantage by creating a product that allows the vehicle to reach its full performance potential, thus creating more advance compounds for brake pads allotting for higher heat capacities and performance characteristics....What does this really mean? Depending on who you ask, the aftermarket world may sometim Here's a quick tip if you know you're going to be removing your calipers. Pictured is a simple S-hook that attaches the caliper on one end, then secures it to a hole in the vehicle's frame. Don't have hooks? Try using an old coat hanger, a bungee cord, or even a tie strap. Anything is better than letting your calipers hang from the lines.Here's a quick tip if you know you're going to be removing your calipers. Pictured is a si Even though you're not changing the track width by replacing the knuckle, it's still a good idea to determine the best backspacing before ordering your new wheels. An easy way to measure is by putting the original wheel against a flat wall and measure from the center (inner mounting surface) of the wheel. Then using a long ruler or a straight flat piece of material, determine how many inches your wheel is spaced from the back lip of the rim to the center. This will give you a good idea of how far your new aftermarket wheels may stick out and also guide you when determining a new tire size. A lot of the time the more you can keep the tire inside of the fenderwell the bigger the tire you can fit onto the vehicle.Even though you're not changing the track width by replacing the knuckle, it's still a goo We know choosing the right tire can be a real pain and inevitably when there is something gained, there is something lost. We had to really think about what was the right tire for our Dodge. We knew that we'd be towing and of course we'd be throwing this thing in the dirt, but what about our commute? A 60-mile roundtrip is pretty much the norm for us here at the 'zine and California roads aren't the best in the world. After much deliberation we decided on Goodyear's new Wrangler with Silent Armor technology in the 285/70/17 variety. The tread design offers an aggressive enough pattern to get through the trail, but gives a smoother ride with almost zero road noise.We know choosing the right tire can be a real pain and inevitably when there is something For wheels we went with 17x8 7005 Cast-Blast Pro Comp Xtreme Alloys with 4.5 inches of backspacing. The lightweight material and black finish are both big pluses as indicated by our custom bling meter we keep on the dash of our ride.For wheels we went with 17x8 7005 Cast-Blast Pro Comp Xtreme Alloys with 4.5 inches of bac We all know that one of the best parts about owning a truck is being able to toss all of your junk into the bed. But what about the stuff that's too dirty for the cab, but too important to be left uncovered. We run into this situation a lot and have found that one of the best solutions is a bedcover. One of the easiest and best bang-for-your-buck covers on the market is the snap-down cover from Stylin' Concepts. The four bedrails and clamps install in just a few minutes and don't require any drilling or master technician's certificate to install.We all know that one of the best parts about owning a truck is being able to toss all of y Total installation of the cover took less than 30 minutes and it all snapped into place. Another great feature of the cover is the ability to quickly and easily remove the two tension bars and cover to gain full access to the bed.Total installation of the cover took less than 30 minutes and it all snapped into place. A We know you're excited about all your new goodies, but don't forget to save your original parts and pieces. This will keep you from spending unnecessary dough getting your truck back to stock, and will have the dealer impressed at how well you've maintained your stock equipment!We know you're excited about all your new goodies, but don't forget to save your original Getting into your truck after a hard day of work can really put a beating on your seats. Although we're fans of using old towels and T-shirts to keep the seats fresh, there's just something about nice seat covers that keeps the truck looking sharp. One of the biggest names in seat covers is Wet Okole. With seemingly endless color combinations and themes, these waterproof seat covers often look better than what comes from the factory. When applying the covers, make sure to heat them in the sun before sliding them on. We found that after a few days of sitting on them you'll need to resecure some of the Velcro once the material has settled in. Stop trashing your floor mats! Also, a dead giveaway of a "well used" vehicle can be seen by the stories from your dirty floor. A cheap and quick way to protect your interior is a set of drop-in mats available at most auto parts stores across the country. SOURCES EBC Brakes Rancho 500 N. Field Dr. Dept. 4WDSU Lake Forest IL 60045 GOODYEAR P.O. Box 3531 Akron OH 44309 Stylin' Concepts www.stylinconcepts.com Pro Comp Dept. 5.0 1147 W. Brooks St. Ontario CA 91762 909-988-3044 et="new">www.procompelectronics.com Wet Okole By Ali Mansour Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
