21. Rust Never Sleeps
Are you tired of opening a rusty toolbox or bag? This trick little device from 3-In-One will protect your tools and keep them rust-free by releasing a metal-seeking, vapor-phase corrosion inhibitor that migrates through the enclosed space of a toolbox or trail tool bag to form an invisible layer that seals metals against air and moisture that can cause rust and corrosion. Information: 3-In-One, 800.448.9340, www.norustshield.com
22. Wee Wheeling
We've all been there. The rig's broken, all hope of fixing it is gone, we are broke, and-let's face it-four-wheeling is an addiction and we need to get our fix somewhere. So while the fullscale rigs are down, why not turn to the R/C world to satisfy the hunger? The new Slayer from Traxxas should fill that void nicely. This 10th scale R/C truck is powered by a powerful TRX 3.3 nitro engine, has full-time four-wheel drive for when the ground gets soft and an auto-shifting two-speed transmission, and comes ready to run right out of the box! Capable of going 50 mph, the Slayer is sure to get you your dirt fix and, when it goes upside-down in 50 years, drain your wallet just like its fullscale brethren. Information: Traxxas, www.traxxas.com
23. Silicone Implant
Cutting wire with diagonal pliers usually means releasing a dangerous missile in the form of the metal clipped off the end. You don't want one of those in your eye! To avoid the problem, start by using either a rubberband or tape to hold the handles of your cutting pliers closed, and then fill the concave area with some silicone sealer. After letting the sealer cure, use a razor blade or knife to slit the jaws open again. Now when you cut with the pliers, the small shrapnel will be held by the silicone (make sure you turn the pliers with the doctored side of the jaws toward the small clipping). Missile aborted.
24. Inflate your Ego
Having available air pressure to reflate your tires is a snap with a portable air compressor. If you have regular size tires or anything less than 35s, this Firestone 9289 air compressor kit may be for you. The 150-psi maximum pressure and 1.69-cfm model fills our 31s from 15 to 30 psi in about a minute. It comes with a 12-foot power cable with alligator clips for direct battery hook-up. The 25-foot coiled air hose reaches all the way around our rig and clamps onto the stem so you don't have to babysit it. The dial-indicator pressure gauge is easy to read, and everything fits in a handy carrying case. Information: Firestone, 800.888.0650, www.ride-rite.com
25. Carpod
Designed for the true outdoor enthusiast, the Carpod is a simple and easy way to carry all your extra gear and adventure accessories. Made to hold up to 450 pounds and equipped with a lockable lid, the 48-inch-wide deck is built tough and fitted with a powdercoat finish to help withstand the elements. Sliding into a 2-inch receiver and loading up all your 4x goodies and camping necessities has never been easier, especially when your rig's rough rack is just too far out of reach. Information: Carpod, 818.395.8676, www.carpodrack.com
26. Chicks Dig Clean Hands
Our granddad's dad used Lava soap to clean his hardworking hands, and we're continuing the tradition. Lava uses pumice to safely clean the dirtiest and greasiest mechanic's hands. It comes in bar or liquid and can be purchased from just about any grocery store. Information: Lava, 800.448.9340, www.lavasoap.com
27. No New Car
Finally, an excuse not to get a new car! That's right; you can upgrade your ride to '09 safety standards by installing the Schrader AirAware wireless tire-pressure monitoring upgrade kit! Simply replace your standard tire valves with these handy blue transmitter models and place the receiver on the dash. After a setup sequence, you now have a modern tire-pressure and temperature-monitoring system for a fraction of the cost of a new 4x4. Easy to install and set up, the system has a battery life estimated at about five years. Information: Schrader-Bridgeport, www.schrader-bridgeport.com
28. Free Torque
We can't carry every tool in our trail bags, and sometimes the longer tools like breaker bars just have to be left at home. Two box-end wrenches can be fitted together to achieve greater torque than just one smaller-length wrench. This trick can be used to either loosen or tighten a nut or bolt.
29. Get Lifted
All those cool high-zoot parts you got for your truck aren't going to install themselves. You need a quality floor jack. We've all had a floor jack-a pile of junk that can barely lift one corner of your truck, doesn't reach high enough to get the tires off the ground, or that works well but weighs a metric ton and is a pain to drag out of the garage. Craftsman has a solution, the new 3-Ton Craftsman Professional Aluminum Floor Jack. This jack can lift 6,000 pounds, weights only 57 pounds, and lifts up to 18.5 inches-high enough to change those 37s with ease! Information: Craftsman, www.craftsman.com
30. Another Plug For Soap
An important fluid you don't want leaking all over the trail is gasoline. If a bit of driver error ("Where did that rock come from?") causes a pinhole leak in your gas tank, neither duct tape nor electrical tape will hold a seal. Instead, rub or forcefully push a bar of soap into the pinhole leak. The soap will seal the tank and stop the leak at least until you get back home and can fix it properly.