31. More Length In Bed
Let's face it, truck beds are not getting any longer. It would seem the age of the longbed is over. So what's a guy to do when the truck parts or toys he wants to haul are longer than his truck bed? In steps Amp Research with its line of Bed X-Tender truck bed extenders. Simply drop your tailgate and flip out the Bed X-Tender, and suddenly you can fit that Dana 60 axle in your crew-cab shortbed. Don't haul many axles? How about firewood? With the Bed X-Tender we can fit our ATV, gas, cooler, and gear for a weekend out in the desert in our tiny 51/2-foot bed. Amp Research has you covered with a Bed X-Tender for nearly every make and model of truck imaginable, and they're distributed nationally by Bestop. Information: Bestop, www.bestop.com
32. Powered Up
Ever find yourself looking for a place to plug in your phone or the travel mug you found at the last truck stop, only to realize that all your 12V outlets are occupied? We have all been there. A quick and simple solution to this common problem is to add more outlets. For less than 20 bucks at your local auto parts store, you can pick up an all-weather outlet, which is perfect for installing in the bed of your pickup or in the rear of your rock rig, and a fuse holder. Just run power and ground wires to wherever you want your new outlet, and you have instant 12V for whatever truck-stop gadget catches your eye this week!
33. Real Reel
We've seen all sorts of rolled-up air-compressor hoses on the trail, from flimsy coiled crap to industrial-strength air couplings on a reel. We saw this new Amflo ProTuff AutoReel unit and knew it would fit on one of our rigs, and another one would go in the shop. The key is the lightweight yet durable design. The hose is 1/4- or 3/8-inch polyurethane, which is far lighter than the standard rubber shop hose. It comes in a handy enclosure, with a 36-inch intake line and 50 feet of high-quality line in the ratcheting reel. Information: Plews & Edelmann, 800.770.4639, www.plewes-edelmann.com
34. Powder Cake
Do-it-yourself powdercoating kits have come a long way, but the problem for most guys isn't spraying the parts; it's finding an oven to cook them in. So if your wife's been bugging you about getting a new oven because the eyes don't cook like they used to, it might be time to take the old cooker from the house and toss it in the garage. A household conventional oven is usually large enough to cook a 15x10 wheel in, and you can use the original racks to hang small parts from.
35. Big Blower
Having an air compressor on the trail is helpful for airing up or reseating tires as well as running pneumatic tools. We've used many different styles of compressors and CO2 tanks, but if you have the space, a modified York-style A/C compressor is hard to beat. It is possible to modify a junkyard A/C unit, or you can contact Kilby for a complete kit that includes a new pump, multiple air-chuck fittings, a reservoir tank, and a coalescing filter that captures any oil that pumps into the system from the compressor and plumbs it back to the pump. Information: Kilby Enterprises, 818.565.5945, www.kilbyenterprises.com
36. Thor's Rope
Whether your winch is new or old, swapping in winch rope is a great idea. Winch rope weighs much less than cable, which relieves the front suspension and makes it easier to handle when trying to recover a vehicle. Winch rope won't kink, rust, or fray the way steel cable can, making it safer to use. As for strength, we found that the Viking winchline we recently outfitted a project truck with is nearly twice as strong as similar-sized steel cable. We used a Viking winchline with the safety hook for recovery in the worst-case scenarios. Information: Viking Off Road, 818.506.9789, www.vikingoffroad.com
37. Shrink Your Bulbs
If you want (or need) to run turn signals on your small 4x4, most of the aftermarket and junkyard lenses and housings seem much too large. Clearance lights are a more pleasing size but only have single-filament bulbs (which don't allow both parking and turn signals). Dual-filament bulbs such as the ubiquitous No. 1157 are too big to fit behind a small lens. The trick is to go to an auto parts store and buy these small dual-filament bulbs (No. 87) and standard twin-contact sockets made to fit offset-pin bulbs. These bulbs are designed for motorcycles and are about half the size of a normal dual-filament automotive bulb.
38. Better Than High Beams
If you would like to get rid of your Jeep's or truck's weak and old yellow lighting, then Delta Headlights makes stock replacements for just about any rig. The DOT headlights are powered by xenon gas-filled replaceable bulbs, which will outperform stock headlights 4 to 1. The headlights feature European prismatic lead-crystal lenses, vacuum-metalized steel reflector, and a rubber boot protecting the optics from moisture and elements. Information: Delta Tech Industries, 714.577.8028, www.deltatechindustries.com
39. TAD: Tape-Aided Design
We can't afford to waste money on extra steel tubing that is just going to rust away in the yard after our project is complete. But how do you know how much tube to buy for that rollcage project? Simple! Just mock up your design with masking tape. By creating a tape cage first, you can easily calculate the number of feet of tubing you are going to need. You can also make design changes that would not be easy or cheap to make once the sparks start flying.
40. Doing Acid
Cleaning battery terminals and cables can be a daunting job. The natural corrosion set up by electrolysis can keep your ride from starting. While careful cleaning and scraping are the best methods to use, a can of cola will help. Simply dump a can over the terminals and watch the fizz do its thing. Keep away from the bubbling goo though, because the acid may spatter on your clothes, paint, or eyeballs. Also, rinse with plenty of water on top and on the ground as it dribbles underneath, because discoloration could result otherwise.