Top 10 Must Have Truck Accessories

Top 10 Truck Accessories

Find out why these Top Ten must have truck accessories have made the list this year.  Sometimes with all the truck accessories out there is hard to know which ones you should get for your pickup truck and in what order.  We’ve decided to publish a list of the Top 10 truck accessories to have.  Plus include why you should considering enhancing your pickup truck with these accessories.  According to Sema the average full size pickup truck owner will spend over $1800 enhancing their pickup with aftermarket truck accessories.  So here’s some ideas on what to accessorize your pickup truck with.  Whether you have a Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Toyota, Honda, Nissan or GMC pickup, here is a list that should give you some ideas to help make your accessory buying easier. Read the rest of this entry »

Smart Ways to Save on Gas and Some Money

Fuel prices are on the rise once more. Filling up the tank of your truck can become quite expensive after awhile. Because of this, it’s always a smart idea to find ways to save at the pump whenever you can. We put together a small list of everyday things you can do to save money on gas. Many of these are simple to do, as well. You’ll be pleasantly surprised in the difference how your truck runs as well as its gas mileage.

Check your tire pressure at least once a month. Your truck’s owner manual will tell you the recommended tire pressure. Make sure you check the tire pressure also when the tires are cold. I recommend checking it first thing in the morning since it has sat overnight. Digital tire pressure gauges make it much easier for you to read the gauge.

Another easy way to increase your gas mileage is keeping your car in tune. Schedule regular tune-ups and oil changes for your truck. One common problem to be on the lookout for is worn spark plugs. Did you know that a misfiring sparkplug can reduce your fuel efficiency by almost 30%?

Try to keep a close eye on your engines air filter. If the air filter gets clogged with dirt and dust, it can cause your engine to work harder, therefore, be less fuel-efficient. It is recommended that you change your car’s air and oil filter every three months or 3000 miles. When you replace a clogged air filter and replace it with a K&N high performance air filter, it could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10% and adds 1-4 horsepower to your truck. It is also recommended that when you have your oil changed you should also change the engine air filter at the same time.

The key to getting better gas mileage is to make sure that your car is properly maintained. You have to be serious about your auto care. Your truck’s performance and gas mileage depend on it. You should always try to follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. This is because a vehicle is designed to run a certain way and if you neglect it, the vehicle won’t be as efficient.

Truck Accessories Also Protect Your Vehicle from Damage

There are so many different truck accessories you can install to protect your truck or SUV. Some are designed to protect the interior, while others are built for the exterior of your truck. Not only do these custom truck accessories protect your vehicle from dings, scratches and other instances of harm, they also look quite stylish.

Using truck accessories such as bug shields, car covers, or a car bra will make you proud to be seen in your truck or SUV and the protection they offer will provide you with the peace of mind you desire.

A front-end car bra is one truck accessory which provides good protection for the front end of your truck. Vehicle specific, car bra are designed to fit snugly and perfectly for maximum protection. Many truck owners install them to act as a guard from road hazards like bugs, tar and gravel on roadways and pitting damage on the grill or paint surfaces.

Bug shields are a valuable protective accessory you can install on your truck. Most of the newer bug shields are designed aerodynamically to not only compliment the shape of your truck’s front end, but also to maximize fuel usage. Many truck owners love bug shields are they protect your vehicle from road debris, dead bugs and chipping from flying stones or other road hazards.

Car covers are an important accessory if you leave your truck outside in the harsh elements of the sun, rain or snow for extended periods of time. They protect it from the usual wear and tear of extreme weather conditions if you don’t have the luxury of storing your truck or SUV in a garage. Vehicle specific, car covers fit snugly around the normally exposed portions of the vehicle.

Car covers are typically made of heavy duty materials which keep the harsh weather elements away from the automobile’s painted surfaces and also protect from the above mentioned weather hazards.

Would a Soft Tonneau Cover Work Better for You or Would a Hard Cover be Best?

Choosing a tonneau cover isn’t as easy as say picking out a pair of side steps or installing a bugshield. There are far too many choices and factors involved with tonneau covers than most other truck accessories. since you have so many choices. While many truck owners like to believe bed covers or bed liners are the finishing touch on making your truck not only look more stylish but also more practical, nothing can beat the functionality of a good looking tonneau cover.

They are the best way to dress up your truck while also protecting your cargo. However, which one would work best for you? That all depends on a number of factors such as your budget, how you use your truck, and the type of look you want. Think about these tips when shopping for discount tonneau covers.

If a soft tonneau cover sounds like something you would prefer, it is the cheaper of your two options. A soft cover protects your bed from the elements and any potential thieves. Just because they are cheaper in price doesn’t mean soft covers are of a lower quality. Extang covers come with a lifetime warranty on the hardware and are extremely easy to use. Soft models come in several designs including tilt forward and fold forward. It won’t be difficult to find a style that works for you.

Hard tonneau covers turn your truck’s bed into a vault. They secure your cargo from the roughest weather conditions and the most determined thieves. Hard tonneau covers also give your truck the look of a custom finished machine. Much like the soft cover styles, hard covers come is several designs, as well.

The Bakflip cover folds forward in sections so you can access any part of the bed, but still lock the bed tight when the cover is forward. Retractable covers roll the metal cover forward into a tube cover. The bed can be completely open if you like or roll the cover back to lock the bed up tight.

Perhaps the most popular hard tonneau cover style is the tilt forward model. One piece and hinged at the front, the tilt cover turns the bed into a big trunk. Be careful with this style since they aren’t that good for hauling tall cargo. Make sure you can haul what you want to with the trunk closed before decided upon this style.

Let’s Talk Billet Grilles for Your Truck

Never underestimate the effects truck accessories play on the look of your F150 or Suburban. If you truly love your truck, the last thing you want is for it to look like everyone else. One of the best and inexpensive ways to change the overall look of your truck is through changing the grille. This can be done by adding billet and stainless wire mesh grilles. These exterior accessories add a unique look and style to your pickup truck or SUV.

A billet grill looks great whether you’re cruising down some back country roads or on the big city streets. They give your truck its own distinct, personalized look, setting it apart from the crowd. Billet grilles may be made of stainless steel, aluminum, or ABS plastic. Stainless steel billet grilles are very strong and they resist rust and corrosion.

Aluminum grilles are light yet sufficiently strong, and resist corrosion. Aluminum is a metal that can be very easily shaped into any design. ABS plastic grilles are very light, rigid, and durable.
You have your choice of innovative billet grille styles ranging from tribal, patriotic, flame, Harley Davidson billet grilles and many more. Custom billet grills deliver the ultimate front-end appearance to your truck or SUV.

Installation of these grilles is not a difficult task, especially if you know your way around a truck. The majority of grilles simply bolt over the existing OE grille making installation is pretty quick and easy. Even in the instance that your particular vehicle application requires the removal of the existing grille in order to install the new one, it is not a difficult process. In most instances, you just cut the plastic brackets which used hold the OE grille and then fit the new grille in the truck. In either case you have to see that the fitting is done properly and the relevant instructions are followed.

Don’t forget to check out our current promotion on billet grilles either. We are offering a $20.00 discount off any billet grille.

Enter RealTruck Coupon Code: BilletGrille at checkout (some exclusions – minimum order of $99)

What Benefits Can You See From Adding a Tonneau Cover?

In my opinion as a truck owner, tonneau covers are the perfect way to keep your belongings stored safely away from the weather and more importantly, envious eyes of thieves while you’re away from your pickup truck. While soft tonneau covers aren’t built for those who need every available inch of cargo space to haul things, they are a good choice for those truck owners who prefer to store small items in the bed of their truck. These truck covers also protect your cargo from blowing away in the wind as you’re driving down the highway.

In case you were wondering, there are basically two types of tonneau covers – hard covers and soft tonneau covers. Hard covers are best style to choose if you prefer extra security since they cannot be cut open like the soft style and they are lockable. The hard tonneau covers tend to cost a little more than their soft counterparts but the peace of mind knowing your cargo is safe is worth the extra money. Many truck owners get their covers painted to match the body color, with some even adding matching graphics. The only drawback is if you need extra vertical space in your bed frequently. They are not made for frequent removal and can be quite difficult to remove once installed.

If you own a pickup truck because you do haul cargo frequently, then your best bet is will be a soft truck cover, such as the Blackmax from Extang. These covers don’t offer near the same type of security as their hard body counterparts, but they are very convenient. They can easily be adjusted, added, and removed whenever the need arises. True, they are no where near as sturdy as a hard top, they can still hold their own in most weather conditions, even up to twelve inches of snow. Some covers are even strong enough to support the weight of two people standing on them.

Add Both Style and Functionality with Nerf Bars

You can’t just slap on a side step and call it done. Your truck or SUV not only has to work hard; it has to look good too. So ask yourself what type of look do you want in your truck? One way to accessorize your truck to make it look sharper but also much more functional is to add side steps and nerf bars. There is literally no end to the different truck nerf bars and steps on the market.

Nerf bars are available in oval or round steps, which give you more step area than the more traditional step bars. Truck nerf bars are the most popular truck accessories on the market can be found in either chrome, black powder coat and stainless steel. One reason for their popularity is the fact that most require no drilling for installation. Instead, they are mounted on the holes that already exist in the body or frames.

Nerf bars and truck steps are also purposeful in that they protect the doors and front fenders of your pickup truck from debris, tall rocks and other materials which can damage it as you make your way over rough conditions. Personally, I like nerf bars for the simply awesome look they bring. You’ll find there are basically two types of Nerf bars available – short, standard cab bars and the longer bars made for extended and quad cab trucks.

Short Nerf Bars – These bars or side steps end just behind the door of the cabin. The bars begin behind the front wheel and extend just to that position that it helps you to get in and out of the cab. They are mostly made of chromed steel, stainless steel or black powder coat with rubber insets for footpads.

Long Nerf Bars – These bars are popular among those who need who love to extend the bars to the position to front tip of end wheels. This enables not only to come in and out of the cabin, but also to get into bed of the truck easily. The long nerf bars thus provide style, assistance in getting into cab and into the bed of the truck!

Some of the More Popular Pickup Truck Accessories

If you own a pick up truck, you probably feel plenty of pride every time you look at it. Well, many more truck owners feel the very same way about their pickups. They love their trucks so much they are always looking for new ways for their trucks to stand out in the crowd. Whether you use it for work or just to travel around town, adding truck accessories is a great way to make sure it gets noticed on the highway.

If you are looking for a few pickup truck accessories to dress up your vehicle, here are some you should consider:

Bed Liners – If you haul stuff back and forth in your pickup truck, then you probably want to consider upgrading your bed liner. Bed liners protects the bed of your truck from the objects you place in the bed and also shield it from the weather. There are a number of different options and materials for bed liners, ranging from stainless steel, aluminum, vinyl and rubber.

Tonneau Covers – If you want more use and protection from your truck, tonneau covers make the perfect accessory. A tonneau cover allows you to store items in the back of the truck while keeping them safe from both the elements and also from potential thieves. Tonneau covers are available in different styles such as the full size of your bed or even just a small portion of the bed to fit with your tool box. While some tonneau covers can be expensive, most are very affordable.

Side Steps and Nerf Bars – If you have a big truck or maybe a lifted one, you probably want an easier way of climbing into it. While owning a big truck is a sense of pride, if you look uncool getting into your truck, you probably need side steps or Nerf bars. These accessories are relatively affordable and easy to install. They also help your truck to look great.

A Few Ways to Save Some Gas and Money This Summer

Have you noticed the price of gas lately? While gas prices are much lower than they were at this time last year, it’s still important to focus on watching our wallets and saving on gas. Unfortunately, as summer approaches you may find yourself busier and spending more time in the car.

The average American consumes 500 gallons of gas a year. Thanks to the unpredictable cost of fuel and the growing concern over saving money, becoming a better driver and keeping your car properly maintained has now become a necessity. Here are some helpful tips to increase fuel efficiency and therefore, save you money:

Try not to idle for long periods of time. Driving 0 miles per hour doesn’t mean that you don’t consume fuel. A car engine that is running consumes fuel whether it is moving or not. You waste fuel by idling to preheat your engine. Once you start your engine, drive.

Turn off your engine if you are stuck on traffic. This makes hybrid cars so fuel efficient. Hybrid cars automatically shut off its engine when at full stop, eliminating the fuel consumption caused by idling.

Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving, abrupt acceleration, speeding and hard braking lower your fuel efficiency by as much as 33% in the highway and 5% in the city.

Avoid high speeds. Fuel efficiency drops when you drive more than 60 mph.

If you are driving a car with manual transmission, shift to the highest drivable gear. High gear at low speed requires less pressure on the gas pedal compared to low gear at high revolution.

Replace or clean your air filters regularly. Clogged filters prevent air to enter the cylinder which results to poor car performance and more fuel consumption. Another helpful tip is to install a high performance air filter from K&N, for example. You’ll not only see an increase in horsepower but also gas mileage.

Subject your car to regular tune up, change oil and car maintenance checks to avoid fuel economy problems caused by dragging brakes, transmission problems, low transmission fluids or worn spark plug.

Give Your Truck Some Needed Boost with a Performance Air Filter

The one product that all truck performance addicts can agree on is an aftermarket air filter. After all, our engines are nothing more than glorified air pumps. Cold air is drawn into the engine where it’s heated, exploded and shot out the exhaust. Elementary physics dictates that if you can get more air in, you’ll get more air out; increasing power in the process. We all know what that means – more speed, mileage and torque.

A more powerful engine runs more efficiently. This means increased mileage out of your truck provided you driving habits are within reason. An engine which runs more efficiently has an easier time of moving the car. However, it isn’t all boring. Extra power means extra speed and pickup for your truck. Who wouldn’t want that?

There are a number of performance air filters to choose from on the market today, but the majority all use the same basic design. About 30 years ago, K&N developed the cotton-gauze filter media, revolutionizing the industry. This cotton-gauze material allows more air to pass through the filter, traps more dirt and lasts much longer than the traditional, stock paper filter. Since then, most aftermarket air filter companies have used this design made famous by K&N and then tweaked it a little in order to put their own stamp on the market.

The major difference between most air filter brands is going to be their list of vehicles applications for their filters. Large companies, such as K&N or Airaid Filters, have extensive vehicle application lists that includes almost any type of truck or SUV you can think of. They also manufacture universal fit options, along with race-specific filters for Indy cars to go-carts.

If you’re looking for that extra boost in performance, whether it’s speed, torque or mileage, a performance air filter from K&N or Airaid Filters should be your first choice. Your truck will run better, you’ll experience results immediately and the installation only takes a few minutes.