Author: Derrek Sigler
As outdoor enthusiasts, we mostly drive trucks that serve the basic purpose to carry/haul stuff, whatever that stuff may be. With practical modifications that we can see real benefit from, trucks turn from box-stock to outdoor machines.
For outdoor enthusiasts, storage is the name of the game, and there are many options as far as boxes. A tough truck-bed box is a great idea for hauling loose items. They are also the way to go if you need to secure something in your bed, as most are lockable. On my old goose truck, we’d throw the decoys in the bed and then toss the guns and ammo boxes in the aluminum toolbox and lock the lid.
Match up those nerf bars with a brush guard for the front of your truck. Brush guards look great and add a layer of protection to the grill and headlights, both of which are pretty expensive to replace. Most guards are available in a black finish or a chrome or polished stainless steel finish. If you want to add some shine to your rig, here is a good way to do it. Black finishes tend to be less expensive, but you need to be careful. Keep them clean and touch up any scratches, as most can get rust spots if not taken care of. You’re going to scratch them though. It’s a truck. Trucks are made to get scratched. These are also a good place to mount a set of extra lights.
To winch or not to winch? You know you want one, but can you justify it? Well start thinking about the things you can do with it, and it becomes a little easier. I'll freely admit that I don't have one on my truck, yet. But that's not for lack of want. If I were to start thinking of all the times I wished I had, well, we could be here a while. I once had to drive down into a swamp to retrieve a buddy and his truck because he was sure that half inch of snow would support his truck on top of a deep mud pit. It took hours of pulling and tugging and digging to get his rig out, when a winch would have made short work of the whole deal. The extra time gave me way too many opportunities to take pictures. He washed my truck several times and has filled my tank once or twice trying to buy all the copies.
Good floor liners are an absolute must too. Many of the heavy-duty floor liners available have some form of lip or edge that keeps the wet slop from running off the mat and onto the carpeting or floor of your rig. Not only is this very protective, but it makes for easy clean up. Again thinking about those waders or even a pair of hunting boots, how often can you hop in your truck without bringing in some sloppy mud too? I know I can't. It helps too, that many of the companies that offer good floor mats make them vehicle specific. That way you know they will fit securely in the space on the floor and not have that sloppy, sliding-all-over-the-place fit that generic mats often have.
