Customize Your Off-Road Vehicle

In these times when we're all being defined by numbers and crunched into conformity, we still want something that expresses our own style. Something that says, "This is me."

For some time, an underworld of car customization has existed. But today, it's not just low-riders and hot-doggers who want to make a personal statement. With the popularity of shows such as "American Chopper" and "Pimp My Ride," orders for custom cars and bikes have skyrocketed.

Now, ATV and utility vehicle owners are just as eager to spruce up their rides. They are beginning to appreciate their sturdy off-road vehicles - more often associated with hunting and farming - and are dreaming up ways to make them unique. Each becomes a signature piece, reflecting the taste and style of the owner.

The trend, spearheaded by celebrities and sports stars, now is becoming more mainstream, according to Polaris, a leading manufacturer of ATVs and utility vehicles. The Southwest, especially California and Arizona, seems to be the hub of this new fad.

Here are some of the hottest ways to customize your ride:

* Flames: Since the 1950s, painted flames scorching the front and sides of hot rods have meant speed. Today, this classic design still leads the pack.

* Chrome: The luxurious Packards and Cords of the 1930s

were loaded with shine and sparkle. Grills, doors - everything that could gleam, did gleam. Even now, chrome says high style.

* Color-keyed rims: They would have loved this in the 1960s. Bright primaries, strong earth tones, simple neutrals -choose a color and your ride is instantly one of a kind.

* Sound systems: Install one in the bed or roof. Whether your music of choice is golden oldies or heavy metal, everything will sound better. And on those camping trips when you're deprived of your usual comforts, you can still enjoy quality sound.

Find more truck accessories here!

How To Install Truck Running Boards

If you are a pick up truck or SUV owner, one of the most popular accessories for these types of vehicles are running boards. Running boards are particularly useful as they allow easier access to your truck’s cabin in addition to simply “lookin’ good”. You can outfit your vehicle yourself with running boards by following three simple steps. Depending on the brand of running board you purchase, the procedures involved may vary somewhat. Lund running boards are industry hot sellers and the company helps make installation a breeze by outlining how to get the job done:
 1. Insert the square head bolts into the extruded channels on the underside of the board, then attach the Multi-Fit brackets loosely with supplied washers and nuts.
 2. After determining mounting position on the truck, the end caps and step pads are attached with matching black rivets.
 3. Mounting methods vary slightly with application. Multi-Fit Running boards are bolted in place with clip nuts and bolts at factory holes. Tighten after determining alignment is correct. That’s it! Before you know it your running boards are securely in place and ready for use. When shopping for running boards, please note that the quality of the products marketed can vary. A top of the line running board such as those sold by Lund or IronCross running boards is typically made out of tough polymer materials or diamond plated aluminum and will, therefore, adequately hold your weight and resist deterioration.

You can order running boards that light up, choose boards that have a wide step area, and even select running boards that allow you to paint the shell yourself. Running boards are made for SUVs from the Kia Sorento to the Ford Expedition, and for trucks from the Toyota Tacoma to the GMC Sierra Denali. Mounting kits are usually sold separately, so before completing your order make sure that all the parts as well as instructions are included with your shipment. By shopping with a reputable online retailer and installing the running boards yourself you can save plenty of money and have the satisfaction of knowing that you did the installation.

Find your running boards at www.hitchanything.com