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It usually doesn’t take the new owner long after getting their first Jeep to start thinking about making modifications. Owning a Jeep and self-modifying it seem to go hand in hand like owning a hot tub and soaking. You see other jeeps tooling down the road and they look so much more,..…well, Jeep-like. You know the look “Rough and ready to rock on!” A lot of first time owners may wonder, “What do I need to do to get that look?” Well you can give your vehicle that look with 4 modifications.

First, tires and wheels are a good place to start. Those stock tires are pretty wimpy looking and spicing up the tires and wheels goes a long way to making your Jeep take on a new appearance. You’ll want to consider if you’ll be installing a lift and how much of one before you jump on the tires. The bigger the lift the larger the tires you’ll be able to run. Tires and wheels might be a simple way to change the look of your rig, but they won’t be an inexpensive way to go. They can be downright costly! You’ll need to consider your Jeep use before investing. Is it a daily driver, purely an offroad vehicle, or a mix of the two? You’ll also want to consider how your Jeep is powered and geared. A number of folks place way too much rubber under their rig and then wonder why it doesn’t respond or have any pick-up! Hello, you just added a few hundred pounds of rubber; do you think that it will have an effect? If you go with large tires, you might need to upgrade your gears. There is a cause and effect at work here. How your Jeep is powered and how you use it should ultimately determine what wheel and tire package you select. Consult with your local offroad performance shop if you’re not sure or you need help. They should be able to steer you in the right direction.

Second, those stock bumpers really do need to go. Not only are they unimpressive, they simply will not stand up to an offroad beating! There are a ton of options out there from tube units to the rock crawler bombproof heavy-gauge block units. The finishes are wide and varied as well; stainless steel, black powder coated, titanium finish (the latest craze), etc. Bumpers seem to be made by everyone these days from small shops making custom units to major manufacturers like Warn, Warrior and ARB producing lines of them. So you have a ton of options! For me I’d stick with a well-known company that offers a warranty on its products. You know their bumpers have been tested, passed DOT regulations, and the company stands behind them for defects. You won’t get any of that from a local shop, and even if you do, who knows how long they’ll be around to support it? Warrior makes a good basic steel bumper along with tube units. Warn makes a nice Rock Crawler Bumper with an optional grille guard. And ARB makes a tube bumper they call a Bull Bar. All three companies are recognized for well-made products and they all have a very good reputation. I don’t think you can go wrong with one of their bumpers.

Third, lift that Jeep. Raising your Jeep gives it a better, hardier profile. It really makes a difference. You can lift it with a simple lift system like coil spacers or lift shackles. Or you can go with a body lift or, even bigger and better, a suspension lift. There are tons of options from style, manufacturer, and price to select from. So, do your research and be thorough before making a final decision.

Fourth, you’ve lifted your Jeep and have bigger tires, now it’ll look a whole lot better with bigger fender flares. The higher vehicle and larger tires scream for wider and more pronounced fender flares! The most popular these days seem to be the Bushwacker 6 inch extended fender flares. Their flares are made of a tough Dura-Flex material so they take a beating and are easy to maintain. They bolt on using existing factory drilled holes and come in a black matte finish that is easy to custom paint. Bushwacker backs them up with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Xenon and Bestop also make very good extended fender flares for your Jeep. Whichever flare you choose, your Jeep will look better with the extended type, and they’ll offer better protection against the flying debris from those larger tires.

With these four upgrades your Jeep will take on that rugged rock ready look. Don’t hesitate to contact a local performance offroad shop or a couple of them to ask questions and get input. The people at these shops are heavily involved in the sport of wheeling and they can offer some valuable insight into your options.

For those do-it-yourself movers, truck rental is one way to get you and your stuff moved across town or across the country without the expense of paying a moving company. But, you have probably heard the horror stories about people who have used a truck rental company and the truck was not available when they went to pick it up, or the truck broke down on the road, etc. How do you find a good truck rental company? What kind of truck should you use? What accessories will you need for your move? Do you need more insurance for your move?

Finding a reputable truck rental company is not as easy as opening up the phone book and looking for a name that you recognize. It is important to find out about the customer service record of any truck rental company that you use. One way to do that is to go online and do a search for rental company reviews or customer satisfaction surveys. Do not go on the company’s website for this information, because it will not be impartial. You may even find that a small local truck rental company will give you the best service and price-especially if you are moving in town. Remember to find out if there are additional charges if you are taking the truck out of state-because this can drive the cost up considerably.

The truck you choose should obviously be big enough to carry whatever you need to move. Some of the rental companies will have guidelines as to which truck will fit a certain number of rooms. But, if you are moving some extremely tall or bulky items, you may want a bigger truck. Ask the truck rental company for assistance in choosing a truck if you are worried.

Accessories you might need for your move include boxes, furniture blankets, a hand truck or dolly, and even packing tape. You can buy or rent these from the rental company but you may want to plan ahead so that you can buy them somewhere else. Just be sure that your items will be covered if they are not in company boxes.

Your credit card or car insurance policy may cover you when you are driving a rental moving truck, so you should check that before you purchase a policy from the rental agency. Just make sure that your coverage is adequate for the truck and all of your belongings.

Choosing truck accessory products can be both fun and functional. Many truck owners use their trucks for their jobs, and therefore they often must carry the “tools of their trade” in their trucks. But for some truck owners, a truck accessory must also make a statement about their personality and their lifestyle. Whether your truck is an “oldie but goodie” or a brand new model, you can find an interior or exterior truck accessory that will enhance your ride and your experience as a truck owner and driver.

A Truck Accessory for the Interior

Are you into the latest technology? If so, you may want to install a GPS system in your truck so you never have to ask for directions or maybe a laser or radar detector so you can keep a watchful eye out. If you are a music fan, if you don’t have a CD Stereo System you might want to invest in one, or another popular truck accessory choice-a satellite radio.

The security of your truck is important as well. You can get custom steering wheel locks that match the interior of your truck, or you can get a tracking device or a car alarm or security system to deter thieves.

The final type of interior truck accessory discussed in this article is the not necessarily practical accessory. You can get a custom steering wheel or steering wheel cover, or seat covers in almost any print or fabric or leather or even beads. You can get custom floor mats or dashboard mats and even a cool gear shift handle.

Truck Accessory Choices for the Exterior

You know that having your truck look good on the outside may be more important than the inside, but there are some practical accessories for the interior that you may find useful-and some of them are designed to enhance the looks of your truck as well.

The bed of the truck is an area where many people spend money on accessorizing with a liner or a tonneau cover. You can also get racks or toppers to hold or protect your equipment if you are a professional who carries things like ladders or tools. A tool box is another accessory that can be built right into the bed of the truck to secure the items you need to transport.

Other exterior accessories include things like grilles, chrome rims or wheels, steps to the cab, or mirrors and even decals.