Getting a good tint on your windows is one of the most important steps to a great-looking custom build. But what are the features you need to look at most? This is your fast guide to car window tinting from your friends at Trick Trucks.

Defining Window Tint

We all know that window tint darkens the view inside your truck through the installation of a thin laminate. It is generally considered more attractive, and it certainly helps with privacy. But what is it really?

Most high-grade tints are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) because of their durability and clarity. If you want top-notch tints, PET is the way to go (with some of the best finishes inclusive of ceramic and carbon).

Types of Tint

There are different types of tint, and you should choose your preferred option depending on the kind of look and functionality that you want.

Dyed window — This option gives you the darkest tint, and it actually the most cost-effective solution. However, this kind of tint absorbs heat. Don’t choose this if you are looking to keep your truck cool and parked on the street in the summertime.

Metallic tint — This is a tint with metal in the build, and it actually reflects the sun’s heat. You also get the benefit of a great-looking shine on the window along with added durability. However, large amounts of metal in your tint can cause problems with your GPS and some other electrical components of your car, including your radio.

Ceramic tint — This is the highest grade type of all the options listed here. You get maximum clarity and durability. However, this is usually the most expensive option.

Carbon tint — If you don’t want the shine of metallic tint, carbon is a great way to go. Think of this as your matte option. You also get solar reflectivity, so carbon tint protects your leather from harmful sun rays. If you choose to put it on your windshield, it can obscure visibility slightly.

Advantages of Tint

Awesome look — Tint gives any truck a naturally sporty look, and you can also grade the tint to match the rest of your vehicle.

Privacy — Darker windows give more privacy, obviously! However, some states have laws against this, so make sure you are aware of the legality of your tint before hitting the road with it.

Solar reflectivity — The right tint can help to shield your interior from harmful sun rays. Your eyes and skin also receive some benefits when you are in the truck.

When you are ready to upgrade the look and quality of your truck with just the right tint, come to the window experts at Trick Trucks. Give us a call at 1 (866) 60-TRICK (87425) or just fill out the simple form directly on our website. We are ready to provide you with the perfect tint for your vehicle that will have you looking good, feeling great, and protecting your truck interior from the sun!

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The Best Leveling Kits for Offroading

When you want a bit more adventure in your life, you go offroading. But when you put your truck under that kind of pressure, you need to be prepared — especially if you are trying to show out with oversized tires and rims. Here is a short list of the best leveling kits for offroading.

Superlift Lift Kit

If you are looking for a lift kit that leaves your steering and handling intact, then the Superlift is the kit for you. You still get all of the great-looking features of the best lifts in the world without any of the changes that normally accompany mods of this sort. Superlift makes plenty of room for oversized tires and rims as well, so you can look your best in your offroading adventures.

Daystar Comfort Ride Lift and Leveling Kit

The Daystar Comfort Ride Lift and Leveling Kit features a powerful Polyurethane infrastructure that gives you a lift of up to three inches while providing a really smooth ride that is fit for a king (of the road). You can actually customize the amount of lift that you want on the fly with a torsion key system as well. If this is your first kit, however, you may need a bit of professional help getting it on the right way.

ProRYDE LIFTmachine Leveling Kit

It is spelled funny, but the performance backs it up. The ProRYDE LIFTmachine Leveling Kit comes with a Helix drive infrastructure that gives you the power of customization after installation. You can get up to 35-inch wheels, and installation is a breeze as well — you do not need to take off any of your OEM equipment to complete the process. For ease of installation, the ride is incredibly smooth as well.

ReadyLift Leveling Kit

The ReadyLift Leveling Kit is another easy installation that does not require any considerable restructuring of your factory equipment. What’s more, you get a cost-effective lift that works well with oversized tires and rims without overextending your ball joints or side swapping.

Belltech Lowering and Lifting Strut

The Belltech Lowering and Lifting Strut is the kit you are looking for if you have already lowered your truck. If you are looking for an extra two inches in either direction, you can get it with this kit in place. You also get a custom fit that may be a bit more difficult to install but is well worth the extra effort. This kit is known for its superior handling and performance, and it has a lifetime warranty as well.

The experts at Trick Trucks want to help you get the perfect leveling kit for your offroading truck. We have been matching kits to trucks for years, and we definitely have the experience to get you the look and feel you want without giving up on quality. Give us a call at 1-866-60-TRICK (87425) or just fill out the easy form directly on our website. We are ready to get you ready for the road!

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Rear Receiver

Most of the time, when you get a new trailer hitch, it will be one of these. You can use these trailer hitches to pull a trailer behind your pickup truck. You can also use them to help organize bike racks, foldable steps, and extra cargo that you are hauling. The receiver has a square-shaped tube that accepts many different plug-ins. These trailer hitches got right onto the back bumper of your vehicle.

Front Mount

The main difference between the rear receiver and the front mount is visible in the name. Take a minute and think about it: front mount means you can attach it to the front bumper instead of the back. Anything you can connect to a front mount trailer hitch, however, can’t interfere with your view of the road. That said, you can install a winch, a snowplow, or a spare tire, among other things. Front mount trailer hitches are different sizes than their rear mount counterparts and as such have different rating systems that you will need to consider when looking to buy one.

Fifth Wheel

Sometimes, you need more hauling capacity. That’s where fifth wheel trailers hitches come into the picture. When you need one, mount it in the bed of your truck; alternatively, you can connect it to a spot right before the rear axle meets the rest of the undercarriage. The coupling is a component of the hitch itself and not the trailer that you are looking to pull behind you. If you know you are going over rough terrain, then fifth wheel trailer hitches are the right choice to make. Their improved shock protection will help shield your cargo from the jolts of potholes or uneven dirt roads.

Gooseneck

You can also choose a gooseneck trailer hitch. The first thing you should know about them is that they’re similar to fifth wheel hitches. However, they aren’t as bulky or obtrusive. Plus, you can use all of your truck bed while towing something. There’s something to be said about that ability.

Trick Trucks Has the Answers to All Your Trailer Hitch Questions

If you want to upgrade your vehicle, then come to see us at Trick Trucks. We are happy to make sure your truck is in great condition and is looking fresh all year round. We have over forty years of experience, so there is nothing we haven’t seen. Give us a call at 1-866-60-TRICK or visit us online. Follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube to keep up with our newest projects and to gain inspiration for your next one.

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We tend to think of the summer as the peak driving season of the year. After all, it’s tempting to hit the open highway and visit different places around the country, whether or not it’s a family vacation or you just want to explore. But whether you drive a car or a truck, you need to make sure your vehicle keeps running as it should now that fall is approaching in earnest. Here are some signs something could be wrong with your truck.

The Tires

One of the earliest indications that something is wrong with your truck is that something is off with your tires. For instance, the tires could be unbalanced or worn down. It’s also possible that they’re losing pressure because they were punctured by something you drove over coming out of the parking lot after work. There might not be any indicator lights on your dashboard but watch your steering wheel. If it vibrates too much, it’ll tell you there is a problem.

The Suspension

The suspension is a key part of any vehicle. Whether you drive a car or a truck, the suspension helps protect you against the shocks of daily driving coming from the road’s surface – whether those are potholes, sewer drain covers, or speed bumps.

The Brakes

You’ll also notice brake problems the longer you go without addressing them. Brakes will squeal and squeak and sometimes wail. Since the roads you travel on will be slick and slippery due to fall and winter weather, you’re going to need to fix up your brakes so you can stop on a dime and stay safe.

The Axles

The axle is another crucial part of your vehicle. If something damages the axle, you’ll feel it. If the axle can’t turn, neither can the wheels. This means that it doesn’t matter if you drive a car or a truck – you won’t be going far. Even a simple mistake like jumping the curb can damage the rim of your wheels and cause the axle to stop working as it should.

The Engine

You can’t forget about the engine. Every vehicle needs a clean engine because when it’s clean, it’ll be more powerful. Increase your fuel efficiency and avoid potential problems such as breakdowns and overheating.

Trick Trucks Has the Answers to All Your Vehicle Maintenance Questions

If you want to upgrade your vehicle, then come to see us at Trick Trucks. We are happy to make sure your truck is in great condition and is looking fresh all year round. We have over forty years of experience, so there is nothing we haven’t seen. Give us a call at 1-866-60-TRICK or visit us online. Follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube to keep up with our newest projects and to gain inspiration for your next one.

The post Is Something Wrong With Your Truck? appeared first on Trick Trucks.

Every time the seasons start to change, auto dealers will have great sales. Let’s say the engine of your current car or truck has failed and you need a new ride. One of the questions you could have is what difference the drive systems make? So, with that in mind, let’s find out.

Front Wheel Drive

To start off, let’s look at front wheel drive. This is the option that you will see the most often, no matter which vehicle you are looking to buy. When it comes to the drive systems, front wheel drive is the easiest and least expensive to manufacture. This allows the vehicle to cost less and afford the driver and passenger more room in the cabin. But how does it work? Front wheel drive directs engine power to the front wheels of your vehicle, and only the front wheels. More weight is focused on this part of your ride, so when the road is slippery due to rain, snow, or ice, you will have better traction.

Rear Wheel Drive

Next up is rear wheel drive. Unlike front wheel drive, the engine power is shifted to the set of wheels in the back. This is great for heavier vehicles like trucks and SUVs, and also has the effect of granting your car higher horsepower. However, one major downside to rear wheel drive is that it isn’t as practical as its front-wheel cousin for most day-to-day drivers. Plus, it doesn’t handle as well when weather conditions make the roads slippery and more treacherous to navigate.  

All Wheel Drive

What do you want to do this fall? If you plan on going off-roading, then you’ll need to have all-wheel drive.  All-wheel drive also comes in handy when you are out driving and run into unexpectedly foul weather. This drive system sends power from the engine to all four wheels. However, all-wheel drive systems are designed differently by each manufacturer. The front wheels may still be favored, or in some cases, the AWD system only works under certain conditions. If the tires start to slip off the road, then the AWD will redirect power to the wheels that need them more.

Four Wheel Drive

Four-wheel drive systems are similar to all-wheel drive. But the main difference is that they provide even more engine power for the most challenging driving conditions or activities, such as going over boulders or through deep bodies of water.

Trick Trucks Has the Answers to All Your Questions

If you want to upgrade your vehicle, then come to see us at Trick Trucks. We are happy to make sure your truck is in great condition and is looking fresh all year round. We have over forty years of experience, so there is nothing we haven’t seen. Give us a call at 1-866-60-TRICK or visit us online. Follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube to keep up with our newest projects and to gain inspiration for your next one.

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Consider for a minute how old your truck is, or how old your vehicle is. Older cars and trucks are going to be needed even more maintenance than newer models. At some point, it might be a better idea to replace your ride with something sleeker and newer. In the meantime, here’s how to take care of your truck when it has plenty of mileage on it.

Monitor the Oil

Oil changes are a vital part of keeping your truck running smoothly. In general, you should get your oil changed every time you reach the next 3000-mile plateau. But if your truck is more than ten years old, then this benchmark will be different. Instead, bring it to the dealer or the auto shop every 1500 miles instead.

Conduct Tune-ups

Likewise, be sure to get tune-ups done regularly. You would go to the doctor if you’re feeling sick, and you’d take your pet to the vet if they weren’t feeling well either. Your car or truck should be no different. During your next tuneup, be sure to have your brakes and airbags checked. These safety features are crucial when it comes to avoiding an accident, or minimizing the damage when the worst happens, and you get into a collision with another driver.

Talk to Your Mechanic

Your mechanic will know what is best for your aging ride. For instance, they can help you diagnose problems with the engine. You might think that seeing 10,000 miles on your odometer is alarming. That’s pretty low considering your engine might have logged at least that much without any trouble. But once you climb above 50,000 miles, that’s where problems will start to become more frequent. For instance, your engine can’t run if something is wrong with the spark plugs, so have your plugs inspected. You will also want to be sure your air filters are clean. All the air conditioning in your truck won’t help if it’s only blowing dirty air in your face.

Look at the Tires

Lastly, make sure you examine the condition of your truck’s tires. Check on them once every week, because old tires tend to lose pressure more quickly. You can also want to make sure that the treads aren’t too worn down since stripped tire treads do not gain as much traction to the ground as new tire treads will.  

Trick Trucks Has the Answers to All Your Questions

If you want to upgrade your vehicle, then come to see us at Trick Trucks. We are happy to make sure your truck is in great condition and is looking fresh all year round. We have over forty years of experience, so there is nothing we haven’t seen. Give us a call at 1-866-60-TRICK or visit us online. Follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube to keep up with our newest projects and to gain inspiration for your next one.

The post How Old Is Your Truck? appeared first on Trick Trucks.

Their name sounds silly, but nurf bars are tremendously useful add-ons for your truck. Whether you drive a regular truck, or you would prefer an SUV instead, both can make use of this accessory. Let’s find out more about what you need to know about them.

Along the Cab

First, let’s look at nurf bars that run along the entire length of your truck’s cab. These accessories are mounted behind the front wheels on both sides of your truck. There are places for you to step up without fear of falling since the pads are given enough tread to grip your shoes.

Another awesome benefit of these bars is that they can deflect any twigs, pebbles, or small debris that you might run into while out and about protecting your ride’s paint. Because of how high they sit off the ground and how they can bend without breaking, these nurf bars are great choices for your next off-road excursion.

From Wheel to Wheel

Wheel-to-wheel nurf bars are slightly different. These bars are better suited to standard trucks than SUVs. Another step-up is added near the rear set of wheels, which will allow you to lean into your truck bed without too much effort. Plus, if you need to attach a bike or bed frame to your roof rack, having wheel-to-wheel nurf bars makes that process so much easier.

Oval-Shaped

While rounded nurf bars give you plenty of support to climb up and down, you might find that oval-shaped bars are more to your liking instead. Oval-shaped nurf bars are much wider, which means getting kids in and out of the truck is easier, and it helps you assist parents or those with mobility issues get in and out as well. Not only are they incredibly stylish, but they’re also astonishingly easy to attach to your truck. They come with bolts that you slide right on, so you won’t need to grab the drill to fasten them.

Sport Tubes

The last type of nurf bar to consider is known as a sport tube. The main difference here is that these are actually smaller since they emphasize form over function. Although they are light, they are meant to be strictly ornamental. Since you can attach them to rocker panels, these are fantastic fits for trucks equipped with lowering kits to bring them closer to the ground.

Get Your Vehicle Ready for Summer with Help from Trick Tricks

Does your ride need servicing or some new accessories? Trick Trucks is happy to service your vehicle and make sure your truck is in great shape all year long! With over forty years of experience servicing trucks, we have the expertise and equipment you need. Contact Trick Trucks online or by calling 1-866-60-TRICK. Follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube. We have several locations in Maryland (Kensington, Edgewater, Waldorf, Frederick, Lexington Park, and Lanham), two in Virginia (Winchester and Chantilly), and one each in West Virginia (Martinsburg), and Delaware (Millsboro)!

The post What Do You Need to Know About Nurf Bars for Your Truck? appeared first on Trick Trucks.

Have you ever thought about using a lowering kit on your truck? Although most of the time you might enjoy the look of having your truck higher off the ground, life isn’t all about going mud running or off-roading, two situations in which having a lift kit would be beneficial. In this case, we’ll show you how to level out your truck for the next time you go on an adventure.

The Advantages

First, we look at the advantages of using a lowering kit for your truck. When you use such a kit, it brings your truck down closer to the ground. What this means is that your truck has more traction on the road, since it’s center of gravity is lower. Your tires won’t slip off even in wet weather, and you’ll have an easier time steering to get around unexpected obstacles, such as deer, other cars, or pedestrians in the road who aren’t paying attention as you try to pass by them.

You’ll also find that your truck is more aerodynamic and thus encounters less wind resistance. When this happens, you’ll have better fuel efficiency, allowing you to go farther faster. With that in mind, don’t hesitate to go on that road trip, because you won’t need to stop to get more gas as often as you once did.

The Process

Take a closer look at the suspension you have on your truck. The condition of the truck’s suspension will determine how many modifications you can make. Once that is done, you can get the process of using a lowering kit on your truck. Here’s what you need to do:

Using the Lowering Shackles: These shackles decrease the width of your frame, based on the position of components known as leaf springs. As such, you’ll see a slight difference in how high your truck is compared to the ground. This difference can be anywhere between to 2-6 inches. No matter how far you drop your truck with a lowering kit, this will only be different on the back end of your truck.

Using the Drop Spindles: The next part of the process involves using the drop spindles. The drop spindles are what help lower the front of your truck. You can use them in tandem with the lowering shackles so that your vehicle isn’t unbalanced and uncomfortable to drive.

Using the Flip Kit: The axle flip kit will move the leaf springs closer to the axle. But if you’re a beginner, you should avoid using this since it is recommended for more experienced users.

Get Your Truck Ready for Spring with Help from Trick Tricks

Does your ride need servicing or some new accessories? Trick Trucks is happy to service your vehicle and make sure your truck is in great shape all year long! With over forty years of experience servicing trucks, we have the expertise and equipment you need. Contact Trick Trucks online or by calling 1-866-60-TRICK. Follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube. For your convenience, we have several locations in Maryland (Kensington, Edgewater, Waldorf, Frederick, Lexington Park, and Lanham) Virginia (Winchester and Chantilly), West Virginia (Martinsburg), and Delaware (Millsboro)!

The post Tips for Using a Lowering Kit on Your Truck appeared first on Trick Trucks.

Before going on your next adventure this spring, consider getting a front grille guard. After all, you never know what could happen out there, especially when you’re trying to not get lost in the woods. But whether you’re setting out on a road trip to escape the lingering cold or just want to go mud running, here are a few reasons you should get a front grille guard.

They Complement Other Upgrades

When you have a front grille guard installed, it won’t interfere with the function of the other features you have on your truck. In fact, it can even complement other add-ons you have installed, such as a hook for towing. If you are worried about keeping your engine and radiator safe, then that’s not a problem either.  

Protection During an Accident

No matter where you’re going or where you’ve been, you want to make sure both your truck and your passengers can survive an accident. Accidents are frightening enough on their own, but without a front grille guard, they could be much worse. Keep in mind that any protection will only make a difference at low speeds and low impact situations. You might come away with some scratches and gouges on the paint job, but that can easily be remedied. In high-speed impacts, however, the grille will not help. So think twice before revving the engine to attempt to jump over that boulder you encounter down a forest path.

Along with possible collisions with inanimate objects, you’ll also want to watch out for crashes with woodland animals – and not just deer, either. Depending on where you go, you might also run into moose. To see these creatures better, you might need to increase the amount of lighting you have mounted on your truck.

Improved Lighting

You’re probably still going to be out after dark. And when you are, you’ll need to have good lighting. Luckily, when you have a front grille guard in place, you can add more lights to guide your way – whether you need to see through fog, rain, or trees.

Enhanced Aesthetic

Even though a front grille guard provides plenty of benefits for the physical integrity of your truck, don’t forget about how you can also use one to make your truck look tougher. You just need to find the right finish for it.

Get Your Truck Ready for Spring with Help from Trick Tricks

Does your ride need servicing or some new accessories? Trick Trucks is happy to service your vehicle and make sure your truck is in great shape all year long! With over forty years of experience servicing trucks, we have the expertise and equipment you need. Contact Trick Trucks online or by calling 1-866-60-TRICK. Follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube.

The post Why Might You Need a Front Grille Guard for Your Truck? appeared first on Trick Trucks.

Want to get into better shape this spring? If you need a solution while getting away from everyday life, then you might need bike racks. Take advantage of the warm weather by installing these racks on your truck. After all, just putting your bike in the backseat or the bed of your truck isn’t always the best idea.  

What Should You Consider?

Your Budget: Before you can begin shopping for bike racks, you need to think about your budget. Some models of bike rack are more affordable than others. Even if you have to stretch your dollars, you want to be sure you find the right rack, one that will withstand whatever you need it to do without cracking or breaking in the meantime.

Your Security: Once you have selected the bike racks you want for your truck, that’s not all you need to do. You’ll also think about how secure it will be – and not just how well it will stay attached to your truck. You might have to make sure it features additional locking mechanisms in case your bikes are stolen.

Your Ride: The bike racks you can choose also depend on the type of vehicle you have. These racks will fit onto a truck much differently than they will on a passenger car.

What Bike Racks Are Available?

Roof Mount: Roof mounted bike racks need to have a base to anchor them. The bases can be installed as part of the vehicle’s original design or later on. However, this is regarded as a permanent upgrade, so if you plan to trade in your car or truck soon, this option might not be the right choice for you.

Hitch Mount: For a hitch mount to work, you will need what is called a receiver hitch. That said, once you have all the necessary parts, you can hold several bikes at once – up to five, in fact, which is tremendously helpful if you want to plan an outing with family members and friends.

Trunk Mount: The trunk mounted bike rack is the least complicated variety. You simply attach the bike to the back of your vehicle, but at the same time, you need to be careful, so you don’t leave scratches on either your bike or your car.

Spare Mount: You can also attach bike racks to your spare tire mount. But do remember that you’ll only be able to transport two bikes with this setup.

Get Some New Bike Racks with Help from Trick Tricks

Does your ride need servicing or some new accessories? Trick Trucks is happy to service your vehicle and make sure your truck is in great shape all year long! With over forty years of experience servicing trucks, we have the expertise and equipment you need. Contact Trick Trucks online or by calling 1-866-60-TRICK.  Follow us on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube.

The post Do You Need New Bike Racks This Spring? appeared first on Trick Trucks.