SIMPLE VEHICLE UPGRADES & ADD-ONS

 

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I MADE THIS SIMPLE SHIELD, TO STOP GRAVEL, SNOW, SALT, AND ROAD GRIT, FROM PELTING MY FUEL TANKS. I HAVE REPLACED TANKS ON THREE DIFFERENT CHEVY TRUCKS, ALL OF THEM HAD GRAVEL CAKED ON THE TOPS, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE SENDING UNITS. ALSO, A LOT OF GRAVEL THAT GOT CAUGHT IN BETWEEN THE TANK, AND THE PLASTIC OEM TANK SHIELD. CAUSED A HOLE TO BE WORN THROUGH ONE TANK I DID.

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Here's a Handy spot for a digital clock. I got this one from JC Whitney. Only 3 wires to hook up. A "constant power", a "key on" power, and a ground. I got lucky, a previous owner had installed the same clock. I removed the broken old one, and popped this one in. I think the clock was $12.95 four years ago. I tapped into the lighter for constant power, and the radio for key on power.

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WE ALL LOVE ACCESSORIES. MANY NEED THEIR OWN POWER SUPPLY. I HAD THIS FUSE BLOCK LAYING AROUND, AND USED UP THE LAST OF THE COTTER PINS THAT WERE IN THE PLASTIC BOX WITH THE DIVIDERS. I USED 10ga. WIRE TO FEED THE BOX DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY. ALL THESE CIRCUITS HAVE CONSTANT POWER. NOW WHEN I WANT TO ADD AN ACCESSORY, I HAVE A PLACE TO TAP INTO. OEM FUSE BLOCKS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPARES FOR ALL WE LIKE TO ADD. YOU CAN GET EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO THIS FOR LESS THAN $20. BE SURE TO USE THE CORRECT AMPERAGE FUSE EACH ACCESSORY CALLS FOR.

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BLIND SPOTS ARE DANGEROUS. BEING ABLE TO SEE IS VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN PLOWING SNOW. BLIND SPOT MIRRORS HELP, BUT WHEN BACKING UP WHILE PLOWING THE MIRRORS GET CAKED WITH SNOW AND ICE FAST. A REAL PAIN , ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR CO PILOT IS OUT SHOVELING WALKS WHILE YOU PLOW. I HAD THIS PIECE OF EXPANDED WIRE MESH LAYING AROUND. NOW I CAN SEE MUCH BETTER. I ONLY WISH I HAD A PIECE WIDER (HEIGHT WISE) TO USE. THIS STILL HELPS, BUT A LARGER "WINDOW" WOULD BE BETTER.

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HERE'S A WINTER WIPER BLADE. IT'S GOT A BOOT COVERING IT TO HELP PREVENT ICE FROM CAKING UP ON IT. IT USUALLY CAKES ANYWAY. I FOUND IF YOU WET A RAG WITH ARMORALL, OR A SIMILAR PRODUCT, AND WIPE DOWN THE BOOT EVERY NOW AND THEN, IT REALLY HELPS STOP CAKING. DO NOT GET ANY ON THE ACTUAL BLADE PART, OR YOU'LL BE SORRY!!

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OK, YOU NEED TO GET SOMETHING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF YOUR TRUCK, IT'S AT NIGHT. YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE DRIVERS SIDE, TO TURN ON THE COURTESY LIGHT. THEN GO AROUND TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND GET WHAT YOU NEED. (NO I DON'T HAVE PIN SWITCHES ON MY DOORS) I MOUNTED A SOCKET FROM AN OLD BUSTED TRAILER TAIL LIGHT. THE SWITCH WAS EASY TO MOUNT TOO, NOTHING BEHIND IT BUT AIR. I USED A QUICK SPLICE CONNECTOR TO TAP INTO THE 12v ACCY. OUTLET. THE LIGHT GETS CONSTANT POWER. IT WORKS FOR ME.

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A DROPLIGHT UNDER THE HOOD IS A HANDY ITEM TO HAVE. THIS ONE HAS A SWITCH MOUNTED ON IT. IT CAN BE TURNED ON, TO CHECK OIL WHILE IN IT'S HOLDER, OR YOU CAN PULL IT OUT AND USE IT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A RELIABLE LIGHT UNDER THE HOOD. THERE IS A SMALL HANDLE, TO WIND UP THE CORD WHICH IS AT LEAST 15' LONG, MAYBE LONGER. IT STARTED TO RAIN AS I WAS FINISHING, SO I HAVEN'T TRIED IT OUT YET. I GOT MINE USED, AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT HAD A MAGNET ON THE BOTTOM OF IT. THAT WAY YOU CAN STICK IT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD, OR ON THE FENDER IF YOU WERE SAY, CHANGING A FLAT TIRE. I USED EPOXY TO ATTACH MY OWN MAGNET TO THE BACK OF IT. I TOOK THIS OFF A FRIENDS 93 CHEVY SILVERADO. HE WAS SELLING IT, AND THE DEAL WAS I GET THE LIGHT, BUT I HAD TO UNINSTALL ALL THE CONTROLS AND WIRES FOR HIS WESTERN PRO PLOW. THE NEW OWNER DIDN'T BUY THE PLOW WITH IT.( SMART GUY. THE PRO PLOW IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR 1/2 TON TRUCKS. IT LISTS CHEVY/GMC K2500-K3500,FORD F250-250,SUPERDUTY,DODGE 2500-3500 AS TYPICAL APPLICATIONS. BECAUSE THE 7.5' BLADE WEIGHS 695 POUNDS ALONE!! (end of rant) ) MY FATHER'S 96 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED, AND MY BROTHER'S 95 DODGE RAM, HAVE NEARLY IDENTICAL LIGHTS MOUNTED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THEIR HOODS. NEXT TIME YOU GO TO A JUNKYARD, YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK. :O)

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HERE IS A BOX IN THE BED OF MY TRUCK. IT IS NO WIDER THAN THE WHEEL WELL. I CAN STILL SLIDE A FOUR FEET WIDE SHEET OF PLYWOOD IN THE BED IF I NEED TO. I CARRY A SMALL HYDRAULIC BOTTLE JACK, TOW CHAIN AND STRAP, A FEW CLEVISES, AND TWO BLOCKS OF 6X6 RR TIE, ABOUT A FOOT LONG. I NEED ONE 6X6 JUST TO LIFT A WHEEL HIGH ENOUGH TO GET A TIRE OFF. THE RR TIE BLOCKS ARE SCRAPS, THEY HAPPEN TO BE PRESSURE TREATED. THIS BOX IS NOT WATERPROOF, THOUGH IT HAS A SEAL AROUND THE TOP. I FOUND OUT AFTER NOT NEEDING A STRAP UNTIL WINTER. I INSTALLED IT IN SEPT. WHEN I OPENED THE LID, I WAS GREETED BY A BLOCK OF ICE. FORTUNATELY, I HAD A STRAP IN MY OTHER TRUCK, WHICH WAS NEARBY. THAT AFTERNOON, WHILE IT WAS STILL FROZEN, I SLIPPED A PAPER CUP OVER A 1/2" DRILL BIT. THE BIT STUCK THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP, INTO IT. ABOUT AN INCH OF IT STICKING UP PAST THE TOP EDGE, WHICH I TRIMMED DOWN. THIS IS IN CASE THERE WAS WATER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF WHERE I WAS DRILLING, IT WOULDN'T SPRAY ALL OVER MY DRILL AND ME! I DID HIT WATER WHEN I BROKE THROUGH. I DRILLED SEVERAL HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX, TO ALLOW WATER TO DRAIN. NEVER FOUND A BLOCK OF ICE SINCE. I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU USE A CORDLESS DRILL. WATER AND 120V DON'T MIX WELL AT ALL. THE BOX I HAVE IS PLASTIC, OF SOME TYPE. VERY EASY TO DRILL. A HAND AUGER IN A BIT BRACE WOULD WORK WELL TOO I BET. YOU CAN SEE THE TOP OF MINE WARPED. IT'S BEEN ON MY TRUCK SINCE 1992. IT'S A LIDO BRAND BOX. COST ME $60 AT THE TIME. THIS STYLE BOX IS HANDY. THEY ALSO MAKE THEM WHERE THEY MOUNT IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL WELLS. THIS LIMITS THE SPACE A LITTLE MORE, SINCE MOST OF US LIKE TO TRANSPORT SMALL ITEMS IN THE FRONTS OF OUR BEDS. LIKE SQUEEZING TWO 250 DIRT BIKES INTO THE BED, STICKING A FRONT WHEEL OF EACH INTO A FRONT CORNER. THINK OF A GOOD SPOT, THESE BOXES ARE HANDY. THIS ONE LOCKS, BUT I COULD RIP THE LID OFF WITH A PRY BAR 1, 2, 3, I THINK. ;o)

NEW !!
SIMPLE MODS PAGE 2 !!

 

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