My Other Truck is a Thule Roof Top Cargo Carrier

If you have a car that you want to use to haul some “stuff,” this article is for you.

There was once a time when car owners who wanted to haul anything would have to borrow or rent a pickup truck. Cross-country moves and/or extended vacations would often entail renting a truck in order to handle all of the “stuff.” Naturally, the Swedish (a crafty and clever people) invented a way to avoid all this extra expense and inconvenience.

Thule cargo box kind of like a truck for car owners.

Thule cargo box kind of like a truck for car owners.

Thule, a company once known exclusively for their ski and snowboard racks, is at the forefront of extending the cargo capacity of the average automobile. How do they do it? The answer is through their line of cargo boxes, such as the Atlantis, the Spirit and the Boxter, are meant to attach to the roof of almost any car, big or small, and provide an extra dollop of cargo storage that is waterproof, windproof, and stable enough for extended trips. They”re kind of like trucks for car owners…except they can”t tow or haul more than a few hundred pounds and they don”t do off-road.

You take what you can get though, right? Read more…

Toyota Tundra Cash For Clunkers Notes

As you’ve undoubtedly heard, congress is very close to passing a so-called “cash for clunkers” bill (technically known as “Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act“).

The idea behind this bill is to get older, less fuel-efficient vehicles off the road and replace them with newer cars and/or trucks. The hope is that this bill will 1) Help kick-start auto industry sales and 2) improve the environment by crushing a bunch of older vehicles that are currently polluting.

Little orange truck
Creative Commons License photo credit: k4dordy

While there are a lot of very smart people who dislike this bill – either because it’s not environmentally sound or because it’s not going to work – the fact is that none of this seems to matter. The bill was passed by a healthy majority in the House of Representatives, and most analysts seem to think it will pass in the Senate and be signed into law shortly. So, with that in mind, here’s what you need to know if you’re considering buying a new Toyota Tundra using a Cash For Clunkers voucher: Read more…

Tinting Your Truck Windows – Toyota Tundra Tint Tips

Few accessories set off a pickup truck quite like tinted windows – especially if you live in a hot climate. Tinting the windows of your Toyota Tundra can be one of the most cost effective truck modifications you will ever make, and not just from an aesthetic perspective. Tinted windows can keep the Sun out of your truck’s passenger compartment and combat the “greenhouse effect” that can raise inside temperatures, and they’re also great for boosting vehicle privacy.

How exactly are windows tinted? There are two basic approaches to the process. The cheapest is to use do-it-yourself window tinting film, which is designed to either use static cling to affix itself to your windows or is meant to be applied with a soapy solution in order to form a bond against the glass. With a lot of hard work chasing out air bubbles and cutting the film so that it is the proper size, passable results can usually be obtained for at least the first few weeks. However, this type of tint tends to mark up easily, a fact which is only made worse by the rolling up and down of windows. After a few months, the typical do-it-yourself tint will look tattered, torn, and faded (usually turning a slight purple color).

wDark mirrored window tint
Creative Commons License photo credit: Grumpy Chris

Check out this Mini’s dark and mirrored hybrid tint film – very sharp.

A far better option is to visit a local and reputable window tint shop. Read more…

Toyota Nascar Pit Stop In Times Square New York City

This might be the coolest Nascar gimick I’ve ever seen:

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Gas to Electric Pickup Truck Conversion Guide – The Basics

There are a wide range electric conversion options for truck owners interested in going full electric. Here are the basics:

Truck type: Until recently, smaller trucks were preferred over their larger cousins due to weight issues, but advances in battery technology had enabled even full-size drivers to take advantage of an completely emissions-free ride.

Electric Truck Conversion - a "short" guide.

Electric Truck Conversion - a "short" guide.

Battery Options: Inexpensive conversions typically use lead acid or absorption glass mat (AGM) batteries – just like the battery under your truck’s hood right now. It’s not uncommon for amateur conversions to fill the truck bed with as many as two dozen 6 or 12 volt lead-acid or AGM batteries to go full electric. If you want to preserve your pickup bed for hauling (go figure), batteries can also be located in the passenger compartment, under the hood, or anywhere you can make them fit.

If money is no object, then nickel / metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, which are identical to those used in vehicles like the Toyota Prius, can be used for conversions. If money is really no object (and that’s not just an expression), then ultra-high end lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries can be used. Both Li-ion and NiMH batteries may require special cooling systems, but they are lighter than lead-acid and AGM batteries and take up far less room in a typical conversion. Read more…