Sideview mirror extenders and stick-on disks can help you see around your horse trailer.
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Whether it’s the mirror,
grill, tailgate or bumper, most trucks today have some customization. The
Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) estimates that Americans spend as
much as $1,800 customizing their pickup trucks. Why? Trucks are inherently
utilitarian vehicles in need of sprucing up.
Bedding
Down
One of the more
common accessories truck owners need is secure storage space, so many truck
owners add a truck box to hold tools. Truck boxes come in a variety of sizes,
colors and styles, and are useful for horse owners to store just about anything.
Trailer space always seems tight, so a truck box can hold brushes, horse
blankets for a sudden change in the weather, a first aid kit, or even some
saddle pads.
Behind-the-cab
locking toolboxes sold at auto parts stores work well for this purpose. Instead
of toolboxes, think of them as tack trunks. They have built-in storage trays for
easy access to brushes and hoof picks and come in multiple sizes and materials,
from aluminum to weatherproof plastic. Some are shallow and easily removable.
Others are more permanent.
Note that boxes
placed behind the cab might be hard to get into if you’re short and/or your
truck is high off the ground. A new style attaches to the tailgate and swings
out (called Swingbox). While that’s highly convenient and accessible, you can’t
get into it if you have a gooseneck trailer hitched up (although it doesn’t
interfere with the hitch itself).
Before you install
your box, though, you’ll need a bed liner. The most popular truck accessory,
according to SEMA, a bed liner protects the bed from scratches and dents. Truck
manufacturers offer bed liners as an option on new models, but you can install
your own using a do-it-yourself paint-on kit called Herculiner ($129.00).
Another option is to buy your bed liner from Dualcomp and install it yourself in
five minutes ($308 for long-beds, not including shipping).
A couple of
accessories make barn chores a cinch. Moving hay is only a matter of flipping a
switch and directing a forklift-style prong to lift bales. The Perry Company
makes a fork attachment capable of lifting a 2,000-pound round
bale.
If you use your truck
for loading and dumping manure, consider a more drastic modification — having
your bed converted to a hydraulic dump truck. Dump-Pro inserts into the truck
bed in minutes, according to the company (www.dump-pro.com). No more shoveling
or pitch forking manure into the dumpsite.
Several companies now
make hydraulic tailgates that assist with loading heavy items onto the bed. One
of the most popular is the Tommy Gate. The tailgate opens and lowers to the
ground. Slide on your trunk, hay bales or other heavy item, lift the tailgate,
and slide the load onto the bed.
Convenience and
Safety
Let’s face it: Trucks
are not made for short people, or those who have a bit of arthritis in the
knees. SEMA says that second to bed liners, the other hot accessory in the truck
aftermarket world is the running board or attachable step. Some companies also
make handles for the exterior so that you can hoist yourself
in.
Running boards, some
of which come with lighting, can cost anywhere from $100 to $600 or more. For
the ultra deluxe model, PowerStep is a nifty retractable running board that
automatically slides out from under the truck when the door opens
($1,250).
Rearview visibility
is the biggest safety concern for horse-trailer haulers. Add-on mirrors aren’t
an option — they’re a necessity. They can be as small and cheap as a stick-on
disk to as complex as a power mirror that extends at the push of a button, is
heated, and has a directional signal (Powervision, around $500, depending on
model and options). A good compromise is a CIPA Towing Mirror kit, which slips
on your regular truck mirror but adds several additional inches of reflective
capability. It costs about $70.
For loading and dumping whatever you decide to haul, you can convert your pickup to a hydraulic dump truck. Think of the shoveling time such an addition will save you.
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Gas Mileage
Goodies
In the days of gas at
$2 or more a gallon, getting the most out of each tank is major concern for
anyone who drives a truck. Improving miles per gallon, even just a little, can
result in enormous savings. Several devices and truck accessories help the
cause.
Consider improving
your aerodynamics. When you’re driving, air flows over your hood and cab, and
down into the bed where, if you have a solid tailgate, it swirls around and
creates drag. A solid tonneau cover that can easily be lifted off will flatten
the airflow. A net or mesh tailgate allows the air to simply flow out the back
end of the truck.
Engine changes you
can make to improve your gas mileage include ignition box and exhaust
modifications. Your local mechanic or auto-parts dealer is usually the best
source of information for these improvements.
Of course, the
ultimate in fuel efficiency is to trade in the gas-guzzler for a hybrid or dual
fuel vehicle. GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado are the first full-size pickups to
offer hybrid options. Other manufacturers will undoubtedly follow, given the
success of these two models, which were introduced in 2004. Most truck
manufacturers now make dual fuel (ethanol/gasoline, compressed natural gas, or
biodiesel) for their fleet lines.
Techno Gizmos
For about $500
installed, you can watch your horses’ every move while you’re hauling. Video
monitoring systems have become so advanced that they even offer color LCD and
wireless reception. Most systems include a miniature camera, mounting bracket,
color or black and white monitor, a cigarette lighter and/or AC/DC power
adapter, and 30 feet of video/power cable.
We highly recommend
not using your cell phone while driving, even if you have a hands-free option.
Studies show that talking on the phone while driving, even on a hands-free
device, causes many accidents. But if you must, consider a hands-free device
that plugs into your radio, allowing you to talk as if you’re on a speaker
phone. These setups only work with Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, for now. Jabra
makes a car-phone/speaker phone. Simply put the cell phone in the plug and
talk.
You can find many
hands-free car accessories at www.cellularaccessories.com. However, the best
safety tip of all is to pull over in a safe place before making a call.
A louvered tailgate is designed to reduce wind resistance for gas economy, and the “V” pattern provides more rearview visibility.
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The Fun Stuff
As horse owners, we
take care to assure our horses always look sharp, so why not our trucks? How to
Custom Paint Damn Near Anything, written by the Discovery Channel’s Monster
Garage folks, can guide you on everything from pinstriping so that your truck
matches your trailer to elaborate murals on your hood or truck
doors.
Not a
do-it-yourselfer? Most towns have custom paint shops with dedicated artists
who’ll be happy to embellish your ride.
You can also
customize your tailgate. Cowboy Creations (www.cowboycreations.com) will weld a
custom design, with your horseback riding discipline, your brand, or other
design featured in the metal work.
And
then there are the little things. Key chains in the shape of saddles and bits,
or a small, plush horse to stand guard on the dashboard can spruce up even the
plainest truck. Those are easy to find online at such places as
www.statelinetack.com. Dressage extensions (www.dressageextensions.com) has a
wide selection of interesting key chains, as well as magnetic horse silhouettes
for your bumper or doors.
Stumble It!
