5 Ways to Improve Your Pickup Truck and Its Performance

2014-f150-tremor

One common trait among many truck owners is that they are always looking for a way to improve their ride. Whether it be the truck’s performance – like wanting it to be able to tow more or go off-road – or just look better, there are plenty of ways to improve your truck, even if you just bought the brand new truck of the year. If you’re a truck owner looking for a couple of ways to spruce up your truck, here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Truck Bed Cover

One of the most common accessories that truck owners purchase is a cover for their truck bed. With one of these covers installed, you can easily keep the items you are transporting in the truck bed dry from any bad weather. In addition to this, you can lock the cover up, so that your valuables remain safe when you are away from the vehicle. Truck bed covers are not too expensive (depending on the kind you buy) and can easily be installed yourself with a few tools and a free afternoon. When not using the cover, you can simply roll it up and leave it out of the way at the back of the truck bed. If you want to keep your items safe from not only the weather but strangers as well, this is the way to go.

Cold Air Intake

If you want to improve your truck’s torque or horsepower, one of the simplest ways to do so is by installing a cold air intake system. Adding one of the systems to your truck is a popular modification among car owners because of its low price tag and because it is very easy to do yourself. A cold air intake allows the engine to receive colder air, which is better for combustion and in turn leads to more power. There are many benefits to installing a cold air intake system, and since the price is low compared to other modifications, it is not a bad place to start.

Torsion Keys

If your truck uses a torsion bar suspension system – and many four-wheel-drive trucks do – and you would like to add an inch or so of lift to your truck, then consider using aftermarket torsion keys. Torsion keys can lift up your truck about 1 to 1.5 inches, allowing you to use a tire that is about an inch bigger in size. You can typically find torsion keys for around $100-$150, meaning it is another affordable upgrade for your truck. When searching, try and get forged keys rather than cast units, as they are typically stronger and more durable. It should be noted that some truck enthusiasts are down on torsion keys, so be sure to do your research before making a purchase.

Lift Kit

When you want more than an inch of lift on your truck, you’ll want to look into a lift kit. There are several different types of lift kits – such as leveling kits, body lift kits and premium lift systems – and the type that you get will depend on how much you want to raise your truck, the type of truck that you have, and the amount of money that you want to spend. Depending on the type of lift kit that you get, you could raise your truck 1 to 3 inches, or even as much as 6 inches. Decide how high you are looking to raise your truck, then look into which lift systems are right for your truck model.

Tougher Wheels

Lastly, when you purchased your truck, it may have come with some bright and shiny wheels. While these wheels may look great, they are not always the strongest set of wheels that you can have. Cast-alloy wheels are typically rust resistant and have more creative designs. Steel wheels, on the other hand, are more durable and will usually last longer. Examine what type of wheels your truck currently has and see if a change is in order. If you want your truck to be better able to handle things like off-roading, then you will want steel wheels, and if you want your truck to look better, cast-alloy may be the way to go.

There are a lot of things that you can do in order to improve your truck. The above list will hopefully get you started with some cheap modifications that you can make. Once you have a better idea of the possibilities for truck upgrades, and you know what you want your truck to do, you’ll be better able to pick and choose which upgrades are right for you.