Welcome to our first-ever super show extravaganza! God, that word is fun to write. Extravaganza. Go ahead; say it one time with a smile. You are about to embark upon a journey we took over the course of a month last fall to shows in five different states all over the country. We came back tired, dirty, thirsty, and with memory cards full of coverage from some of the best shows of the fall. We decided not to wait any longer and to just stuff them into this issue of the magazine, along with a ton of tips you can use to make your next road trip a success. You can thank us later.
How to Get There and How to Win
Whether you're traveling a couple hundred miles or a couple thousand, road trips to shows are where memories are made. But, before you and your friends load up into your trucks, take some simple precautions to ensure safe and stress-free traveling. Once you're certain that your automobile is in flawless condition, stock it with some items that'll make your life easier when on the road, as well as provide you with peace of mind. Imagine yourself stuck by the side of a deserted road, trying to flag down cars that will likely never come by. Imagine the stress, the loneliness, the agony.
Prepare Your Truck
A long trip is a serious exam for your truck. Even a small problem, such as a worn wiper, out-of-balance tire, or improper alignment, may turn your trip into a nightmare. Here, we have compiled a few tips on how to prepare your vehicle for a trip. Remember: Chance favors the prepared mind, so don't wait until the last minute to make sure your sport truck is ready for a road trip.
Inspect Your Ride Whether you're traveling by truck, RV, motorcycle, or lawnmower, your road trip will be smoother if your vehicle is road-worthy. Before you leave, have a qualified mechanic check all the car's vitals, including brakes, battery, fluid levels, tire pressure, light bulbs, and any parts that need regular maintenance-especially the suspension.
Details, Details Clean your truck before you leave for a show. When beginning a detailing regimen, it's always a good idea to start with the engine and engine compartment. This will ensure that any dirt and grease that lands on the vehicle during engine compartment cleaning will be washed off during the initial rinsing and washing. It's a also good idea to wash your wheels first, preventing contamination from cleaners, brake dust, and dirt from being spattered back onto the body around the wheel opening areas as you rinse. Always start washing and rinsing from the top down.
Clean With Clay For anything other than a new finish, a good once-over with a clay bar is the perfect next step after a thorough wash job. Created to lift the above surface contaminants that washing can't, clay bars remove embedded grains of metal, tree sap, airborne environmental deposits, and paint overspray from your car's finish by grabbing onto them and lifting them off a vehicle's painted surface. Always use the supplied lubricant with a clay bar product. Your paint will look 10 times better.
Polish The Wheels One of the easiest ways to polish those fancy chromed or billet wheels of yours is with one of those Mother's Power Balls. Use it once and you'll never go back to doing it by hand. Speaking of Power Balls, the Power Ball Mini is perfect for hard to reach areas and polished aluminum engine dress-up items, as well.
Rugburns Carpet cleaning is a must for often-used vehicles. For stubborn stains, use a soft-bristled brush to agitate deep down into the carpet's fibers, using circular, overlapping motions. Finally, blot the moist area with another clean terry cloth towel. Before leaving, use floor mats or towels to keep your carpet clean.
Keep It Car-Friendly Never use household detergents, abrasives, or petroleum distillates on interior components. An automotive-specific cleaner/dressing is the way to go.