9. Upheaval
Need to remove the bed of your truck but don't have help? Here's how I did it: I screwed four large eyehooks into the ceiling of my garage and hooked tie-down straps to each hook. Then I backed my truck into the garage and hooked the tie-straps to each corner of the bed. By pulling on each tie-down and working my way around in a circle, I was able to lift the bed high enough to pull the truck out. Putting the bed back on was just as easy, and I did that alone too.
Jay Kopycinski, San Antonio, TX
10. Clear Vision
As we all know, you should wear eye protection when drilling or grinding. The glasses keep your eyes safe, but they get beat up in the process. To keep them nice and clear, use the plastic polish from your detailing cabinet. With a little bit of rubbing, the glasses will be as good as new and ready to save your eyeballs.
By The Sport Truck Staff
11. Tonneau Edge Savers
Due to space limitations, hard tonneau covers tend to be stored on one end and leaned up against a wall, which often scratches the edges. To solve this dilemma, cut a few lengths of heater hose, slit them down the middle on one side, and slide them over the edges of the tonneau cover.
Michael Bauermeister, Columbus, OH
12. Know When to Stop
If you're like me and park too far up in the garage, here's a fix. Drill a hole in a tennis or racquet ball and hang it with string from the ceiling of the garage. Make sure to park your truck properly before setting up the ball. Once set up, all you have to do is pull in until the ball kisses the windshield and you're parked. This little tip is a lot less expensive than painting your front bumper every couple of months or fixing that hole in your garage wall.
Aaron Melichar, Tabor, SD
13. To The Last Drop
This idea helps you get the most out of any product in tube packages while still being able to run smooth, continuous lines even when the tube runs low. Take a cotter pin and put it around the end of the tube. As the product is used, slide the pin forward.
Neil Geer
Pinckney, MI
14. A Little Touch-Up
If you need to touch up the paint on your engine block but don't want the freeze plugs painted, try this: Take an empty paper-towel or toilet-paper tube and use it as a quick masking device. Just slip it in the plug and paint away.
Dennis Albertson, Fredericksburg, IA
15. Dangerous Curves
An excellent sanding block for inside curves can be made from a section of old radiator hose. A piece 6 inches long with smooth outside walls is just about the right size. A block like this will prevent the grooves caused by sanding with just your bare hands. By squeezing or smashing the hose as needed, it will conform to differences in curve radius. Small pieces of heater hose and old paint rollers can also be used.
Lee Hartman, Payette, ID
16. Make It Flush
If you are repairing rust damage or filling a hole, you want the patch as flush with the existing body panel as possible. You can accomplish this by tack-welding several washers on the backside of the body panel so they're halfway exposed. Set the patch panel against the washers and tack away.
Greg Seibel, Susanville, CA
17. A Penny for Your Tires
If you want to know when your tires need to be changed, here's a simple tip: Take a penny and insert the top of it into the tread channel, making sure Lincoln's head is toward the tire. If the tread covers the top of Lincoln's head, that's good; if not, you should replace the tires soon.
George Hills, Buzzards Bay, MA