How far have we came as a civilization?  No longer must a man be ridiculed or degraded by the act of stopping at the closest gas station to ask for directions.  A mans pride can remain in tact, as long as he has his trusty GPS(Global Positioning System) voice box suctioned to his windshield.  It's completely changed the way I travel and the confidence I have when embarking on a Holiday vacation with the family.

Vacation road trips in the past required me to spend at least a few weeks planning, deciding how many miles to travel each day, stopping points, hotel stops, and carefully calculating which roads would take us to our destination the fastest.  Instead, the days leading up to my Holiday vacation were filled with hopes and dreams of beautiful weather.  You see, my family and I traveled to Florida the day after Christmas, only to return on New Years Eve.  Coming from temperature in the teens, we were looking forward to the warmer climate.

Point being, I was able to relax and not stress over road trip obstacles to reach our vacation destination.  Also, once we were on the road I didn't have to worry about missing an exit or where to find the closest Hotel, my GPS did that job for me.  I used a Tom Tom GPS, after a careful GPS comparison of what was available, which made all the difference in the world.  Once we arrived in Florida, I wasn't exhausted from the stressful drive, I was relaxed and ready to start my vacation.

Compared to years ago when loading up the car and making a 1 to 2 day drive meant stress, from arguing with my wife over which road to take.  And from me refusing to ask the gas station attendant for directions.  I can't help but think that finding the right GPS or having any GPS for that matter, made our last vacation more enjoyable.  I know my wife and daughter appreciate what it's done for us.

The aftermarket auto parts industry is supported by enthusiasts and help shape what becomes standard on future vehicles.  Customers need better than OEM components, because they push their vehicles to the limit, they want more bang for their buck.  Of course, every industry has it's pitfalls and the automotive aftermarket is no exception.  Scams, lies, and faulty aftermarket auto parts litter the internet, so below are some of my tips on buying smart.

Buy From A Trusted Aftermarket Auto Parts Manufacturer

Just because you aren't buying OEM products doesn't mean there aren't known companies to trust.  Generally speaking when thinking of cold-air intakes, I think of BBK, and when I think of drag suspension I think of Eibach.  The point being that when buying brand name components, you are protecting your investment, and reducing the risk of getting faulty components.

Furthermore, buying from quality manufacturers in the after market auto parts industry, a warranty is generally included.  Aftermarket components are not cheap, so a warranty can help you sleep at nigt, after you place that charge on your card.

Buy From A Trusted Aftermarket Auto Parts Website

Not all aftermarket auto parts website are created equal.  It's very easy for people to throw up a website, that looks like official, but may be a fly by night company.  If the deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is, so stay away from websites offering a product for $100's less than everywhere else.  If in doubt, look for a contact phone number, reputable companies in the aftermarket auto industry will offer a way to speak directly to customer service, not just a static web page.

Stay Away From Promises That Sound Crazy

Yes, I'm looking at you 'Tornado', or super charge your car with Home Depot components manuals.  This is absurd, won't work, and will most likely destroy your car, at best.  If you just have money burning a hole in your pocket, send it my way, don't waste your time with over promised goods that are hair brained.

Speaking of over promises and under delivering, eBay is a haven for such predators of the aftermarket auto industry.  Individuals hide behind good feedback for other products and the try to sell you junk, make their money, and move on.  A few years ago, one of the hottest selling items on eBay was a chip to increase horsepower in your car.  Turns out, it was just a resistor that did nothing for your vehicle, except maybe cause lower gas mileage.  Didn't stop people from buying them by the truck loads though, just because it was on eBay and cheap.

Don't be stupid.

Return Policies On Aftermarket Auto Parts

Find out the return policy for the website that you are buying your aftermarket components from.  It's real easy when buying aftermarket parts to buy the wrong thing, say for the wrong year car, different model, etc.  Mistakes happen and knowing if the website you buy from will support you and take the product back can make or break a deal in my book.  Expect a restocking fee, but a reputable company should accept returns and help make sure you are happy with your purchase.

Conclusion

Enthusiasts help drive the automotive industry and thanks to the internet it's easier than ever to add aftermarket components to your vehicles.  Some parts are real easy to change, especially with all the information on do-it-yourself manuals that can be found the net over.  Follow some of these simple tips and buying aftermarket auto parts online should be a rewarding and money saving experience for that next project.  And it's worth repeating, dont' be stupid, if it's too good to be true, it's a lie.

Ford Mustang GT LX 50 Aftermarket Custom Headers N R    US $.99

67 68 Chevy Suburban Exhaust Manifold 327 4X4 LH    US $19.90

NEW AFTERMARKET CATALYTIC CONVERTER DODGE JEEP CHRYSLER    US $20.00

(more...)

Enthusiasts drive the automotive industry and making a truck look good requires a few necessary items.  Customizing a truck can be tricky, when getting started, but one thing that you must have are either running boards or nerf bars.  I personally enjoy the looks and function of nerf bars far more than running boards and typically a nerf bar will be more fitting on a 4x4 truck and hold up better when going off road.

Nerf bars are the round metal bars that you see along the bottom of a truck, generally the same length as the doors.  They provide function, by allowing a step for people to use when entering tall trucks or to be used simply for convenience and comfort.  To some extent a nerf bar will also protect the bottom of the doors or floor board in the case you were to bottom out.

As far as style, there are plenty of different flavors of nerf bars to choose from and just as many manufacturers and quality difference.  In past trucks owned I always went with the painted black nerf bars, because frankly the chrome or aluminum ones were just a little too flashy for me.  Nerf bars also vary in price, from as little as $180 up to $1,100, length can have a great impact on the price of nerf bars.  Therefore having 4 doors on a truck will increase the price of a nerf bar, so dont' get shocked when you start shopping and see all the differences.

manik Nerf bars toyota 1996 1999 black    US $.01

CHEVY GMC NERF BARS SIDE STEPS CHROME    US $5.00

STAINLESS STEEL Nerf Bars for older style truck    US $9.99