Dustin "3-D" Artz
Rockwell, NC
Skund Up Kustoms
1989 Mazda B2200inline_mediumwraptextright31019457/features/mazda/1001mt_custom_1989_mazda_b22001001mt_04_+1989_mazda_b2200+rear_left_view.jpgTrue

Every modification in the custom car industry goes through a maturing process.

Check out these mini truckers in action!

Green With Envy
Modifications
Tyler Paul knew he wanted his first-gen S-10 to be super clean so he tackled the body and paintwork himself to achieve that goal. Tyler started by shaving everything his heart desired including door handles, body lines, and finishing with a smooth tailgate skin. A Toyota front bumper and phantom grille finished things off before Tyler laid down the 2005 Scion Green paint. Next he knew his S-10 had to go down south, so after installing a four-link, drop spindles, and full air ride he definitely has us "Green With Envy."

Tyler Paul
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1989 Chevy S-10inline_mediumwraptextright26830327/ridinaround/1001mt_custom_mini_trucks_january_20101001mt_01_+1989_chevy_s10+right_side_view.jpgTrue

SHOWS

With shows getting more spread out, you might be asking yourself what to do between shows to feed your craving of minitrucks, dragging, and good times hanging with fellow minitruckers.inline_mediumwraptextrightThe perfect cruise shot! Draggin' right by the Sonic and no one was hassled by the cops or drive-in all evening long.25701095/events/west/1001mt_bako_sonic_cruise_night1001mt_02_+bako_sonic_cruise_night+sparks.jpgTrue

If you remember "the good ol' days" back when Indy Truck Bash had more trucks than cars in attendance and when six dudes rollin' deep in their mom's minivan couldn't park next to show vehicles, then you'll remember a time when Donnie Babb was at the reigns.inline_mediumwraptextright25691792/events/midwest/1001mt_2009_slamology_custom_truck_show1001mt_01_+2009_slamology_custom_truck_show+trucks.jpgTrue

For over 20 years, Down To Earth (or DTE) has been hitting the scene strong sporting some of the lowest, sickest vehicles in the So Cal scene and beyond.inline_mediumwraptextright31040292/lyfestyle/1001mt_truck_club_profile_down_to_earth1001mt_01_+truck_club_profile_down_to_earth+custom_toyota_truck.jpgTrue

Jerome Harlan
Penngrove, CA
Characters
1971 Datsun 521inline_mediumwraptextright25690877/constructionzone/1001mt_1971_datsun_521_construction_zone1001mt_02_+1971_datsun_521_construction_zone+rear_left_view.jpgTrue

Underground Kustomz busted out with their third installment of one of the very few three-day events left in the Northwest.inline_mediumwraptextright31037880/events/west/1001mt_2009_lowdown_in_the_southsound1001mt_01_+2009_lowdown_in_the_southsound+custom_trucks.jpgTrue

SHOW OF THE YEAR

Takashi "Frank" Yashiki
Gunma, Japan Severed Ties
1996 Nissan Hardbody D21

You spoke, and we listened! You guys wanted to see some feature worthy 720S so our search took us far and wide.

The Lowdown

Rolling Attire
Wheels: 20x10 Limited Alloys painted black
Tires: 245/35R20 Nitto NT 555

Very few people can claim their hobby as their life's work, and in saying such are able to enjoy every minute they spend "working." When Jason Hagler of Prattville, Alabama, goes to work each day, he's living his dream of working on custom rides. When he has some alone time that's not being taken up by work or home life, he's also living his dream. His dream of buying a truck, building it 100 percent by himself, and turning a plain-Jane S-10 pickup into something amazing has become a reality.

This isn't the first truck of Shane Thompson's to make the pages of a magazine. The very first truck he built was featured in the Oct. '04 issue of Truckin' on page 242. It was a much simpler truck, with a clean exterior and interior that made it magazine-worthy, but it was no where near the downright nuttiness of this '00 GMC Jimmy. After building the neon-green '94 S-10, Shane got a real taste of what it took to build an incredible mini-truck, yet he felt that he still needed to accomplish more with his next project. Once he made up his mind that he wanted to build the "lowest truck on the biggest wheels" around, he went hunting for a good platform.

Robert McIntosh bought his truck in December 1998 with some very basic intentions. The truck cost about $18,000, which isn't pocket change, so he wasn't planning on going all out this time around. He just wanted to lower the truck a bit and slap on a little bling-bling. Some very interesting facts about Bobby: He's already built an '86 'Yota and has been in the scene for a few years; he's in Negative Camber. So, how long do you think he was able to roll a barely lowered truck on rims? We're pretty sure you guessed correctly by saying not long at all.

Chris Gaddie walked the showgrounds dreaming, plotting, and planning very patiently for three years. He saw mods that worked - and a lot of things that didn't - saw stuff he liked, and stuff that made him wonder if the owners were colorblind. Slowly, he formulated a picture in his mind of what his version of the ultimate showstopper would look like. Chris then decided that he would build a truck to "have something that no one else has."

Rolling Attire
Wheels: 18x8-inch Boyd Coddington Rodders
Tires: 225/40R18 Toyo Proxes

More often than not, custom builds consume months, if not years, before they reach completion. But For a minitruck junkie like Jerry Hatfield, waiting longer than 46 days to get his next fix was simply out of the question.

Customization is the name of the game when it comes to modifying your mini-truck and making it stand out at the local cruise or at a big time show. Basically, a good rule of thumb is "Stock sucks." So, anything stock just won't do on your custom ride, including the taillights. Depending on where you live, you might want to take into account the DOT laws that apply to certain modifications, including messing with the factory lighting (if your anything like most mini-truckers, you probably don't worry too much about Johnny Law) before shaving your taillights and installing a set of LEDs.

OWNER: Atsushi Mori
RIDE: 1996 Toyota Hilux
HOMETOWN: Toyota, Aichi, Japan

In an age of "reality" TV and shows like Dr. 90210, nowadays it almost seems that if you don't like the way something looks then surgery is the key to fixing it.inline_mediumwraptextright25336652/features/toyota/0912mt_1996_toyota_hilux0912mt_02_+1996_toyota_hilux+rear_right_view.jpgTrue