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

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.

Start Stripping
Rust-Oleum is proud to introduce yet another innovation to help make your restoration project much less painful and time consuming.inline_mediumwraptextright26607691/tech/suspension/0912mt_mini_market_december_20090912mt_01_+mini_market_december_2009+rust_oleum_auto_stripper.jpgTrue

Minitruckers are known for custom innovations and generally find something we can use from other genres and adapt it to best suit our needs.inline_mediumwraptextright25399364/tech/suspension/0912mt_air_management_system_accuair_suspension0912mt_01_+air_management_system_accuair_suspension+touchpad_controller.jpgTrue

Engineering at its Finest
For the ultimate in form and function, AccuAir Suspension introduces its new, intuitive TouchPad.This top of the line interface option can be handheld or comes fully mountable and is available in black-anodized or nickel-plated aluminum. AccuAir's new eLevel system used in conjunction with this TouchPad gives full manual control of each air spring individually as well as front and rear air spring control in "pairs." Saving and accessing your three preset heights is only a touch away, and a clean yellow glowing ring around each button clearly indicates the current vehicle height. The all-down or "pancake" button fully deflates the vehicle for parking. Every button offers a "crisp" tactile feel and is backlit with crystal white LEDs for clear daytime and nighttime operation. A 16-foot mini-USB cable provides communication to the ECU and plugs into the TouchPad in either the bottom or the back of the unit. All wiring harnesses are color-coded and plug-n-play for quick and error-free installation. Every system is 100% factory tested before it's shipped. For more information on the AccuAir system and other products available, make sure to check out Accuaircs.com.

We wanted to dive right in and show you some of the little detail tricks going into this build.

When it comes to customizing your minitruck, ease of the modification always plays a roll.

For this installment of the Daily Dime build we followed along as the crew at Needful Thingz showed us some creative new tricks to tub and lay out a Dime.

For this installment we began the frame and suspension buildup. For us, this is by far the most fun Because you know how much we like crazy suspension setups.

To submit a question, email: mini.truckin@sorc.com

DIY Coating System
Al's Liner in Plainfield, Indiana, announced its acrylic/polyurethaneDIY coating system.

BOYD CODDINGTON WHEELS
(888)254-3400
www.billetwheel.com
Billet Wheel Pros & Cons
Pros
* very light
* very strong
* almost unlimited fitments
* one-off wheel possibilities
* can be repaired
Cons
* sometimes more expensive than one-piece wheels
* usually need to be custom-ordered

To build the ultimate show mini, you have to pay attention to details that most people would take for granted. To be able to have the most extreme mini out there, you have to work on areas of your ride that are functional, while still making sure to go the extra mile in places where most people wouldn't even look, but might in a show situation. How many times have you checked out a show ride, but forgot to look inside the truck to see if they'd just left their stock headliner there or had it completely redone? One thing is for sure, though; if your ride is still sporting its stock overhead covering, and you're going up against the owner of this Tacoma whose headliner we're showing, you just lost a trophy. Follow along for the essentials on making your custom machine more appealing to show judges as well as onlookers who will critique your ride harder than anyone. For more information, contact Leather Trim Limited using the information in the source section of this article.

Everyone who drives our nation's highways has seen expensive cars and SUVs driving with headlights that, although not modified from stock, possess some of the brightest driving and headlights they've ever seen. About 10 years ago, many of the high-end automotive manufacturers began using a different type of system to power their product's headlamps.

When it comes to minitrucks, the whole "less is more" theory isn't really commonplace, except for maybe a clean daily driver. But generally speaking, we're always looking for more. That's what drives us: a need to go lower, more power, more air, more speakers; you name it, and we want more of it. Well, this kind of abuse from high-output air compressors, stereo systems, HID lights, and so on can really take a toll on your average 60- to 80-amp alternators. A quick solution is to run dual batteries, but even that will only take you so far. When you need serious power to quench your power-hungry mini and all of its equipment, it's a must to go with a premium high-output alternator like the 170-amp alternator from Powermaster Motorsports. This bad boy can operate a small city! Check it out to see just how quick and easy it is to get all the power you need for your air, stereo, portable blender, and whatever else you can throw in the bed of your minitruck. For more information, contact the companies listed in the source box.

By far, one of the hardest trucks to install shocks on once it has been 'bagged is the S-10. Fabricators have tried placing shocks in all kinds of areas in front of and behind the hub assembly. They've found there's just no such thing as an easy way to get shocks to work once an airbag has taken residence between the upper and lower control arms - the area once home to the stock coil spring and front shock.

In conclusion, these changes to your vehicle's front end will definitely create a completely new look, and your truck or SUV will have a great beginning to its life as a full-blown custom. Coming up with some rarely seen modifications is what keeps our industry constantly moving forward. We look forward to every year as some shows turn up some interesting ideas that cause others to think harder and dig deeper into the "wouldn't it be cool if" files. The '09 show season is coming up. Will you be ready?The companies listed below can meet your body modification needs and are invaluable resources when building a custom truck.

In this, our very first installment of the buildup of our 2002 project, a brand-new Nissan Frontier Desert Runner Supercharged V-6, we'll do one of the most radical modifications ever photographed. In this episode, you'll see the off-road-chassis-equipped Nissan (that means the suspension is both wider and hangs lower than a typical 2wd chassis to lay frame) be modified to lay out flat. From our efforts to slam the too-tall Frontier, we found out that this modification would work perfectly to bring a Nissan Pathfinder, a Nissan 4x4, or other vehicle with too much ground clearance down to the ground somewhat inexpensively. Despite what you might think, this isn't the most difficult process you've ever imagined, but it does take some seriously large cajones. For more information, please contact the companies that have assisted us in the buildup of the Frontier. If you want to see the finished product of our efforts, you'll have to wait until the next SEMA Show in Las Vegas rolls around in November. That's where you'll get to see the impossible made reality at the Primedia/Mini Truckin' booth at the show. Lucky for you, we'll be covering every aspect of the truck's progress right here.

Since Max is over there thinking he's all smart and things, how 'bout you have him tell me why my truck always vibrates so much when I'm out and about chasin' mud rats in the hills. I read sumthin' bout when the driveshaft angles are off and such that this might cause a little jitter here and there. And while he's at it, tell him that I want to know what is so dang important about the three-degrees pointing down at the rearend that I keep reading about. That part really makes no sense to me at all and really confuses the bejesus out of me!

Light The Way
The Rogue flashlight boasts a modern, truly innovative design that's backed by overwhelming light output. It's a sleek yet functional flashlight that allows users to cut through the darkness in style.
The high-quality super-efficient LED and rugged aerospace-grade aluminum body are virtually indestructible, while the O-rings seal out the elements so Rogue is always ready to go no matter the weather. The unique, open-architecture design is something never before seen in the consumer flashlight market. This design provides a solid grip, yet leaves hands cool and dry. At last, there's an affordable yet stylish flashlight that can wield intense, long-running LED light. For more information or to find a dealer near you, visit myiconlight.com.

Minitruckers strive to be different. The quest is to do something that no one else has done before or to do it better; that is what we live for.

Joel "Grommit" Sadenwasser is no stranger to hard work. He started his first business when he was a wee tyke at sixteen years old and began detailing rides for some extra coin.

For this installment of the Daily Dime, build we installed Suicidedoors.com control arms and front 'bag setup.

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