Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2023 i Street Trucks

BY NOW YOU’RE PROBABLY SAYING TO YOURSELF, “I’M JUST SO SICK AND TIRED OF STREET TRUCKS FEATURING SO MANY INTERNATIONAL SCOUTS! Why don’t they just make up a magazine for Scouts, call it ‘Scout Buyer’s Guide’ or something, and get back to featuring Chevys every once in a while?” Yeah, we hear you—we’re sick of them, too! Maybe if you guys stop building so many of them, we’ll stop featuring them! WHEN Randy decided to reimagine his own ’69 Scout 800, he really took that quality and performance part to heart, incorporating his own interpretation of what those things meant in the 21st century. All joking aside, when is the last time you saw a lowered Scout, let alone one set up for serious performance? Randy Weaver of Weaver Customs…

TOWING A TRAILER IS A PRETTY BASIC FUNCTION OF A LOT OF TRUCKS ON THE ROAD TODAY. Whether it’s a boat, a camper, a small utility trailer for yard work, or, in the case of many of our readers, a car trailer, having something hooked to the receiver is common. A lot of times, if the tongue weight is too much or if the load itself is excessively heavy, the rear of the truck can squat. No one likes riding around looking like one of the squatted kids, but that’s part of towing a trailer sometimes. Not only does this look bad, but it’s extremely unsafe. Having your truck sit level, especially with the extra weight of a trailer, makes driving and, more importantly, stopping easier. This can also apply…

THE OLD SAYING, “THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM,” HAS BEEN AROUND FOREVER IT SEEMS. Sometimes it hints toward it taking three times of trying to complete a task, or it could mean that the third time you do something, you get it right. For Justin Wyatt from Blountville, Tennessee, both of those reasons make sense. Justin bought the 1992 Mitsubishi Mighty Max you see here back in 1998 when he was 16 years old to tinker on with his friends and make it cooler than the stock version. Little did he know that 25 years later, he would still have the truck, and it would look nothing like it did on Day One. BREAKING IT DOWN So, about those 25 years of ownership, let’s break it down since there is a…

WHEN IT COMES TO BRAND-SPECIFIC TRUCK SHOWS ON THE EAST COAST, ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE SOUTHEASTERN TRUCK NATIONALS HELD IN LEBANON, TENNESSEE, EARLY JULY EACH YEAR. This show is open to all GM trucks and SUVs and, as their website says, “No cars and definitely no Fords.” Just a little jab at the “other” guys keeps the camaraderie fun. Presented by US Mags, this year’s event was the 13th annual show. It was held at the Wilson County Fairgrounds on July 7-8. The event not only had a huge show field, but it also had a big swap meet area as well as a big camping compound packed with tons of RVs. As far as the show field is concerned, it wrapped all over the fairgrounds with…

2024 TOYOTA 4RUNNER: RUGGED CAPABILITY WITH more than 40 years of sales under its belt, the Toyota 4Runner has carved out a special place in the SUV segment. For 2024, the 4Runner TRD Pro receives a two all-new exclusive colors, Terra and Underground. With room for up to seven, the fifth-generation 4Runner remains the most capable of its proud family tree, and it is also the most accommodating and most comfortable. 4Runner grades for 2024 include the SR5, SR5 Premium, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, Limited, and TRD Pro. A 270-horsepower DOHC 4.0-liter V-6 engine with 278 ft-lbs of peak torque gives 4Runner plenty of get-up-and-go. The engine’s Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) helps optimize torque across the engine’s operating range responsiveness in a variety…

THE FORD F-150 LIGHTNING WAS AND STILL IS A VERY EXCITING PERFORMANCE-BASED PICKUP MODEL. The inaugural 1993 first-gen model was introduced as a direct response to take on two hopped-up rivals in the OEM performance truck segment—the GMC Syclone and the Chevrolet 454SS. This was a grand time when consumers were introduced to a factory-direct combination of muscle car action in the shape of a pickup truck. Mix this in with the beginning stages of the custom sport truck scene in the early ’90s, and we had the makings of a perfect storm within the custom auto industry. The days of trucks serving as mere oafish utility vehicles were officially over from this era forward. While many customized first-gen Ford Lightnings have surfaced since their initial release, we have yet…

WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TRADITION? Many remember a yearly family reunion. Others relive fond memories of the guys’ night out that created memories lasting a lifetime. In Canton, Georgia, last July, the Southern Tradition crew continued making memories for their fourth year, bringing together like-minded automotive enthusiasts from across the country who were showing amazing rides ranging from high to low, mild to radical, and everything in between. Laying out at the Etowah River Park was an impressive spread of custom rides and cool conversations, with HammerD Weekend Wear in the VIP spot slinging killer merchandise as you walked down the sidewalk. DJ Maze dropped the beats all weekend, providing the perfect soundtrack for showgoers to relax and soak in the laid-back atmosphere. The wide-open show…

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! The holidays are upon us, as is the stress of figuring out what to buy for others. More importantly, it’s also prime time to fine tune and finalize your own gift wish list. That’s right—there’s nothing wrong with asking Santa or your significant others and kids for something nice for yourself or, better yet, your project truck. Remember, it’s also 100% OK to treat yourself during this very special time. Don’t let any grinches out there tell you any differently! Buying and receiving gift cards is acceptable, but allow us to help point you in the direction of much more meaningful and thoughtful gift ideas. From useful personal items to a brand-new set of wheels or a high-end custom chassis system, we’ve collected a…

AS THE SHOW SEASON HEATS UP WITH SHOWS DURING THE SUMMER, TOM POLLIO AND HIS GROUNDED 4 LIFE CREW HEAT UP THE HOTTEST SHOW IN PENNSYLVANIA. One Day Slam is on its 20th year. After two years of covering this wonderful event, I recognize the passion and dedication of the show staff and participants. Everywhere you look, you see pets, families, and clubs hanging out with other clubs as one big family! This year was one of the biggest years yet with over 500 show participants in Bristol, Pennsylvania, at the Bristol Township Park. One Day Slam had awards of all varieties to give out! They had more than 40 Club Choice plaques and over 50 specialty awards, too. Tom Pollio and his crew want to thank all of these…

INSPIRATION FOR TRUCK BUILDS CAN COME FROM THE STRANGEST PLACES. For Eric Larosa, inspiration came from the sleek appearance of Stormtroopers from Star Wars. The stark contrast of black and white is certainly drastic, yet the colors also somehow complement each other perfectly. We actually think building your truck like a Stormtrooper is a brilliant way of making sure your truck won’t get in an accident—after all, Stormtroopers never hit anything! But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves here. In order for Eric to build the truck, he first had to buy the truck. And in order to buy the truck, he had to move clear across the country. SOME of the bodywork had already been done, and the truck even had a fresh 350 engine and a Turbo…

THE build took Steven just about three months to finish, and since his F-450 has been completed, it has visited the largest shows in the country. FOR THOSE WHO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE WORLD OF DIESEL TRUCKS, THE LIBERTY FORGED BRAND IS MOST LIKELY VERY WELL KNOWN—ESPECIALLY IN THE SEGMENT OF BADASS WHEELS. Steven Statton is the head of operation and sales at Liberty, and he has built a company that offers some of the most incredible wheels for lifted truck applications. A huge part of its success is due, in part, to Liberty’s roots in the aerospace industry. Steven’s father, Kenny, has owned a CNC machine shop that they now operate together called MST Manufacturing, which specializes in aerospace and defense flight-critical wing components. With a history this…