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Tired of your boring car? Accessories, such as seat covers, are a quick way of making your vehicle unique and more comfortable.

So my good buddy JT is a bit off a show off when it comes to his car. “Pimping it out” is what he likes to call it, but to me it seems more like a cry for attention.

Last week he came around driving his new dream machine - a Frankenstein creation which came bouncing up and down the street like something out of a rap video.

Like a true friend, I tried to hold in my laughter long enough to take a closer look. I started at the rear and walked all around the vehicle, trying to take it all in. Some of the accessories included a gold hood ornament (“to match my gold tooth, man” says JT), a sparkling grill, and of course those oh so tasteful spinning rims.

I could keep a straight face no longer.

“Those rims are so 2002,” I laughed.

But he kept his cool.

“Don’t be a hater– the ladies love them.”

Somehow I thought he was stretching the truth, but I admitted the car was definitely original, and I agreed to go with him for a spin around the block. I slid inside and we started cruising to some booming bass. The initial drive felt good, and I have to admit, we did get a few curious stares.

But, I quickly noticed a few things. Inside, the car was anything but comfortable. The plastic on the dashboard was smashed in, the frayed seats looked like someone had been chewing on them, and the backseat was piled high with fast food wrappers.

“Why don’t you pimp out the inside?” I asked.

“I’m totally broke,” he answered, “Plus, most people aren’t gonna see the inside.”

Later when I was looking at my own car, his words came back to me.
Now I’m kind of a low-key kind of guy, but when I looked at my grey Honda, I started thinking “why shouldn’t I pimp this baby out a little?” And if I was going to, why not pick something I myself could enjoy? After all, I’m the one who’ll be spending the most time in it and I’m not too concerned with what other people might think.

After browsing several popular car sites, my eyes were quickly opened to an enormous world of accessories that can turn a standard drive into a luxurious one in the blink of an eye.

What really caught my attention was the dizzying selection of custom seat covers that are available. Dozens of colors, textures and materials were available, in a wide range of prices. I was tempted to go for the Wet Okole Covers, which are waterproof–great for when I go surfing and am too lazy to change out of my wetsuit. My next choice was a so-called ‘canine cover’, which would protect the seats against the claw marks and hair from my two Dobermans. (Mercifully, these covers are also billed as waterproof.)

But then I saw these tailor-made sheepskin covers and I was instantly sold. They were fluffy to the touch, and amazingly, could stay warm in the winter months and cool in the summer. For the price of a few of showy external accessories, I could sink into a luxurious sheepskin cover every time I took a ride.

My next buy: a cargo liner for my trunk!

Make sure you check out some of these great cargo liners. And while you’re at it, check out these custom seat covers too.

Liners are a necessity for those who care about the condition and appearance of their truck beds. BedRug’s carpeted bed liners take this to the next level- offering a stain and skid resistant surface.

Not having a liner or truck mat at all is a sure recipe for disaster. Stains, scratches and other damage are inevitable for an unprotected truck bed. On the practical side, a liner is a must for hauling: whether a load of gravel, concrete blocks, or even a couple of dirtbikes for weekend racing. The safety and protection of the bed is important—not just for those who work in construction, but also for those who plan on moving lighter loads.

Now imagine this scenario: You are driving around randomly, when something possesses you to stop off at a garage sale– and before you know it, you’ve been talked into buying a glass-top coffee table and couple floor lamps– not to mention that ancient record player and stack of vinyls you just couldn’t resist! Hauling a load of cumbersome or fragile items like these is often an anxious experience, with every bump in the road feeling like a disaster waiting to happen. Damage that is caused by loose items is a very real danger to others on the road, but a major consideration is damage to the bed itself. This is when it comes in handy to have a liner with a carpet-like surface– to act as a soft buffer between objects and the bed, as well to prevent the these objects from shifting and sliding during sharp turns. This is essential for heavier objects which may be harmed and even do harm to the interior of the truck bed.

But a carpet can tear or become damaged easily, right? Luckily, some liners such as Wise Industries’ BedRug are made of a polypropylene resin which is mildew resistant and tough enough to merit a lifetime warranty by the manufacturer. The fuzzy appearance is deceiving, for the ‘carpet’ is extremely durable and puncture-proof. The liner can be removed quickly and be hosed down in the case of paint spills. Even oil, gasoline and acid will not stain its surface– a relief to those who constantly transport engine parts or construction equipment. The surface can be washed, left wet and left out uncovered. There’s also the bonus of having a liner which protects the inner sides and tailgate area—unlike standard bed mats which tend to only protect floor of the bed. Other standard floormats are indeed cheaper, but they do not offer the full range of benefits of the BedRug.

BedRug liners are easy to setup with installation usually taking under an hour. But the good news doesn’t stop there. Custom-made liners are available to fit trucks of any year and model. A quality liner ‘completes’ a truck’s look, demonstrates the owner’s care of the vehicle, and gives the feeling that that vehicle is ready to haul anything the world can throw in it…

The benefits extend to off time as well.

When the workweek is done, I definitely like to kick back and relax at a tailgate party, and this is when the comfort of a carpeted interior comes in really handy. The padding is very easy on the knees which is a major relief when clambering in to drag out a water cooler. And of course when the empty beer cans are piling up, friends who may have partied a little too hard will have someplace relaxing pass out!

BedRug is a great brand to explore–and while you’re at it, make sure you check out standard truck bed liners as well.

Feeling age creep up on you? A midlife crisis isn’t such a bad thing, if you know the right way to deal with it…

I just turned 45 last month and my life has changed a lot. I used to be the life of the party but over time I started to mellow out. I had just retired early and my wife left me for the pool guy so I felt like I needed some major changes in my life.

My hair has been really thinning, so the first thing to try was a new toupee. I hesitated at the door of the wig store, but finally stepped inside. The guy at the store was really persuasive. I tried on a ton of styles but finally walked out with an afro and a blonde mullet.

Next I had to find a foxy lady and so at 10pm I drove out to the club. I fluffed up my new afro and sucked in my gut and thought to myself: “What woman could resist this studmuffin?” Outside the club, there was a long line of beautiful people who were guided by velvet ropes to the entrance. I took my place and flashed my dazzling dentures at a trio of chicks behind me.

As we were waiting, I noticed an ogre-like bouncer at the doorway looking at everyone with suspicion. When someone approached, he would shine his tiny flashlight on their ID, size them up like he was going to eat them and then either push them out of line or lumber aside to allow them entrance.
When my turn came, I started fishing around for my wallet, but the ogre stopped me with his raspy laugh. “No problem for you pops,” he said, “You’ve gotta be as old as my grandpa”. The girls behind me must have heard him because they started giggling and I dove into the club to escape them.

Inside, it was dark and I felt disoriented. Lights were swirling everywhere and the bass was booming so loudly that I considered taking out my hearing aid.
“Hey baby,” I shouted to an attractive woman, gyrating my hip and trying to think of my best pickup line. But for some reason the woman shrieked and ran away. 

Just then I noticed a greasy looking guy in the corner motion to me. “Hey gramps, over here.” I pretended not to hear him, but he slithered over and pulled me aside. “I think I can help you my friend” he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a plastic baggie. Inside was what looked like a bunch of sweet tarts. Suddenly, it all fell into place. It must have been my bad breath that chased the girl off! And this man was kind enough to bring me some mints! For some reason he wanted a hundred dollars for the baggie but hey, there’s no time to haggle when you’re in the zone.

Just to be on the safe side I downed the whole bag and was back out on the dance floor.

I don’t remember much after that… From what I read on the news, a crazed man started a riot at the club and led cops on a high speed chase in a stolen corvette. Apparently, they never caught the guy, but whoever he was, he inspired me for my next purchase: a sports car with a new Gibson Exhaust system!

I’m gonna check out a Gibson Exhaust and Borla Exhaust system . Then I’ll be out again to rule the night!

Halloween can be a crazy time, especially if, like me, you never outgrow trick or treating.

Halloween is my favorite holiday. There’s nothing I love more than getting dressed up and going trick or treating. Ah yes, I should mention that I’m 31 years old.

When I turned 18, candy collection started getting much tougher. Little old ladies would lecture me on how I was too old, and some parents even slammed the door right in my face. Such discrimination…

But over the years I worked out a system – I would wear elaborate costumes that would conceal me entirely. When the homeowner tossed me a Milky Way, I would look at it with sorrow, and in my best falsetto reveal that I was sick and had only a week to live. I’d almost always get seconds, and sometimes they’d just dump the whole bowl into my hands and say that I was a brave little man. There are a lot of soft-hearted suckers out there, let me tell you!

I tested and perfected my system over the last decade and so far its yielded sackful upon sackful of the sweet stuff. I use this precious loot to sustain me during the long hours at my job (professional Warcraft consultant).

But this year was different. On my big night, I realized I had a major dilemma on my hands. Yes, I was now 600 pounds and had no teeth. But even worse, none of my old costumes seemed to fit anymore! Strewn on my bedroom floor were years worth of memories—-there, my Jedi robes now ripped to tatters, and there, my latex Captain Picard mask, exploded and fit to command no more. My girth had laid waste to them all.

Even the holy of holies– my mint condition Batman outfit worn by Adam West, lay there hideously distended and a disgrace to the caped crusader. In desperation, I grabbed a king-sized bedsheet with cut-out eye holes, but when I threw it over my head, it barely flowed down to my regal man-boobs.

I wept, and ate my last pack of milk duds for courage. Man, time sure passes fast when you’re chewing. 7pm rolled around and I was out of ideas.

Just then the doorbell rang and I opened it to a bunch of kids in costume.

“Trick or tr—,” they began and then started screaming and pointing at me. “The blob!” they shrieked, dropping their candy and running away.
 
Now, I get this reaction all the time when I leave my house and so I wasn’t too offended. But as I picked up the scattered candy, I got an idea…

That night, a fearsome blob was seen terrorizing several parts of the town, surprising unsuspecting trick-or-treaters and making off with their candy. The culprit was never caught…

Back in my room, I was jubilant. My bed was piled high with a mountain of Snickers bars and my closet was full to bursting with Reese’s Pieces. I was just about to drink down a mugful of victory Skittles when I glanced out my window and saw a horrifying apparition in my driveway. It was a man who wore a disturbing rabbit costume and stared straight at me. He spoke to me telepathically in a mesmerizing voice, commanding me to come forth. In a daze, I waddled outside into the cold air, utterly hypnotized.

Just then, the jet engine from a 737 crashed from the sky through my roof—right where I had been sitting a moment before! A fireball burst from the house shaking the whole neighborhood. I dived across the grass and scrambled into my Ford Pinto. Dust and debris rained down all around me. This was surely karma. I trembled, and barfed up a rainbow of my ill-gotten gains all over my car floor mats. With tears in my eyes, I looked around for my savior, but he was gone.

The rabbit-man had saved my life. It was a sign.

Nowadays, my lifestyle is totally different. I’ve changed my ways. I drink Slim Fast everyday and can’t look at a Tootsie Roll without crying. And you can be sure I bought a new rubber Husky Cargo Liner and Husky Floor Liners for my car!