Special Features

Visor Buyer’s Guide

- April 09, 2010

A sun visor is such a simple part, yet it can be far from easy when it comes to buying one. To make your custom upgrade as smooth as possible, here’re some helpful suggestions to both identify the one perfect sun visor for your custom rig and the conditions in which it’s used.

Back Pages: Ted Streit

- March 11, 2010

Mercer-leased over-the-road owner-operator and Fast Transport custom shop owner Ted Streit is on a quest to find the right Allis-Chalmers engine for his 1970 Kenworth W900A...

DIY: Custom Speaker Box

- March 01, 2010

Do- It-Yourself WOOFER POWER Fabricating a ported subwoofer  enclosure for maximum bass with minimum cost By Cesar Alvarez (Photos by Bruce W. Smith) One of the attributes of a pro-level sound system is its ability to produce crisp, clean notes with the power to seemingly shake the earth. Such acoustic energy is a product not of the speakers or the amps powering them, but rather the speaker enclosures and how they are tuned for the vehicle in which they are mounted. This is especially true of a ...

Plasma Cutter Buyer's Guide

- February 26, 2010

You can use plasma cutters on bumpers, on taillight bars, frames, cab structures, exhaust systems and mirror brackets – just about anywhere where a hole saw, hacksaw, or cut-off saw is too slow or too awkward. Fast and clean, a plasma cutter could move to the top of your metal cutting tool wish list.

Buyer’s Guide: Steering Wheels

- February 24, 2010

Thinking of adding a custom steering wheel? Then our steering wheel buyer's guide is a must-read. Few items on a custom rig makes as much of a statement to the owner about their truck than the steering wheel. It’s what the owner hold’s on to day in and day out and casts an eye toward innumerable times during a driving stint. It’s also the one singular item that catches the attention of all those who peek inside the cab. So ...

Welder Comparison Chart

- February 05, 2010

Welder Comparison Chart Which is best for your custom fab job: MIG, TIG, FCAW or Stick? by Larry D. Walton You don’t have to look very hard to find welds on your rig and probably don’t have to think long to remember the last time you needed some welding done on one of your custom projects. Welding is as much a part of owning a custom rig as polishing. Many of us remember all the old stick welders you could find in practically every ...

Custom Heavy Haulers

- January 07, 2010

No matter how or where they're used, owner-operators take pride in their rides. Take a look at these five tricked-out heavy haulers--customized for both looks and performance. All five of these off-road workhorses haul heavy loads over rough terrain, and all five have earned bragging rights at big league truck shows.

KW Door Window Visor How-To

- November 09, 2009

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Do-It-Yourself Custom KW Door Window Trim Give your Kenworth’s cab the chopped look by adding upper window trim panels A popular customizing trend  among KW owners is adding a painted trim piece to the top of the door window frame to give  the cab a chopped look. The trim fits along the door lip at the top of window without interrupting the window operation and there are a number of aftermarket stainless offerings available. (Prices range from $90-$120 pair.) But if you are ...

Pro Tips: Amplifier Install

- October 05, 2009

It's not the least bit unusual to find a pair of high-end amps, colorful wiring, and maybe even a couple "caps" neatly displayed. Truckers love their stereos and they love keeping up with the times. Some of the systems have been professionally installed, while other installations are the works of a do-it-yourselfer. Both function perfectly if done right. If the installation isn't done correctly, well, wasted money follows wasted time. Here's how to make the most of what you have...