Flatspotting is the condition tires suffer when parked on a flat surface too long. With luck, driving a short distance will round out the tire, returning it to full usage. But the possibility exists that the tire's belting and casing will be affected, ruining the tire. Park your vehicle on a set of TireCradles and the high-density integral-skin polyurethane-foam pads keep tires insulated from ground temperatures as well as redistributing the vehicle's weight. $299. St. Barsabas, Inc., 717/632-9587.www.tirecradle.com
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With rear visibility in a pickup, van, or SUV limited to large objects, the Micro 3 Bak-Talk acoustic detector system can prevent all sorts of tragedies by notifying in spoken English or Spanish the distance (in feet and inches) of items directly behind a vehicle. It works in daylight or dark, has a range up to 8 ft, and can see through fog, smoke, rain, and snow. Installed by an authorized technician who comes to your vehicle, the process takes about 45 minutes. Pricing starts at $495. American Dealer Services, Inc., 888/325-5756.
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Most pickup owners have placed items in the bed only to hear them sliding around back there with every turn. If they had the E-Z Load Gate, an easily installed restraint system in a cargo box, the eggs wouldn't be scrambled before they got home. The E-Z Load Gate is adjustable from front to back and side to side, making it useable in virtually any pickup truck. It folds flat out of the way when not needed and even comes with tie-downs for securing larger loads. It sells for only $99. E-Z Load Gate, Inc., 407/695-1978. www.ezloadgate.com
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Get a kick out of sliding around a snowy parking lot, pretending you're off-road racing? Then pop this VHS tape, "Never Lift," into the player and get a serious vicarious thrill as racing legend Curt LeDuc turns various off-road racing vehicles into low-flying projectiles. Seemingly defying the laws of physics, he gets into and out of some incredible situations. The high-energy soundtrack sets the tone for racing in Baja, Pikes Peak, Paris/Dakar, and anywhere he can get airborne. $25. Peak Productions, 805/383-9637.www.neverlift.com
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Slowing a heavily laden truck on a grade can tax any brake system. Banks Engineering's SmartLock Trans Brake is reported to improve the transmission's holding capacity while braking, as well as preventing excessive slippage. Basically, the electronic unit automatically locks the torque converter and increases the transmission-line pressure above 1600 psi. Prices start at $395. Gale Banks Engineering, 800/438-7693.www.bankspower.com
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For a good time, try loading a Harley-Davidson motorcycle into the bed of a pickup -- solo. For an expletive-free job, your truck may need a ramp system that mounts in the bed floor. This particular setup raises the floor four inches. Under the rugged steel is an extendable/retractable ramp that allows a single individual to load/unload a pickup. It's available for short and regular bed lengths, and pricing starts at $699. Load Pro, 877/562-3776.
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While small trucks have had a seemingly endless supply of aftermarket accessories to allow owners to personalize their vehicles, large trucks have been given short shrift. No more. Boyd Coddington's added the Infusion 3⁄4-ton series to its lineup of aluminum wheels. Available up to 22 in., they're certified to 3800 lb, exceeding manufacture and DOT load-carrying capacities. Retail at $462. Boyd Coddington, 888/254-3400.www.boydcoddington.com
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