Archive for June, 2010

Truck Nerf Bars Have Differences – 3 Things to Help You Make the Right Choice

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
Stainless Nerf Bars / Side Step Bars

Stainless Nerf Bars / Side Step Bars

Looking for a set of new chrome or stainless steel nerf bars for your truck can be daunting. What are the real differences? The first thing to look at is the length of nerf bar. There are two types types – ‘cab mount’ and ‘wheel to wheel’ bars and are also referred to as ‘truck side bars’ or ‘truck side steps’.

First, a standard set of nerf bars fit under the cab of the vehicle only, and are referred to as ‘cab mount’. These truck step bars are meant to help you in and out of the vehicle only and although may look nice, will provide you with something to step on when you get in and out of the vehicle.

Each step bar has a pad at each door opening to help prevent you from slipping, and to provide a flat surface for you to step up on. These cab mount side bars usually bolt right up to factory holes that already exist, so the installation does not require drilling, and they are relatively easy install.

The other style on the market are called wheel to wheel nerf bars, and they fit exactly that way – wheel-to-wheel. This means that the nerf bars will now fit underneath of the truck bed itself as well as under the cab of the truck. The advantage of this is that you now have a step to get up into the bed of the truck, usually beneficial for someone working out of the back of their truck on a regular basis.

If your truck is a dually pickup, you would want to get a dually style nerf bar that flares out in the rear where they meet up with the dually flare. This gives a much better appearance as well as being more practical for the user. The wheel to wheel nerf bars still mount only under the cab itself. One would think that these would mount under the truck bed as well, but they do not. If they mounted underneath of the truck bed they would eventually get twisted and bent due to the nature of the truck bed itself twisting and turning along with the suspension when going over curbs, etc.

Last, if you want your bars to last buy only stainless steel nerf bars. These have all of the appearance of shiny chrome, but they are solid and highly polished and will not rust or peel. These will probably last as long as your truck.

Chrome nerf bars and black side steps are plated or powder coated over regular steel and if chipped or even scratched, they can eventually rust on you. If they start to rust they would most likely start peeling the chrome plating.

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How an Automated Lambo Door Kit Works

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Lambo Door Automated Upgrade Package

Lambo Door Automated Upgrade Package

Lots of people are converting the doors on their cars or trucks to a style similar to those found on a Lamborghini. They like the way the Lamborghini doors open, and they are able to lift them up in the air like a scissor hinge, also sometimes referred to as gullwing doors. These lambo hinges are commonly referred to in the industry as a Lambo Hinge Kits.

Most lambo hinge kits are manually operated, meaning that to operate the door you will need to pull the door handle yourself, pulling towards you and then lifting the door up yourself. The door does open easily if the hinges are installed properly because there are gas assisted struts installed with the lambo kit that will assist in the raising and lowering of the doors.

However, some people want a fully automated Lambo Kit, whereas you are able to just push a button and have your doors automatically open and raise or lower all by themselves.

Usually it takes a custom shop or restoration shop to install this type of installation because it sometimes requires welding. But if you want your lambo doors to be fully automatic, then this is what you will most likely need to get the job done right:

  1. Two Linear Actuators – These are the motors that will raise and lower your door.
  2. Shaved Door Handle Kit - This is the device that will operate your handles for you.
  3. Two Door Poppers - These are spring loaded devices that will push your door out from the door jam once opened.
  4. Keyless Entry System - This must have a minimum of 6 channels available.
  5. Miscellaneous brackets and hardware.

Once installed the automated lambo door kit should work like this:
By pushing a pre-programmed button on your remote, you will activate the shaved door handle kit, thus releasing the door from the latch. At the same time the door popper pushes the door out of the jam. Then, pushing another button will activate the linear actuator and raise the door for you.

If the door is now up, you can push a button on the remote and fully lower the door. The only manual part in this operation is that you will need to push or pull the doors back into the closed and latched position. There are no automated lambo door kits available on the market as of today that will reach out and pull the door in for you.

Many companies sell parts separately, but you will find a much better deal on the internet if you can just buy the automated lambo kits in a package. Customautotrim.com provides packages like this for you. Buying a lambo hinge conversion package will no doubt save you money, as well as saving you from a headache in trying to locate all of these parts yourself.

There are lots of parts required to make these lambo kits operational, and I really again advise that only a professional shop do this installation for you as they are complicated to install. This is not a job that you want to do yourself at home in your driveway. This job is for a professional only.

Custom Auto Trim specializes in body kits and Lambo Door Kits, and is based in San Diego CA. Find more information on auto accessories

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