SWITCHING TRUCKS LIKE A PAIR OF SHOES

EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN WAY OF DOING THINGS, AND IT’S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE REACT TO FINISHING THEIR TRUCK BUILDS. I remember when I first got into the custom truck scene and met the owners of the most memorable rides at the time. Some of them had fresh builds and were completely pumped up about them. And how could they not be excited? Debuting a full custom truck is the moment of glory in the build process. Having people swarm around the fruit of your labor at a show is something we all dream about. Even if you aren’t the type who needs the approval of others, it’s still cool when people admire your work. Heck, it’s awesome just to get a simple thumbs-up when you’re driving around.

One thing that stood out when I met some of these truck builders was how over their trucks they were. It was weird to have such admiration for their handiwork only to discover that the owner/builders were completely bored with their creations. I couldn’t comprehend how anyone could lose interest in such badass trucks. Of course, I was new to everything and didn’t realize what was going on inside these guys’ heads.

For anyone with a vision and the means to build a custom truck, it’s hard not to constantly innovate and create new things. For a lot of builders, it’s all about being ahead of the curve and outshining the competition. In some cases, builders care about seeing ideas implemented on a build and making heads turn even if their truck isn’t finished; while others want to see their trucks compete at shows and then call it a day.

In my time in the scene, I’ve talked to many different builders, but I’m still shocked by the “turn and burn” crowd. Building up a truck just to get rid of it without ever enjoying the finished product baffles me. These builders get their enjoyment from the build itself and just don’t care about showing them off.

I realize the excitement of owning a finished truck fades with time. We all deal with this in our own way, and sometimes we can hold on to our enthusiasm for quite a while, but not always. Now that I have finished my own showstopper, I can relate to the builders I met early on who’d lost that loving feeling. I still like my truck, but I’m definitely not as excited about it as I was when it was first finished.

I recently dusted off my truck and took it for a spin. As I got on the highway and noticed people staring, I got that good feeling again. It proved to me that if we see our trucks regularly, we forget how cool they really are. Sometimes it’s best to clean up your truck and take it for a spin. Take the time to really enjoy your ride and rekindle your romance.