Automakers turn out some awesome trucks these days. Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1600, Ram 1500, Nisan Titan, Toyota Tundra: these are some extremely nice vehicles. And you can order them with a wide array of options. But, for some, that’s still not enough.

Some have older trucks – from a 2015 model back to … well, all the way back to the 1918 Dodge, the first pickup truck built, and built on behalf of the U.S. Army. OK, you may not want to modify a classic truck, such as that; some of those older classics have far more value if they are original and the more original the better. But, you may also have an older truck that you’d really like to modify.

To modify a pickup truck, there are some things you’ll want to do along the way.

• The first step is to consider the options. You need to picture what your truck can become before you can create it. Well, you don’t have to but, if you don’t, you’re more likely to end up with a haphazardly finished product. In other words, some planning can go a long way.
• The next step is to consider how you’ll use your truck. For instance, if you plan to do some serious off-road trucking you may not want to invest as much in, say, a custom wrap job, unless you’re willing to beat the wrap job up a bit along the way. If you do plan to take it offroad often, you’ll definitely want to pay critical attention to the suspension, tires and a solid lift kit that’s properly installed. If you goal is a true show truck, the tires, suspension and lift kit may be part of the process but you’ll also want to consider some aesthetic touches that really set your truck apart from the others.
• The next, you’ll want to determine your budget. How much can you, or will you, spend to modify your truck – to turn it into your dream truck?
• Next, you’ll want to determine what you can or should do yourself modifying your truck and in what areas you’ll want to turn to a professional auto technician you can trust. This will also figure into your budget, obviously.
• You’ll want to consider the availability of parts – a far more crucial factor if you have an older truck. Fortunately, there is generally an abundance of parts available for a wide array of truck makes. 
• Next, you’ll want to start designing. There are sites all over the internet offering parts and options to modify your truck. Most will offer options for exterior truck modifications, interior truck modifications, performance truck modifications and suspension truck modifications. Almost anything you can think of is available for your truck.

Body wraps offer an incredible way to personalize your truck when you begin your truck modification project. As Daniel Florek, of Twin Lakes, Wis., based Vindictive Vinyl puts it, “We can create a body wrap to fit almost any design. And, if you need the help, we can also create the design for you.”

It pays to mention again: be careful that you’re up to the work you plan to do yourself. In a recent post, we discussed how someone decided to install his own lift kit but failed to modify the driveshaft accordingly. He was later seen on the side of the road with his driveshaft hanging on the ground.

The point is that it’s okay to work on your truck modification but you don’t want to get in over your head. And you want the work done right. A quality auto repair shop with experience modifying trucks can go a long way to ensuring that your truck is everything you hoped it would be.