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Outfitting your car with exterior accessories like spoilers and rear bumpers can make it look cooler, while others, such as rear bumpers and headlights and taillights make it safer. The range of exterior car accessories is limitless, and which ones you decide to equip your car with will depend on what you’re aiming to improve. That being said, here are the most popular aftermarket exterior accessories and what their purpose is.

Spoilers

A spoiler is typically found on the rear end of a car and serves as an aerodynamic aid by increasing wind resistance. While they do look cool, make sure your vehicle actually needs a spoiler before installing one. If not, the added weight might make it harder for your car to stop. Also, spoilers should be made of lightweight and durable materials like plastic or fibreglass to avoid excessive weight. 
There are many different types of spoilers, including:

  • Wing spoilers 
  • Low profile spoilers
  • Lip spoilers 
  • Blade style spoilers 
  • Dropped spoilers
rear spoiler
source: mps-engineering.de

Rear Bumpers

Rear bumpers are found on the back end of cars and trucks to protect them from collisions. While they do look cool when installed on custom vehicles, make sure you’re getting a quality rear bumper that’s durable enough to withstand impacts without damaging your vehicle’s body or paint job.

Headlights and Taillights

Outfitting your car with aftermarket headlights and taillights is a great way to customize the look of your vehicle, but it’s important that you get parts from reputable manufacturers like N-fab. Replacement headlights and taillights from N-fab are made with durable materials that can withstand harsh road conditions without compromising the safety of you or your passengers. 

headlights
source: rac.co.uk

Grille Inserts

A grille insert is typically used for aesthetic purposes, but it can also improve airflow. If you’re installing a grille insert on your vehicle, make sure that it’s made of lightweight materials like aluminium or plastic so that it won’t impede the flow of air through your car’s radiator and block out too much sunlight. 

There are a few different types of aftermarket grille inserts, such as mesh grilles and louver inserts. 
Mesh grilles are made with mesh or metal blades that can be adjusted to block out sunlight, or removed altogether for improved airflow when driving in hotter climates. They’re also used as a means of protecting the radiator from debris.
Louver inserts are typically found on trucks and SUVs, but they can also be installed on sedans and sports cars. These types of grille inserts have slats that can be adjusted to allow more or less airflow as needed.

grille inserts
source: fortec4x4.com

Shark Fin Kits and Wings

A wing is a type of aerodynamic accessory that’s installed on the rear end of cars and trucks, usually on the trunk lid or hatchback. It’s designed to improve airflow around your vehicle, so when installing one, make sure it’s made from lightweight materials like carbon fibre or aluminium so that it doesn’t add too much weight to your car. 

Rear Aprons

These exterior car accessories are typically found on the back end of trucks and SUVs, to protect them from getting hit. Rear aprons are made with lightweight materials that can withstand impacts without damaging your vehicle’s body or paint job. They are usually made of plastic or fiberglass, and they are designed to protect the back of your car from bumps and scrapes.

rear aprons
source: tuningblog.eu

Rear Roof Bumpers 

Rear roof bumpers are typically found on pickup trucks and SUVs because they help prevent cargo from sliding off when you’re driving around corners. They’re also great for protecting your vehicle from damage in case it gets hit from behind. This can help prevent serious damage to your car, and it can also help keep you safe in the event of an accident.

Weathershields and Wind Visors 

These accessories are multi-functional. They help keep your car cool in the summer by blocking out sunlight and preventing wind from getting into your vehicle’s cabin. In addition, they can also help keep your car warm in the winter by insulating against the cold. This is especially important if you live in an area with very cold winters, as it can help prevent your car from freezing and becoming inoperable. 

wind visors
source: weathertech.com

Fender Vents and Scoops

Fender vents and scoops are used to improve airflow, but they also make your vehicle look cooler. If you’re looking for a way to customize the appearance of your car or truck, these types of exterior accessories can help with that. They come in a variety of colours and designs so that you’ll be able to find something that suits the style of your vehicle. 

fender vents
source: streetfaction.net

Headlight Covers

While headlight covers aren’t essential, they do make your vehicle look cooler. These types of exterior accessories are popular among car enthusiasts, and they’re also used by people who want to make their vehicle stand out from the crowd. They come in a variety of designs and colours so that you’ll be able to find something that suits your taste as well as the look of your vehicle. 

headlight covers
source: weathertech.com

Getting more out of your car isn’t as hard as it seems. All it takes is a few performance parts to increase horsepower and torque numbers. These will get you better acceleration times off the mark and higher top speeds. All engines have a bit more to give, and well-thought-out additions will get the blood pumping each time you put the pedal down.   

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Introduced as a locally-designed car way back in 2011, the PX Ford Ranger has seen blistering sales reminiscent of Blue Oval favourites of the past. A few facelifts along the way have freshened up looks and added a little tech to what is an already capable vehicle on and off the tarmac. For anyone still hoarding their cash, there’s also the replacement next-gen 2023 Ranger just hitting showrooms.  

The ute’s popularity has also spawned a huge aftermarket. Buyers have the option of increasing space and carrying capacity by adding a suitable roof rack for the different cab designs, as well as increasing front-end protection with an aftermarket and ADR-approved bull bar for Ford Ranger. These are the necessary exterior accessories for a car that’s meant to be battered in all manner of driving conditions and be loaded to the brim with gear while doing so.  

Ford Ranger, Bull Bar
Source: ocamindustries.com.au

Why Consider Bull Bars? 

The main purpose of the bull bars is to protect the entire front end of the car, including the headlights, during collisions with other vehicles. And they do a fine job when off-road, brushing off any roos or bigger wildlife that can easily disable the vehicle. The same settings are littered with rocks, ruts, and branches that have the propensity to pierce engine parts and cause irreversible damage. Bull bars are built of sturdy metals, have been real-world tested to absorb high impact, and will still stay intact no matter what they come up against.  

This is the protective side of things, but a well-appointed bull bar also extends usability. Built-in winch cradles let you fit an aftermarket winch which you’ll use in cases where the ute is bogged down. The same goes for recovery points, to pull your Ranger out of a rut. Other useful additions include driving lights that can be mounted on the bull bar to increase visibility. To complete the off-roading credentials, bull bars offer better approach angles than your stock front bumper when tackling tough terrain.  

Lastly, think of the rugged and ready looks a bull bar gives off. This is how utes should be shipped straight out of the factory.  

Ford Ranger, 4x4, Bull Bar, Wench
Source: ocamindustries.com.au

What to Look for? 

Designs 

How the bar looks, and to a large extent the protection it provides, boils down to the design. Old-school triple hoops do offer a lot in the way of safeguarding vital engine components and the headlights but may look outdated to some buyers. Simpler single-hoop designs are also smaller but leave the radiator exposed. Newer hoop-less variants sit further down and have appointed winch cradles and enough metal to shield all engine parts. They also provide a sturdy base for heavier bash plates or underbody armour.  

Materials  

If you’re after optimal strength, then go for bull bars made of high-grade steel. These should be on any Ranger that sees more of its fair share of outback duty. Steel bars won’t dent in animal strikes or rupture when hitting sharp rocks. Overall strength though depends on how separate parts are put together. Look for seamless welds and thicker metal components in parts tasked to take the hit.  

Any steel bull bar for Ford Ranger is simple to maintain, needing a quick hosing down to get rid of built-up dust. Additional coatings and paint will mean that it lasts longer, so no issues with rust or staining. The only downside is the weight. Steel bars are almost twice as heavy as comparable aluminium bull bars, so may require some adjustments to the front suspension.  

Newer aluminium alloy bars come close to the strength seen in steel, but not quite. They make up for this by being up to 40 per cent lighter and won’t impact steering and handling as much. In addition, aluminium has better corrosion resistance, doesn’t require additional treatment or coatings, and has a polished look. Prices are similar, or slightly more than what you’d pay for a fully-specced steel variant.  

Ford Ranger, Pickup Truck, Bull Bar
Source: wikimedia.org

Accessories 

Different designs let you fit a range of accessories. Driving lights, light bars and antennas are just some of the necessities that most drivers use, especially when off-road. For lights, look for the appropriate mounting holes, and for antennas, match tabs. Integrated fog lights with quality LEDs are a nice touch. Anyone needing both front and side protection will also want side brush bars and side steps. To fit these, ensure that the bull you choose for your Ford Ranger has outer tubes. Look for the same provisions if you’re getting skid or bash plates.  

Any Ranger bull bar with included recovery tow points is also worth considering. This also applies to bars that can accommodate the use of a high-lift jack.  

Compatibility and Installation 

ADR-approved bull bars mean that these fit the exact contours of the Ranger front, without protruding too far out in any direction. It also means that they won’t interfere with the activation of airbags in the case of collisions. Bars tailored specifically for the Ranger will be easy to get right, so installation is also straightforward. For the best fitment (and any adjustments to the suspension and/or steering) get this done at your local mechanic.

If you’re having trouble opening and closing the windows in your car, it might have to do with a broken window regulator. It’s a part that not many people are aware of, yet plays a crucial role in the comfort and convenience of using their vehicle. That being said, I’ll let you in on everything you need to know about window regulators, and how to find the ideal replacement car door window replacement parts, in case yours is faulty.

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If you’re looking to improve the throttle response of your RG Colorado so you can have an easier time towing that heavy campervan, or just want an extra push when off-roading, there are a couple of different ways to do it. Many people think that the throttle response comes down to their vehicle’s engine or air intake, both of which aren’t true. Throttle response is the correlation between pressing the gas pedal and the engine’s response to the input. The less pressure you have to apply to the pedal to get your Colorado moving, the more you will improve your throttle response.

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I think we can all agree that camping is a great activity for the entire family. But once you’re done exploring Mother Nature and get back home, you probably know how important it is to keep your caravan away from dirt, tree sap, bird droppings, rain and any other damages that can occur. But truth be told, not all of us are lucky to have a spacious garage or suitable extension for keeping our caravans protected, and this is the moment when covers for caravans come in.

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Compacts and city cars never really took off in Australia like they did in Europe or Japan. We have different roads, and a huge landmass, so the shift to larger SUVs and 4WDs is more than expected. And this shows in the model lineups of almost every brand sold down under. Carmakers are quietly axing smaller cars. Possibly because of lower profit margins or the gradual shift in driver taste. Or a combination of both. Either way, even the few models remaining have seen huge price increases.

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For many of us, cars aren’t just personal possessions. They’re a part of our identity and something we rely on and use every day. Because of this, it’s no wonder that we should take good care of our cars, making sure that everything is in order, clean, that the car is parked in a safe space, and so on. Still, as is the case with many things we identify with, there is always a desire to make our car stand out from the crowd and display our uniqueness. After all, we all buy factory-made vehicles which are all the same, so the urge is completely justified.

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Cars that have engines powered by petrol or diesel work because of a thing called internal combustion. Internal combustion works by creating and using a chemical reaction to move the engine’s mechanical parts. This chemical reaction is caused by a spark from the spark plug igniting the fuel which becomes very flammable when mixed with oxygen, thus causing an expansion of high temperatures and pressure that applies direct force to the engine components. This pressure effectively turns the chemical energy into mechanical energy. This is why an air filter is such an integral part of any car, since it has the task of cleaning the air that the engine takes in.

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Drivers often times neglect what’s happening under their cars in favour of what’s happening under their hoods, and little do they know that the two parts are tightly connected and relevant to each other in how they perform. This is quite a shame really, as the exhaust system which runs underneath the vehicle itself from the engine to the exhaust tip, can impact the entire vehicle. Upgrading your stock exhaust system with a well made performance aftermarket exhaust system can make a huge difference. The exhaust affects the performance of everything – from fuel economy, to horsepower and how the car sounds.

dump pipe exhaust

This especially applies to vehicles that have forced induction or turbo. When the throttle is shut in a turbo driven engine, there is a build up of very high pressure as there’s still air forced to come out of the turbo. When you pull the throttle up, it’s like you’re plugging a sink – the flow will be entirely stopped and water will just build up and cause a mess. In order to prevent the restriction of air, you should invest in a quality dump pipe exhaust and a larger exhaust system overall to allow the turbo to breath more freely and spin faster, thus allowing for more power.

To make things more simple, let’s assume the engine isn’t burning fuel, which means it’s not using oxygen. This leads to the turbo system being under pressure which will cause damage to the turbo itself or the pipes, as it can split them as it attempts to rush backwards through the turbo. This is what causes the cluttering noises which are also known as compressor surges. Compressor surges can be the cause of the turbine spinning in a reverse direction which can cause a huge strain on the bearings.

A dump pipe exhaust is fit to the waste-gate and its function is to help the exhaust system when the turbo is at full power. They’re usually quite noisy and should be looped onto the exhaust pipe system right before the cat. A quality dump pipe exhaust is usually made with a clever design in order to reduce turbo lag and keep the turbo spinning longer.

When you’re out to buy a dump exhaust, it’s advisable that you consult with an experienced mechanic. They usually require a modification of some sort to the vehicle in order to be installed and fit. It’s not a good idea to bolt them onto your stock exhaust. Also, don’t forget to pay extra attention to the size of the pipes.

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