We've seen Hummers with big, shiny wheels, tall and low stances, and insanely amazing paint—pretty much everything that is fit for a bona fide baller ride. On the other side of the shine spectrum, are flat, matte paint schemes complete with muted wheels and accessories, which we have admired on off-road and rat-rod inspired trucks alike. To give us a better idea of blending the worlds of high-end style and stealthy detailing, Joe Ruiz, from Dana Point, California, was kind enough to share with us his full-custom '07 Hummer H2 SUT—his personal take on low-down luxury.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Side Angle31041453/features/1001tr_2007_hummer_h2_sut1001tr_01+2007_hummer_h2_sut+right_side_angle.jpgTrue

The color gold has been connected with greatness for far too long now. Andy Gulick’s Lexus LS460 silver-colored ’96 Chevy Silverado sports the hue most associated with a runner up, but this certainly wasn’t the case for Andy’s truck at the ’09 West Coast Nationals show in Parker, Arizona, where it easily captured first place in its class. Not only does the fresh first place honor solidify Andy’s dedication to the project Chevy, but it also pays tribute to the memory of two of Andy’s close friends: Jeremy Donkersley and Mark Zelfer. Owning a custom audio shop, House of Sounds, in Phoenix, has helped Andy realize the importance of doing things right the first time and surrounding yourself with talented people. Building a project from the ground up not only allowed Andy to connect with his truck, but it also strengthened existing friendships with those who are also involved in the process, which is more valuable than a trophy could ever be.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Side Angle31038768/features/1001tr_1996_chevy_silverado1001tr_01+1996_chevy_silverado+right_side_angle.jpgTrue

Trucks have come a long way in the last 15 years. Crew cab trucks used to be a rare sight, and interior comfort left a lot to be desired. Now, trucks are more capable and much more luxurious, but there's always room for improvement. Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment, got one of the first '09 F-150s to roll off the assembly line and had precious little time to improve on that already sparkling design. What you see here is the work of one short month from purchase to completion and debut at the 2008 SEMA show, no small feat when you consider that Mike had to design and build several new pieces for the new-for-'09 F-150.inline_mediumwraptextrightLeft Side Angle26809711/features/1001tr_2009_ford_f1501001tr_01+2009_ford_f150+left_side_angle.jpgTrue

After months of cloak and dagger development in the California High Desert, Ford’s Special Vehicle Team invited two dozen journalists into their off-road playground in Ocotillo Wells for the official media launch of the Raptor. No longer a secret, Ford’s own low-budget, high-return viral video campaign had already given the Raptor a bit of a mythical aura before any member of the media was allowed behind the wheel. Long-time Ford fans were salivating, off-road enthusiasts were flooding online forums, and naysayers were estimating astronomical prices for a vehicle that was capable of 100-mph desert runs.inline_mediumwraptextrightLeft Front Angle26769370/features/1001tr_2010_ford_raptor_svt1001tr_01+2010_ford_raptor_svt+left_front_angle.jpgTrue

Listening to your requests for dedicating a section of the mag to under construction trucks, this month we begin where Sport Truck magazine left off with Busted Knuckles. Here, you'll be able to see some of the country's best projects during the most difficult time in a truck build—the trying to finish it stage. To submit your truck for Busted Knuckles consideration, please send emails to brandan.gillogly@sorc.com and be sure to include build-up pics and a rendering if available.inline_mediumwraptextrightBusted Knuckles Rendering25689530/features/1001tr_1998_chevy_s101001tr_01+1998_chevy_s10+busted_knuckles_rendering.jpgTrue

Brock Chobar, from Mesa, Arizona, is all about recycling. The one-of-a-kind '87 Chevy van you see here used to belong to his father, where it served as his Snap-On Tools van for thirteen years, traveling all across Arizona as well as making half a dozen trips back and forth between Illinois. With all the time that Brock spent driving with his dad in the van, he grew attached to it. When his parents decided to let him sell the van to buy his own car, Brock had other plans.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Side Angle30759219/features/0913tr_1987_chevy_van0913tr_01+1987_chevy_van+right_side_angle.jpgTrue

Hearing the blast of train horns and taking first glance of a flat black mystery, it's easy to forget what you were doing and instantly get caught up in this insane '02 Peterbuilt 379. Built by Outlaw Customs, outside of Denver, for the sports supplements company Training Day, the flat black and gunmetal grey rig quickly dispels what you thought you knew about cool 18 wheelers. The take-no-prisoners attitude from the onset of the build resulted in a truck that cannot go anywhere without starting a frenzy-exactly what Training Day was hoping for.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Side Angle26548840/features/0913tr_2002_peterbuilt_3790913tr_01+2002_peterbuilt_379+right_side_angle.jpgTrue

When Ricky Rygaard from Texas City, Texas, had the urge to make his '07 Tahoe truly unique he knew where to go, and it wasn't far. Ekstensive Metalworks, in Houston, has a reputation for going the extra mile to make the impossible a reality. We don't know exactly what owner Bill Carlton said when Ricky asked him if it was possible to lay the Tahoe on its frame while tucking 28s, but we can bet that Bill didn't flinch.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Front Angle26537080/features/0913tr_2007_chevy_tahoe0913tr_01+2007_chevy_tahoe+right_front_angle.jpgTrue

We'd like to introduce you to the newest member of the Truckin' fleet. This ridiculously well-equipped Ram was delivered with just about every bell and whistle you can get, including some we've barely even used, like the steering wheel heater, and others, like the ventilated front seats, that we never want to live without.inline_mediumwraptextrightLeft Side Angle26536243/features/0913tr_2009_dodge_ram_laramie0913tr_01+2009_dodge_ram_laramie+left_side_angle.jpgTrue

On a recent trip to Lake Charles, Louisiana, we had the pleasure of meeting up with Jay Ramagost and his '01 Chevy standard cab, which sports a stylish, streamlined appearance that would be tough to upstage at any show. Jay, along with friend and owner of Twisted Kustoms, Chad Jumonville, ripped into the Silverado's suspension and made some rather extensive body modifications with every intention of making a statement. That statement was to serve as a straight declaration that there is much beauty to be found in simplicity. What fan of minimalism could argue with that sentiment?inline_mediumwraptextrightLeft Front Angle26539402/features/0913tr_2001_chevy_silverado0913tr_01+2001_chevy_silverado+left_front_angle.jpgTrue

Despite the sand quickly sifting through the hourglass, this '56 Ford F-100 seemingly takes one man back 50-plus years to an era where he and his young bride Bev rode around in a mildly-customized V-8 Ford truck. Hands on the steering wheel and throttle wide-open, memories flash by like the white lines on the pavement. This is the story of an old man and his truck.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Side Angle26567305/features/0913tr_1956_ford_f1000913tr_01+1956_ford_f100+right_side_angle.jpgTrue

Usually when we hear the words green vehicle, the thought of a puny, pint-sized electric car comes to mind. Within the last few years, there has been an uprising in hybrid model fullsize trucks and SUVs that have done a better job of satisfying our need for a larger, more capable vehicle but none have really been given a legitimate custom touch. Together, Leer and Ford Motor Company stepped up to the challenge and collaborated on a project that would yield a totally decked out, clean fuel sipping hauler that would attract positive attention from both the environmentally-conscious crowd and custom craving, performance purists alike.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Front Angle26537905/features/0913tr_2009_ford_f1500913tr_01+2009_ford_f150+right_front_angle.jpgTrue

Shock. A complete jolt to your senses. No, you're not being hit by a taser, but rather the sheer cosmic force of a custom like you've never seen before. Owned by Andrew "Kool-Aid" Cowel, of Smithville, Tennessee, this '00 Silverado was to be a rolling monument to the love and bond Andrew felt for his brother. The truck was delivered to Ekstensive Metalworks, in Houston, where it was simply supposed to be 'bagged to lay body over big wheels. After dropping the truck off, Andrew returned home to Tennessee and the build was in the hands of a man capable of creating a showstopper. Never one to go half way, Ekstensive's owner, Bill Carlton, decided to go the extra mile and build a truck that would not only be a memorial for Andrew's brother, but also create a new category in the custom scene. Showcasing the limitless capabilities of Ekstensive Metalworks, this '00 Silverado proves that where there's a will, there's a way.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Front Angle26545966/features/0913tr_2000_chevy_silverado0913tr_02+2000_chevy_silverado+right_front_angle.jpgTrue

In a line of work where we get to make people's dreams come true by publishing enthusiast's custom trucks, this is the first time I had the pleasure to print a restored automotive classic that has actually saved lives. This '52 Model L Mack fire pumper served the firefighters of Phoenix for 20 years. An iconic symbol, when anyone sees a bright red fire engine, thoughts of pride, courage, and heroic acts come to mind. For this reason and because he loved his life as a firefighter, Chief Alan Brunacini, of Phoenix, purchased the Mack at a public auction in 1977. Some 32 years later, he and fellow retired firefighter, Assistant Chief Bob "Hoot" Gibson, put the final touches on the completely-restored piece of Americana and called it complete.inline_mediumwraptextrightLeft Side Angle31136541/features/0912tr_1952_mack_l_truck0912tr_01+1952_mack_l_truck+left_side_angle.jpgTrue

When it came time for David Joyce, of Gilbert, West Virginia, to build yet another Chevy S-10 pickup, he didn't have to look any further than his circle of friends for assistance. David has previously put a custom '00 S-10 Xtreme together, but this time around he wanted to take his newly acquired '97 GMC Sonoma to a higher level. Well, 'higher' is just a figure of speech here, since the roofline of the GMC now sits about eye level to a 5-year-old, but nevertheless, David had the muscle and the know-how to fabricate the mini-truck of his dreams.inline_mediumwraptextrightLeft Side Angle25793165/features/0912tr_1997_gmc_sonoma0912tr_01+1997_gmc_sonoma+left_side_angle.jpgTrue

It takes a lot to get noticed at a custom truck show, and the bar keeps getting raised. The stakes are even higher when you plan to debut a vehicle at the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas, so you'd better do your homework and come prepared. When Kyle "K Daddy" Gann wanted to show off his custom paintwork and interior skills, he decided, like any piece of art, it needed the right presentation. Knowing that the right suspension would put his art at eye level of the viewing public, Kyle called upon Pat Gerber at Shocker Motorsports, just across town from Kyle's own K Daddyz Kustomz in Bakersfield, California, for the one-off suspension.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Side Angle25792805/features/0912tr_2008_ford_f450_super_duty0912tr_01+2008_ford_f450_super_duty+right_side_angle.jpgTrue

Now that the dualie was resting on the concrete and performing with less engine restriction, Jamey and Don, of Innovative Customs, began working on the cosmetic metal fabrication portion of build. Custom sheetmetal bed walls, wheel tubs, and a relocated gas filler round out the rear modifications, while the front fenders were boxed in and tubbed to make room for the truck's larger rolling stock. New Era Bedliner of Houma, Louisiana, sprayed the bottom of the hood, the inside of the front fenders and bedsides, as well as inside of the bed box for aesthetic and protective purposes. A Chevy HHR roof rack has been planted to the top of the cab and chrome door handles with color-matched bezels make for attractive exterior accessories. Don blasted the dualie's metal surface with vibrant PPG Victory Red paint, which is truly a winning selection for any low down, heavy-duty hauler.

Continuing to build on a reputation of off-road ruggedness melded with on-road sophistication, the '09 Nissan Pathfinder is a strong contender in the mid-size SUV category. A highly-acclaimed 4.0L V-6 with 266 hp is the star of the show providing ample power throughout the RPM range and the five speed automatic does an impressive job finding the proper gear when climbing or passing. All-Mode 4WD with a two-speed transfer case ensures the adventure won't come to an end and with a 6,000 pound tow rating, the V-6 Pathfinder can bring most outdoor gear along for the ride. Body styling is easy on the eyes with an attractive front grille and headlight combination and heavily-accented body lines that add to a strong profile. The list of praise may seem long, however, the scales begin to tip against its favor once the doors are opened.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Side Angle26518666/features/0912tr_2009_nissan_pathfinder0912tr_01+2009_nissan_pathfinder+right_side_angle.jpgTrue

When you think of Ford vehicles, even truck guys conjure up an image in their mind of a Mustang, it's just engrained with the history of Ford. When Performance Group West in Bonsall, California, and Hulst Customs in Merlin, Oregon, wanted to design a pair of trucks for the 2008 SEMA show, they decided to use a little Mustang Cobra inspiration. It's a lot harder than it sounds, especially when you're working with the SEMA gala as your deadline.inline_mediumwraptextleft2009 Ford F150, F350 - Right Front Angle30659199/features/0912tr_2009_ford_f150_f3500912tr_01_z+2009_ford_f150_f350+right_front_angle.jpgTrue

Low and short to some folks mean two different things. For David Neal of Peoria, Illinois, low and short meant the stature and stance of his dare-to- be-different '68 Chevy C10 pickup he named "Shortie". David purchased the truck in 2001 for 800 bucks. Throughout David's glory days of high school he constantly reminded his buddies one day he would build a custom truck. His goal was to create a truck that would make an impression in the cool truck world, earning respect at shows and on the boulevard. His C10 had been an ongoing project for the past nine years. It was finally finished the Wednesday prior to this year's Goodguys Show in Columbus, Ohio, where it debuted. The truck was worked on during the weekends in David's garage with the help of his buddies Tim Strange, Andy Cook, Shane Souba, and Shawn Ray.inline_mediumwraptextrightLeft Side Angle26517901/features/0912tr_1968_chevy_c100912tr_01+1968_chevy_c10+left_side_angle.jpgTrue

Looking around the parking lots at Georgia Tech, in Atlanta, there aren't too many good-looking rides besides the occasional Boss 302 Mustang. That is until you take a look in the far corner where no one parks because it's too long of a walk. There you'll find a laid out '98 Ford F-150 that has many students envious and curious. Both emotions revolve around how low the truck is and how in the world a college student was able to pull off a full-blown show truck. In his own words, Trent Scarborough told us, "It was better to spend my money on a truck than at the mall on CDs and other stupid stuff teenagers buy." "It all just snowballed", he admits. Tuckin' 22s and bangin' tunes from the three 10-inch subs, it's easy to see why Trent has to tell fellow college students to wipe their chins.inline_mediumwraptextrightRight Side Angle26429203/features/0912tr_1998_ford_f1500912tr_01+1998_ford_f150+right_side_angle.jpgTrue

After building a list of custom rides that included an import, a lowrider, and even a custom truck, Robert Robinson, of Covington, Georgia, looked to find that diamond in the rough. For the owner of a do-it-all custom shop, Auto Extremes, in Covington, this particular ride was something he always wanted to find and then cut up. The vehicle of choice was a two-door Tahoe. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, when you live in the humidity-stricken state of Georgia, rust is a problem and finding a Tahoe that wasn't a mud-covered 4x4 isn't an easy task. After a long search, Robert tracked down his next project and began the buildup. What happened next no one could have foreseen, but it makes the story even more interesting.inline_mediumwraptextleftChevy Tahoe - Left Side Angle30658653/features/0912tr_chevy_tahoe0912tr_01_z+chevy_tahoe+left_side_angle.jpgTrue

Cruising through the SEMA show in Las Vegas, we were stopped in our tracks by a Silverado HD with a commanding presence and a great stance. Upon closer inspection, we were a bit surprised to find that this truck wasn't built to show off just one particular product, but rather a complete package, the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Signature Series.inline_mediumwraptextleftChevy Silverado 2500 HD - Left Front Angle30660777/features/0912tr_chevy_silverado_2500_hd0912tr_01_z+chevy_silverado_2500_hd+left_front_angle.jpgTrue

What happens when you take a truck designed to get 20 mpg on a 1,000-mile road trip loaded to the gills with people and luggage? Does it do as well mileage-wise as when it's only hauling around a single occupant? More on that later.