Why do we do all the mods and etc...to our trucks?

I had a 97 f-150 I just traded for my newest member of the family (see sig) and I had done everything to it my pocket could afford. From stuff that really was useful (bedliner, hard tonneou, K&N kit, Superchip, etc) to stuff that was'nt needed (clear corners, stereo, speakers, etc).
Now, I have only had my new truck for less than a month and I have a carpet bedliner on order, want new clear corners and tails, billet grill, head unit, hard tonneou, just ordered new component speakers and the list goes on and on.

Why do we do it? It usually makes our spouses mad , its not like we have $$ to waste and a hundred other reasons, but we all feel the need to make some improvement to our $20k-$40+K trucks (like we don't have enough $ into them already!) Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we are all wrong for doing these things (Lord knows I won't stop) I'm just curious to hear why you may think we do it.

 

My mods have been for practicality (added front mudflaps to protect the paint on the cab) and Amsoil synthetic oil and fluids (better engine, transmission, and rear-end life) and perhaps increased MPG.

Lots of guys seem to want their truck to be unique. That's fine, but I've got two college tuitions to pay for in the next few years and that is much more a priority for me.

I'm still thinking about Westin Nerf Bars. I don't need them and while they look nice, the real reason for getting them is to make the truck easier to enter for the kids and my parents who are both shorter than my wife and I.

Different strokes I guess but for me it's got to have some practical value.

 

I forgot to mention, I bought the truck 14 months old. All of the other mods (I've only added the front mud flaps and front window tint) were done by the first owner.

 

My personal opinion...

Because this truck is so popular and there are so many of them on the road, I think we want to make them our own, personalize them, so to speak.

Person 1: "Nice F150. My Uncle has one of those, too."

Person 2: "Really? I've got an Superchip, cat-back exhaust system, white face guages and a billet grille."

Person 1: "Very nice! He uses his to haul manure"

Person 2: "I see. Have a nice day."

Or something like that...

Steve

 

Good question JK!

I have never pondered that. Now you have me thinking. I reckon it's cause no matter how good these trucks are, we always want to make them better. Pride has a role too, I guess. I would wager that most of the members who actually do some mods are prolly tinkerers at heart. I know I am. I love to take something apart to see how it works or how it is made, etc. etc. And I usually think to myself...."hhmmm...I think I can make this work even better if I were to just........."

Mods done by ourselves to our trucks gives them personality. It solidifies our ownership and makes the truck a "one of a kind" (Most of us are "enthusiasts" after all, which is prolly why most of us joined this forum). It makes my truck mine and mine alone.

Just my opinion.