In the custom world, appearance, style, and the amount of wrench time tends to separate the masses. If you wanna stand out you need to be different (uh... different in a good way that is). Some so-called customizers follow the crowd and end up owning a so-so ride. I have to say that if you are going to compete, a so-so ride is like leaving your cleats and bat in the car when you arrive at the ball field you intend to play on. You may fool that "every-now-and-then" show spectator, but you ain't foolin' the kewl crowd my friend! So what will get you noticed you ask? How about throwing out the old tired trends and going with something newer and cutting edge?

For instance, some trends are coming in quick, but are going to a live a short life (spinners... cough... Lambo doors... cough) Sure its cool and to see a tricked out S-10 or Hummer with those types of mods, but after awhile it becomes weak... last week! That is when it comes time for a new trend to take over, or better yet an older trend to become the new and improved trend (if that makes any sense?). For instance, what ever happened to suicide doors? I mean they didn't go away or totally disappear from the face of the earth or anything like that, but it seems I see ten ads for verticle doors for every suicide door ad... WTF? My personal taste is more in line with suicide doors, but then again maybe it is just me. Only time will tell.

Another trend that's taking off and taking show fields by storm is swapping the front ends of newer vehicles and bolting them on older vehicles and vice versa. Well actually it isn't that new of a trend, but it seems that over the past five years front clip swaps have become what is a norm, to a radically improved norm. Now I am seeing '48 Chevy pickup truck front ends on contemporary bowtie pickups. I ahve even seen car front clips being grafted into pickup front clips!!! There seems to be no limit to the extreme makeovers we are now seeing, or for that matter, what we are going to be seeing in the next few years!

Now, my favorite trend is actually one that should have died out a long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away... FLAMES! In fact if I had a nickel for every time I heard that flames were out I could afford an Escalade on 24s with a complete sound system to boot! Folks, flames have been around since the beginning of this thing of ours and that particular paint job isn't gonna take a "dirt nap" anytime soon. So, all you naysayers might as well give up that argument!

Last, but certainly not least, lifting your ride sky high is a very popular trend in the custom truck world. In most magazines, until recently, lifted rides have not been "heavy" in the custom show circuit. Now they are every where and are every bit as competetitive as their reflector collecting coutner parts! With some of the trickest skyscrapin' haulers makin' the rounds at auto shows, it is no doubt in our collective minds here at ESM, that the lifted look is a trend that will be hangin' ten for quiet a while.

So, if you want instant attention in 2006, lift your truck sky high, strap on a set of set of 24 inch hoops, suicide the doors, and paint a killer set of flames on the sheet metal and you are bound to pop a few stares your way. Otherwise you can keep it average: big wheels, stock paint, maybe a head unit and a TV with a PS2. We'll let you decide how you think you can gain attention...

Until next time... keep on Kruisin'!