The New Beast...

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As told of here, Truckman's truck saga enters a new chapter...First nine photos are here with more to be added as improvements are made...

Tops of headlight housings are foggy...

Tread on all six 245/75R17 LRE tires is good...

Plans are already in the works to refinish the rusty flatbed...

There is no trapdoor cover for the gooseneck ball...

It really needs some 19.5's doesn't it?...

New mudflaps are a must...

All lights work, there just aren't enough of them to suit me...

As discussed in the update narrative, I got the truck back from TER Texas where the flatbed was refinished...The new sidemarker lights are a great improvement over the originals...

As expected scratches, scrapes and pitted areas remain, but the idea was to make the bed black again and prevent new rust...

I think the deck surface came out exceptionally well compared to the original...

They built and installed a new trapdoor over the gooseneck receptacle with new hinges...

New DOT reflective tape was added on all sides...

When the weather improves, I'll use Turtle Black Wax to preserve the finish...

Another view of the flat area and trapdoor...

Low side mudflap is even rattier looking than the driver's side...

Ahhh!...Much better...Hmmm, now for that exhaust...

And now the wheels look ratty...Sigh, a perfectionist's job is never done...

So much for the ratty wheels...

Center caps, chrome lug nuts and metal valve stems were included in the package...

They'll look better when the weather permits a complete clean and polish...

That exhaust has still gotta go...

The oversize tires don't rub anywhere...

OK, so the floor mat needs to be wiped down...

Obviously, the passenger seat has seen little use...My puppy/co-pilot/naviguesser has approved it...

The Truckman signature center console can be seen here...

 A view from the front...It was decided that about an inch above the tops of the headache rack spars looked best...

 A little WD-40 and steel wool will take care of the UPC labels as time permits...

 The formerly hideous original tailpipe is now devoted to the scrap pile for reincarnation...

 Joey Belton of Texas Auto Pro is a master of custom exhaust creations...

 Purists and aestheticians need not worry as plans are already afoot to bury this scene from view under additional needed equipment...

Everything turned out straight and true as expected...

Truckman's previous stacks survived 13 years and still looked new...We'll hope for a new record here if good fortune prevails...

A close-up illustrating Joey's minimalist, yet strong fabrication...The installation is rattle-free and rock solid...

As promised, this photo of Truckman leaving Texas Auto Pro taken by a personable and good-looking young paparazzi for the local tabloids...Truckman was happy to grant her request for a smile...

 With the help of a nephew to hold the wrench from the bottom, I drilled through the deck, and installed studs and eyebolts for the jack mount and security chain...

 Two jerry cans and holders were installed inside the headache rack adjacent to the exhaust stacks...The chain fastens to the eyebolts with padlocks, holding down the spare tire/wheel assembly, and securing the Hi-Lift jack...

Next dry day will see the spare tire stop primed and painted...

The truck just looks 1000% better with my own license plate on it...

There should be no doubt what kind of fuel this beast runs on...

 I think the Ram hubcap on the spare wheel is a nice touch...

A rainy day may not be the best time to show off new tinted windows...

The rain also doesn't help when photographing the bedliner, but sunny days are ahead...

When the weather clears, I need to touch up the paint on the jack, and do some detail work on the other equipment...

The guys at VIP Tinters were absolutely correct in thinking the bedliner looks better when covering the entire deck surface, rather than what I had in mind to begin with...

A good looking bumper can improve the looks of even a lowly work truck...

Tough Country is a very closely fitted  product, and the guys at Texan Hitch are experts at installation...

But I can see I'll have to find a different way to mount my license plate...I just don't like the angle...The welded lugs on the front for tow rings are a nice touch...

Readers may want to ignore the fresh mud spatter from the trip to the installer...These are the new Owens Products running boards...

I'm happy to report that they are not only sturdy and very functional, but were worth the wait...

I'm glad now that I chose to order the diamond plate rather than wait longer for the extruded material...

The front mudguards keep road debris away from the paint as well as add support for the running boards...