Dual Liner
Under the "best of both worlds" category, we saw something called the Dual Liner that offers hard-plastic back and sidewall protection, with a thick rubber floor mat, all in a one-system package. Theoretically, this could protect your cargo as much as your truck. DualLiner.com
Truck-Pal Ladder
Westin has the light-weight Truck-Pal Ladder that collapses on itself to fasten onto the back of a pickup bed. When unfurled, it provides quick and easy stair-step access into the bed yet when folded up, it doesn't take up much cargo area in the bed at all. Clever. Westinautomotive.com
Undercover Bed Covers
Undercover Bed Covers has just come out with the Swing Case, a simple solution to the quick-access storage room problem with pickup beds. The blow-molded box attaches to the end of the bed and swings like a door against the bed wall when not needed. It locks in place until you pull the lever and it swivels over the tailgate where you open it and grab your tools and slam it back in place. Undercoverinfo.com
Supercooler
The Supercooler essentially uses the cooling system on your car to further cool the intake air going into the engine. The system is simple and relatively inexpensive, yet can yield up to 20-percent better fuel economy. The idea came to the owner while recovering after brain surgery. supercooler.us
Xten-D-Gate
The We happened on a small booth and saw the Xten-D-Gate, which is basically heavy-duty fold-flat extra bad wall able to give your bed several more feel of cargo storage. The system uses strong pins and support rods and weighs less than 30 pounds. It attaches right onto the tailgate for about $200. Teamwoodshed.com
Think-mini-Mag-Lite
We're not just attracted by the big stuff. This little Spotlight can plug into the wall or cigarette lighter of your truck or SUV and provide you with a mobile or stationary light source. Think a mini Mag Lite. service@weiguosolutions.com
Kelderman F-450
We saw a Kelderman F-450 with one of their airbag, link rear suspensions on it that looked cool. The truck had a six-inch lift and jet-black paint and looked like a bigger and more monstrous hulk than a stock F-450, already the biggest light-duty truck on the block. Airbags just might be the only thing that could soften an F-450 ride. Keldermanairride.com
Custom Rock Buggy
A custom rock buggy from the Monroe County 4x4 Club in Bloomington, Indiana, was getting a lot of attention. You can just see the wheels spinning inside the trained and untrained engineers minds as they walk around it a few times, crawl underneath it, then come up scratching their heads.
Unlimited Off-Road Wrangler Rubicon
The ultimate in creativity is to create something that even the OE manufacturer was too afraid to make. The Unlimited Off-Road Center from Fenton, Michigan, created this 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 stuffed into a Wrangler Rubicon four-door. Naturally, it needed a few other modifications to withstand the metal-twisting torque of this engine. We bet it's a fun ride.
EcoTrek Foundation
Spoke with the Executive Director of a group called the EcoTrek Foundation where they are trying to get more people to understand that companies in the aftermarket, as well as many of the OEs, could be missing out on their green message. Many aftermarket products sold offer better fuel economy results or better tailpipe emissions or have some elements of recyclability they're not promoting. EcoTrek wants to get that message out. This one seemed odd to us. SEMA is having someone exhibit about how its industry isn't marketing itself or the vehicles they love well enough? Should be interesting to see how this plays out, or if all the non-auto-enthusiast people will allow it.