Veterans Day is all about celebrating the heroic men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces. Most of them sacrifice a lot for their country. If you know a veteran, be it a loved one or an acquaintance, why not show them you care this coming Veterans Day?
A good way to thank them for their service is with a thoughtful gift. If they own a car, you can’t go wrong with giving them a practical car accessory. Here are our top five gift ideas for veterans (and their trusty ride).
Some veterans who own certain pickup trucks find it difficult to access their truck bed because it’s so high up. It’s worse if they have lingering injuries or conditions that make it a struggle to climb the truck bed. Getting them step bumpers can make this problem a thing of the past and reduce the risk of slips and falls.
Step bumpers are attached to the rear-end bumper of a vehicle, making it easier for drivers and passengers alike to get in and out of the truck bed. They also give pickup trucks a more adventurous and outdoorsy look. They’re an excellent gift to give to someone who takes pride in their ride’s ruggedness.
Step bumpers are typically made of sturdy, durable materials, such as heavy-gauge steel. They’re built to withstand the test of time and support tremendous amounts of weight.
If you want to make life easier for veterans who own tall vehicles and love going off the beaten path, running boards are an excellent gift choice. These accessories have a flat profile and run along the sides of a vehicle, right below the doors. They provide an extra step to make it easier for drivers and passengers to enter and exit vehicles.
Running boards are also incredibly handy when it comes to keeping the interior of a vehicle clean, which is a common struggle for off-roaders. Passengers can use the surface of the running board to rub or knock the dirt and mud off their shoes before entering their car.
On top of that, running boards also provide vehicles with additional protection against hazards like rock, mud, and other debris that might get kicked up during transit. This means veterans won’t have to worry about things flying off the ground and scraping the body of their ride as much.
Gifting veterans a hitch will help ensure that they’ll have a much better time towing heavy cargo. Hitches are small add-ons that can be massive game changers for drivers who don’t believe in traveling light.
Bear in mind that if you want to gift someone a hitch, you must get one that’s compatible with their vehicle type and overall towing capacity. Pay close attention to what they might need it for and choose the appropriate hitch for the job.
Hitches are typically used to tow trailers which often carry large, unwieldy cargo, such as boats, bikes, and camping gear. They can also be used to tow trailer homes for veterans keen on living mobile lifestyles.
Whether it’s because they want to or because they have to, many people go on late-night drivers. Veterans are no exception. Visibility decreases significantly after the sun goes down, making the long trip home a lot more dangerous than it should be. This is doubly true when it’s rainy or foggy.
One of the best ways to show you’re thinking about someone is to give them something they might need. In this case, fog lights are an excellent gift choice. These accessories are useful for evening drives because they greatly improve visibility, especially in fog, smoke, and heavy rain.
Just be sure to warn the recipient that fog lights are extremely powerful and shouldn’t be used unless it’s foggy. After all, it’s illegal to use fog lights in some urban areas. While fog lights aren’t meant to be used all the time, there are many situations where they can save lives.
One of the best gifts to show a veteran you care for their safety and comfort is a new sun visor. It can shield both drivers and passengers from bright sunlight and glare. Sun visors can also help lower a vehicle’s interior temperature by blocking direct sunlight, making for cooler, cozier drives.
Although all modern vehicles are equipped with sun visors by default, there’s no denying that some are more effective than others. For example, some sun visors are equipped with vanity mirrors, while others have storage compartments for items like glasses and sunglasses. You can gift your veteran with a sun visor that caters to their specific needs.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.