There is no better feeling than cruising in a gleaming, award-winning show truck that turns heads everywhere you go, from the shimmer of the body to the sound of the exhaust. However, when your show truck becomes your daily run-around vehicle, it can be challenging to manage maintenance costs, daily use damages and practical inconveniences like fuel economy.
While it may be worthwhile to pick up groceries in your fully custom Silverado or to head to pick up the kids in your Ford F-Series, there are some serious considerations to make when driving such a beauty on the street.
In this deep dive, we’ll be lifting the hood on the possible adventures, headaches, and wallet impacts of turning a trophy magnet into a Monday-through-Friday machine. So, if you’ve ever wondered what daily life is like behind the wheel of a show-stopping build, buckle up – this is for you.
What Makes a Truck a “Show Truck”?
First things first: show trucks aren’t just about shiny paint and polished wheels. These builds are labors of love. We’re talking:
- Smoothed and tucked engine bays
- Perfect panel gaps and custom bodywork
- Hand-finished interiors
- Detailed frames and custom suspensions
If you want a taste of what goes into these creations, check out tips for classic truck mods and see every single detail that goes into making a truck unique and special; nothing is left untouched.
Pros of Daily Driving a Show Truck
Daily driving a show truck isn’t just about showing off your pride and joy through the sound and look of it (though that’s a nice perk). Here’s why truck lovers make the leap from having their truck held up in the garage to letting it lose on the open road:
1. Instant Street Cred
Pull into any lot with a dropped, custom-painted truck on big billets and, well, everyone notices. There’s a sense of pride when other car folks stop and give a thumbs-up, kids stare in amazement, or someone snaps a quick pic.
2. Your Drive Feels Special Every Time You Turn The Keys
It’s hard to have a bad morning when your “commuter” is the same ride that’s been through SEMA doors. Every errand feels like an event. Even a traffic jam can be a rolling car show where you’re sitting in the most beautiful ride on the road.
3. Built to Be Driven
Many top builders create their trucks to be used, not just trailered. If your build is solid underneath, you’re flexing the engineering muscle every mile. Modern drivetrains, power steering upgrades, and air suspension make even wild customs practical for real-world use.
4. Never Miss an Opportunity
Spontaneous cruise nights, last-minute shows, or impromptu coffee shop gatherings? When your show rig is your daily, you’re always ready to give the world a piece of your mind.
Cons of Daily Driving a Show Truck: It’s Not All Pretty
Daily use can be tough on any car, especially one that you’ve put your life and soul into creating custom. If we’re being completely honest, there’s a reason that the majority of show trucks spend most of their time in garages or protected from external factors.
1. Wear and Tear Is Inevitable
Dings, rock chips, sunfade, rain, mud and dust all over your show truck is not fun to deal with when it’s your pride and enjoy. Unfortunately, weather and the elements are your enemy with this one and you just can’t predict when a stray rock will give you a ding on your bonnet or someone slams their door into yours at a shopping center. It’s very risky.
Just think, all that time spent polishing and detailing? It can disappear with a single careless parking lot mishap. Is it really worth it?
2. It’s Not Always Comfortable
Low-profile tires, stiffer suspensions, and extreme mods don’t always translate to plush rides that are built for comfort or safety. That body-dropped F-100 might scrape over every speed bump. Your trophy-winning patina might attract unwanted attention from sticky fingers. Daily drives require versatility and comfort that most show trucks can’t supply.
3. Increased Risk and Protection Concerns
Protecting your show truck can be extremely tricky, as not every insurance provider understands your truck’s true value or is willing to fully protect custom work. Lady luck is not something you want to be relying on, especially in the event of an accident or when something does go wrong.
Exploring cover options like NRMA Insurance makes a lot of sense for these types of investments that include mods, paint, and rare parts.
What is the Cost Of Driving Your Dream Car Daily?
Custom trucks don’t just demand time and cash up front, as we’ve mentioned, they require a lot of maintenance, including repairs and will continue to rack up costs if driven daily.
Maintenance Costs
Keeping your car shiny and polished is just another small upkeep of driving your show truck; having these detailing supplies on hand is key.
Show trucks will also require, at points, specialised cleaning for wheels, paint, and engine bays, along with frequent alignments, especially on bagged setups.
And don’t forget the fuel economy on these!
Repairs and Parts
Aftermarket and custom components are sometimes hard to replace. You can’t just pick up a billet control arm at the local parts store or automotive repair shop; these parts will need to be scrounged for.
If you’ve gotten a scratch or sun fade from regular day-to-day wear and tear, body and paint repairs can also mean custom shops for your truck, which translates to higher bills and less money in your pocket..
Insurance
Like we covered above, standard policies might leave you short if disaster strikes. Premiums for declared value policies or agreed value cover, like those offered by enthusiast-focused providers, are a must for peace of mind.
Depreciation or Appreciation
Not all show trucks lose value. Some become icons and fetch more as trends swing. But daily miles can speed up wear, possibly hurting future resale if not meticulously cared for.
Tips to Make Daily Driving a Show Truck Achievable
If you are considering making your build a daily drive, we have some tips on how seasoned owners work around the headaches and concerns:
- Ceramic Coat Everything: This invisible shield helps protect paint from chips, water, and sun.
- Choose Practical Mods: Slammed is cool, but driveways and potholes still exist. Modular airbags can lift you out of trouble.
- Invest in Good Mats and Seat Covers: Keep your interior pristine and swap covers for events.
- Plan Your Routes: Avoid the worst roads, sketchy parking, or weather when you can.
- Have a Maintenance Routine: Quick wipe-downs, weekly checks, and prompt repairs keep things fresh.
Your show truck is meant to be seen, so just remember, whether you’re rolling to work, the grocery store, or a cruise night, every drive is another story in your build’s legacy.