The Best Gift Ideas for Car Guys Who Love Quality Gear
Great Gift Ideas For Guys Who Love Car Stuff and Tools
Quick Summary:
If you’re searching for the best gift ideas for car guys, this guide highlights my top expert-tested picks that any gearhead will actually use. Start with WeatherTech floor mats that last the life of the car, HitchMate TruckStep, and TireStep for easy truck access, and Ceramic Glass Treatment for year-long visibility improvement. Add a portable tire inflator to keep every tire—spare included—at safe pressure, and a Clore Automotive lithium jump pack for reliable power anywhere.
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Finding the right gifts for guys who live and breathe cars can be tough. I’ve tested, installed, and used countless accessories over the years, and most of them fall short of expectations. Below are my personal recommendations—each one tested in real-world conditions and worthy of being called one of the best gift ideas for car guys.
Best floor mats
You can buy floor mats at any auto parts store or in the automotive 
department at any mass merchant, but even the expensive ones are junk in my opinion. Trust me, I’ve used most of them. They work great for the first few years. Then they start to curl and slide around, and pretty soon you’re tossing them. If you really want great floor mats, there’s no other option than Weathertech. Yes, they cost a bit more, but you’re buying something that’ll last the life of the car. Period. They offer several styles, but I own the laser-matched for my Subaru. It’s one of the best auto accessories I’ve ever bought.
Best truck bed step
At last count, about 15 companies make truck bed steps, but 
most are really expensive (like around $200) and require drilling to install. The Heinenger HitchMate TruckStep fits into an existing 2” trailer hitch receiver. Slide it into the receiver and lock it with the locking pin. Slide the step out when you want to jump into the truck bed and push it back in when you’re done. It’s a great auto accessory for any vehicle with a 2″ trailer hitch receiver. $88 from Amazon.
Best tire step
I love the guys at Heinenger because 
they come up with great ideas at affordable prices. Their 4040 HitchMate TireStep folds up so you can store it behind your truck cab seats. Then just unfold it and slip it over a front or back 
tire to reach into your engine compartment or tie items to your truck bed or rack. $53
Ceramic Glass Coating for Water Repellency
Forget Rain-X. It works for a while, but it doesn’t last. I started using Aquapel back in 2006, and it was the best product on the market. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued.
Ceramic glass coatings are made primarily of SiO₂ (silicon dioxide) or a blend of SiO₂ and TiO₂ (titanium dioxide) nanoparticles suspended in a liquid carrier. When you apply it to a clean glass surface and allow it to cure, chemical bonds form between the silica and the hydroxyl (–OH) groups on the glass surface.
This reaction forms a crosslinked, semi-permanent nano-ceramic layer that’s only a few microns thick but extremely hard and durable—typically 9H hardness on the pencil hardness scale (the same as quartz).
This thin coating fills in the microscopic pores and imperfections in the glass, creating a smooth, slick surface that water, snow, ice, and dirt can’t easily adhere to.
According to a University of Michigan study, hydrophobic glass treatments significantly improve visual acuity and reduce driver reaction time in the rain.
ceramic glass treatment
Great tire inflator
How often do you check the air pressure in your spare tire? Yeah, I didn’t think so. So here’s the deal: spare tires lose air pressure just sitting in your trunk. Most require 60-psi. to run safely. So you get a flat tire, yank out the spare, and install it only to find it’s low on air. No problem, add this to your shopping list of auto accessories. Just plug it into a power port and run the tire back up to spec. Use it to pump up your regular tires, bike tires, motorcycle tires….whatever.
The EPAuto 12V DC Portable Air Compressor Pump ($34 from Amazon) plugs directly into your vehicle’s power port. To avoid draining your battery, keep the engine running while inflating your tires. Inflate tires on cars, bikes, sedans, and midsize SUVs. Universal valve connector for Schrader valve is ready to use. Additional adapters include needle value (for basketballs), short cone/long cone adapters (for inflatable kayaks, swimming pool accessories, etc.). Capacity: Does NOT Support truck tires, for instance: light truck tires (LT), heavy-duty truck tires, or any truck tires. Easy to Read: 4 Display Units: PSI, KPA, BAR, KG/CM; LED FLASHLIGHT: Bright Torch
Prevent Over Inflation: Auto shut off when reaching the desired tire pressure. Overheat protection shuts off automatically when overloading. USPTO Patent
Best jumper pack For Car Guys
Jumper cables are so yesterday. Do you even remember how to use them? Will they reach that battery located under your back seat (yes, that’s where they are in some newer cars)? This JNC325 lithium jumper pack from Clore Automotive ($180 from Amazon) is simply the best jumper pack on the market. It’s professional quality, unlike the consumer-grade units selling for around $100. Those barely last a year and don’t start large truck engines.
• Jump start dead batteries, including cars, SUVs, marine, agricultural and fleet starting. Rated for up to 8-liter gas, and 6-liter diesel engines.
• Better Components – Unlike other lithium jump starters. The JNC325 uses heavy-duty 24-inch #6 AWG jumper cables with full-size clamps to deliver maximum power to the vehicle being started.
• Dual USB Outlets to charge electronics
• Built-in LED Flashlight
• 12 Volt power outlet with female adapter included.
• Fast Recharging – Recharging the unit is fast and simple via USB-C. USB-C Cable, charger, and carrying case included.
• Jump Start Totally Dead Batteries – Start batteries down to 0.0 Volts by using the
• Override function. Ensure you have made a proper connection before using the Override function.
Socket Set for Car Maintenance
This 230 – piece Socket, Ratchet and Wrench Set from Temu ($74) includes 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″ Drive CR-V Steel Sockets & Extensions
Temu socket and wrench set
©, 2016 Rick Muscoplat
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Posted on by Rick Muscoplat