Truck nuts: Difference between revisions
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'''Truck balls''' are [[accessories]] for [[pickup trucks]] and other vehicles. Capitalizing upon the association of trucks with [[machismo]], truck balls resemble oversize human testicles inside scrota of various colors. This trend began in the United States in 1998. |
'''Truck balls''' are [[accessories]] for [[pickup trucks]] and other vehicles. Capitalizing upon the association of trucks with [[machismo]], truck balls resemble oversize human testicles inside scrota of various colors. This trend began in the United States in 1998. |
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Made of [[Polypropylene|polypropylene copolymer]], truck balls are durable and weather resistant. They weigh approximately two pounds and come in various colors, including chrome and brass. They are colored all the way through so that, should they scrape upon an object, such as a curb or a speed bump, they remain the same color. Truck balls can also be painted in glow-in-the-dark colors. |
Made of [[Polypropylene|polypropylene copolymer]], truck balls are durable and weather resistant. They weigh approximately two pounds and come in various colors, including chrome and brass. They are colored all the way through so that, should they scrape upon an object, such as a curb or a speed bump, they remain the same color. Truck balls can also be painted in glow-in-the-dark colors. |
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After being "vacuum metalized" in the selected color, truck balls are oven baked, cooled, and sprayed with a thick, transparent coating of [[Polyurethane|epoxy urethane]] before being air dried and sprayed with a second coat of epoxy urethane and baked again so as to acquire their durable finish. |
After being "vacuum metalized" in the selected color, truck balls are oven baked, cooled, and sprayed with a thick, transparent coating of [[Polyurethane|epoxy urethane]] before being air dried and sprayed with a second coat of epoxy urethane and baked again so as to acquire their durable finish. |
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Truck balls are installed at the rear of the vehicle in such a way that they are suspended in full view of motorists, pedestrians, and others behind them. |
Truck balls are installed at the rear of the vehicle in such a way that they are suspended in full view of motorists, pedestrians, and others behind them. |
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| ⚫ | To install these accessories, one manufacturer recommends the use of slightly flexible, 1 1/4-inch-wide by 1/8-inch-thick by 4-foot-long strap-type metal to allow several mounting brackets to be made and to permit a 5/8-inch hole to be drilled into the bracket. This 5/8-inch hole allows the use of any bolt of less than 1/2-inch diameter. |
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==Criticism== |
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| ⚫ | To install these accessories, one manufacturer recommends the use of slightly flexible, 1 1/4-inch-wide by 1/8-inch-thick by 4-foot-long strap-type metal to allow several mounting brackets to be made and to permit a 5/8-inch hole to be drilled into the bracket. This 5/8-inch hole allows the use of any bolt of less than 1/2-inch diameter. |
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Reaction to these unusual accessories has been mixed. A columnist from ''[[Metro Silicon Valley]]'' wrote that she was "actually not sure whether or not this is a joke product, or if someone would really proudly display them" <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/07.27.05/rev-0530.html|title=Stranger Than Fiction|work=Rev|author=Carpenter, Novella|accessdate=3 September|accessyear=2007}}</ref>. In 2007, a proposal was made by [[Maryland]] [[Maryland House of Delegates|delegate]] [[LeRoy E. Myers Jr.]] to "prohibit motorists from displaying anything resembling or depicting 'anatomically correct' or 'less than completely and opaquely covered' human or animal genitals, human buttocks or female breasts" <ref>{{cite web|author=Rein, Lisa| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/22/AR2007022201426.html| title="Fake Private Parts Are No Joke, Myers Says"|work=Washington Post|accessdate=Sept 3|accessyear=2007}}</ref>. He referred to the testicles as "vulgar and immoral," and stated that his proposal was made at the request of a constituent who was offended by the accessories <ref>{{cite web|author=Rein, Lisa| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/22/AR2007022201426.html| title="Fake Private Parts Are No Joke, Myers Says"|work=Washington Post|accessdate=Sept 3|accessyear=2007}}</ref>. |
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==References== |
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<references/> |
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* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/22/AR2007022201426.html Maryland Delegate LeRoy E. Myers proposes ban] |
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[[Category:Automotive accessories]] |
[[Category:Automotive accessories]] |
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Revision as of 10:44, 3 September 2007
Truck balls are accessories for pickup trucks and other vehicles. Capitalizing upon the association of trucks with machismo, truck balls resemble oversize human testicles inside scrota of various colors. This trend began in the United States in 1998.
Made of polypropylene copolymer, truck balls are durable and weather resistant. They weigh approximately two pounds and come in various colors, including chrome and brass. They are colored all the way through so that, should they scrape upon an object, such as a curb or a speed bump, they remain the same color. Truck balls can also be painted in glow-in-the-dark colors.
Manufacture
After being "vacuum metalized" in the selected color, truck balls are oven baked, cooled, and sprayed with a thick, transparent coating of epoxy urethane before being air dried and sprayed with a second coat of epoxy urethane and baked again so as to acquire their durable finish.
Truck balls are installed at the rear of the vehicle in such a way that they are suspended in full view of motorists, pedestrians, and others behind them.
Installation
To install these accessories, one manufacturer recommends the use of slightly flexible, 1 1/4-inch-wide by 1/8-inch-thick by 4-foot-long strap-type metal to allow several mounting brackets to be made and to permit a 5/8-inch hole to be drilled into the bracket. This 5/8-inch hole allows the use of any bolt of less than 1/2-inch diameter.
Criticism
Reaction to these unusual accessories has been mixed. A columnist from Metro Silicon Valley wrote that she was "actually not sure whether or not this is a joke product, or if someone would really proudly display them" [1]. In 2007, a proposal was made by Maryland delegate LeRoy E. Myers Jr. to "prohibit motorists from displaying anything resembling or depicting 'anatomically correct' or 'less than completely and opaquely covered' human or animal genitals, human buttocks or female breasts" [2]. He referred to the testicles as "vulgar and immoral," and stated that his proposal was made at the request of a constituent who was offended by the accessories [3].
References
- ^ Carpenter, Novella. "Stranger Than Fiction". Rev. Retrieved 3 September.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Rein, Lisa. ""Fake Private Parts Are No Joke, Myers Says"". Washington Post. Retrieved Sept 3.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Rein, Lisa. ""Fake Private Parts Are No Joke, Myers Says"". Washington Post. Retrieved Sept 3.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)