A billet grille is an easy way to give your ride a distinct, custom look that sets you apart from the crowd. And, no matter what look you’re going for, there is a billet grille that delivers it. With the wide selection of billet grilles out there, however, you may be uncertain which one you should choose. Here’s the low-down on the different styles of billet grilles available, as well as the top billet grille brands.

Styles

Bar Billet Grille
 

A bar bumper grille is made with billet bars extending horizontally across your ride’s front end. Typically, they’re crafted from high-quality billet aluminum or stainless steel.

Mesh Billet Grilles
 

A mesh grille is designed to look like mesh (imagine that), and, depending on the look you’re after, you can choose chrome mesh grilles, black mesh grilles, wire mesh grilles, or mesh grille inserts.

Punch Billet Grilles
 

Punch billet grilles add industrial impact to your ride’s front end. They’re designed with an elliptical design, and they’re built tough, typically crafted from stainless steel or a high-grade billet aluminum.

Bumper Grilles
 

A bumper grille fills in the gaps, completing your ride’s custom look. They’re designed to match your custom billet grille for even more personalized style.

Brands

When it comes to selecting a top-quality billet grille, you’ll want to make sure you’re buying a brand that you can trust. So, which brands can you trust? Among the best in billet grille manufacturers are Putco, Carriage Works and RBP.

Putco

Putco has more than 35 years of experience designing long-lasting, great-looking billet grilles. Putco crafts every billet grille with exceptional quality and durability.

Carriage Works

With more than 25 years in the industry, Carriage Works knows a thing or two about designing top-notch billet grilles. Every billet grille they design is custom-crafted to fit your ride to a tee.

RBP

RBP billet grilles deliver a tough, bold look every time. RBP uses innovative and high-quality materials and designs to craft some of the best looking and most durable billet grilles on the market.

They say milk does a body good, and it probably does, but they may not be talking about the same bodies that brought you here to Overlander. “They” are talking about human bodies and the benefits that said bodies can get from ingesting heavy doses of bovine mammary emissions—mmmm! We, of course, are talking about auto bodies. And what does an auto body good? Custom body kits, that’s what. Besides, most of us here at Overlander adhere to that old rule of thumb that warns “never drink anything opaque.” So, if you’re here to learn about mammalian mammary juice, wrong site. If you’re here to learn about bumper covers, hoods and fenders—welcome aboard!

Custom body kits are the easiest way to transform your ride’s exterior. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a 94 horsepower weakling wheezing away under the hood, you can make that thing look like it’s going 200 mph with the simple addition of some well-placed body parts. The most common accessory used to add some contour to your car is the spoiler. Readily available and fairly easy to install, spoilers and wings come in a wide variety of styles and materials. Technically designed to add downforce, most spoilers are non-functional and really only add style force.

Next are hoods. Again, hoods are an easy addition for any do-it-yourselfer and there are a ton of companies to choose from. Some hoods are crafted fromfiberglass, plastic or carbon fiber and designed to reduce weight. But some hoods, like ram air hoods, provide some performance functionality as well. They’re equipped with a scoop that feeds air into a specially designed air intake so the motor is primed with power-producing oxygen. Once installed, an aftermarket hood may look a bit out of place, but most body kit manufacturers offer matching fenders to complete the custom look.

Beyond these essentials, there are a few other odds and ends you may want to consider when outfitting your ride. Rocker panels can give your vehicle a lowered “street” look without the hassle of messing with suspension. Window louvers and side view mirrors are a great addition to bolster the slippery streamlined look that’s popular with customizers these days. And lastly, you may want to get a custom cup holder to keep that big frothy mug of milk from spilling all over your interiors.

Back in 1971, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 215, which in essence made bumpers on automobiles mandatory. But long before they had to, auto manufacturers were not only adding bumpers to their cars, they were elevating the bumper to a high art form. Back in the 50s, a time known for design flamboyance and the massive use of chrome plating, artillery shell-shaped bumpers known as Dagmars were in vogue. Crafted from solid slabs of pure American steel, the look fell out of style by 1960 due to massive weight and a switch in auto design to a more aerodynamic look.

Today, most vehicle bumpers are actually hidden inside the body work behind the bumper covers. Massive chrome slatherings no longer appeal to the American consumer, and the more streamlined looks have taken precedence. Front and rear bumpers are now integrated into the sleek body stylings, with the actual shock-absorbing functionality cleverly disguised within the inner workings of the chassis. Unfortunately, it seems like the big bumper fad has finally run its course—or has it?

There is one group of automotive enthusiasts out there embracing the benefits and style of ultra-massive bumpers—the off-roaders. Realizing that the rigors of off-road driving takes a serious toll on their vehicles, companies like Smittybilt and Rugged Ridge are building elaborate bumpers, complete with plates and bars and heavy-duty welds. These set ups are designed to hold jacks, winches and other off-road tools, as well as the ability to take a beating. Plus, if a driver needs to help a buddy get unstuck, they can just kiss the other rig with their off-road bumper and be on their way.

Whether you’re a fan of the old artillery-shell styled Dagmars on a 58 Caddy, the sleek plastic bumper covers found on modern day street cruisers or those solid-steel, skid-plate equipped winch-mount bumpers that are all the rage in the rock-crawling scene, the aftermarket is the place to find ‘em. Just make sure your vehicle’s equipped with bumpers in some form or another, cuz without ‘em, you’ll be getting a quick fix-it-ticket from those boys in blue.

There are trucks and then there are trucks. And, for the later, the simple act of getting up and into the cab is unbelievably daunting. Now, take a look at your truck. With those large wheels, beefy tires and that outrageously high lift kit you installed, your truck definitely fits the description of a truck. The only question is, “how are you going to fix that without sacrificing your truck’s aggressive style?” The answer is simple: give your legs the added boost that simultaneously boosts your rig’s looks—with nerf bars or running boards.

Nerf bars and running boards are one of the most common aftermarket accessories you can affix to your truck and still keep that exterior looking vicious. Whether you’re looking for wheel-to-wheel support or simply some side steps, they all get the job done—it’s up to you to choose the look you want to achieve.

But when it comes to choosing the perfect set of leg-helpers, there’s more to it than just the length of cab they span, like the finish and the brand. Most running boards are available in multitudes of finishes from black powder coat to polished stainless steel, and even custom paint-matched—it’s your choice. And, when it comes to brands, there are plenty. But, when you need the highest quality, these 5 companies are a sure thing:

Dee Zee – Originated in Des Moines, Iowa, they are known for their quality truck accessories. In fact, they even have more than 120 varieties of running boards.

Putco – Since 1975, Putco launched onto the aftermarket accessory industry. They started their business with the very first running board patent in the United States.

Rugged Ridge – If the name doesn’t already imply it, Rugged Ridge’s products are ultra durable for drivers who love the rugged outdoors. And, there assortment of running boards and nerf boards are crafted from materials that stand up to off-road challenges.

Steelcraft – Cold, hard steel. When you’re looking for expertly crafted stainless steel running boards, there’s no competition.

Westin – Since 1970, Westin has been producing top quality truck accessories. In fact, they are one of the most widely chosen brands of tubular products across the United States.