Truck nuts

Truck nuts, also known as truck balls, also known as truck scrotums, are accessories for pickup trucks and other vehicles. Capitalizing upon the association of trucks with machismo, truck nuts resemble oversized human testicles inside scrota of various colors. This trend began in the United States in 1998 and first sold on the internet in 1999. Truck nuts are used as a statement by the car, truck, ATV, and/or motorcycle owner to boast/amuse/shock him/her self and others.

Truck nuts 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.

Manufacture

Manufacturers use HDPE, ABS, and PVC plastics to create truck nuts, though hollow aluminum and solid brass can also be found. They can be many different colors, as well as metallic chrome coating and a brass-colored reflective metallic coating.

Criticism

Reaction to these 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" [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] . 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" 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=September 3|accessyear=2007] . 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 . On January 15 2008, Delegate Spruill of Virginia propsed Bill HB1452, which would prohibit truck owners from displaying or otherwise equipping their vehicles with devices resembling human genitalia. cite web|author=Lewis, Bob| url=http://www.tri-cityherald.com/24hour/weird/story/3789192p-13323967c.html| title="Watch what you put on trailer hitches"|work=Tri-City Herald|accessdate=January 16|accessyear=2008] .

Recently, Florida lawmakers have launched an attempt to ban truck nuts, making their display punishable by a $60 fine. [http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN4O32105020080425]

References