Get your vehicle ready for tailgate season

For fall sports enthusiasts, this time of year means one thing: It's tailgating time.

Whether you're planning to tailgate at your daughter's soccer game, in the parking lot of your college alma mater or favorite professional football stadium, your vehicle is the center of the tailgating experience. So why not get it ready to tailgate in style?

"Small changes like repairing scratches, brightening wheels or reviving a worn truck bed can really improve the look of a vehicle," says Melissa Grimm, brand manager for Rust-Oleum Automotive. "These simple projects are so easy and inexpensive, any car owner can tackle them without losing precious tailgating time."

Repair tiny nicks, chips and scratches. We all know that car and truck doors can easily be scratched by runaway shopping carts or other car doors. But, it's never been easier to repair small dings and scratches with products like Rust-Oleum Scratch & Chip Repair Markers. The squeeze bottles have a dual-applicator tip design that can be used as a brush or marker so the paint applies easily, and nicks can be repaired quickly.

Roll up to the game in style. Now, you can customize your wheels without the custom price tag. For less than $30, you can make your existing wheels look brand new with paint like Rust-Oleum High Performance Wheel spray paint. Try a color like graphite to enhance the color of your current plastic hub caps and aluminum or steel wheels. Or, use black or steel to give them the appearance of their expensive custom aftermarket counterparts. Check out videos on YouTube to learn how to complete this project step by step.

Revive your truck bed. It's just not classic tailgating unless you're sitting on the back of a truck. But, after years of hauling everything from lumber to your neighbor's old sofa to your tailgate barbecue grill, your truck bed's finish may be rusting, peeling or just look worn. You can revive it and make it look brand new by applying a truck bed coating, such as Rust-Oleum Professional Grade Truck Bed Liner. The rubberized coating is made with recycled tires and gives truck beds a jet black, textured non-skid finish. The tough, rust-resistant finish is abrasion, chemical and impact resistant so it will last through season after season. One kit includes enough coating to redo an eight foot truck bed.

Don't forget the barbecue grill. If you're like most people, you've probably put a little mileage on your tailgate barbecue grill. But don't be tempted to replace it just because its finish is worn or rusted. It's easy to give it a facelift with one coat of Rust-Oleum BBQ & Stove Paint. The tough black protective enamel renews and protects surfaces up to 1200 F and will keep it looking good tailgate after tailgate.

For more easy and inexpensive project ideas for cars, trucks, and around the home, visit www.rustoleum.com.