Vehicle modifications are cosmetic and performance alterations made to a person's vehicle in order to customize it, make it look cooler, or enhance the performance. It seems that these days, all most people ever care about is modifying there already capable vehicles. Sure, modifications are awesome, but sometimes they just aren't necessary. In fact, some modifications even damage the mechanical ins and outs, making the automobile or motorbike worse than it was before. Sadly, numerous television shows and movies such as the Fast and the Furious franchise, reinforce the idea that all modifications will work spectacularly and not hinder the vehicle. Furthermore, there seems to be no limit in regards to how far people will go when modifying their vehicles. The main problem is that most vehicle modifications are completely useless, and most importantly, a complete waste of money. Studies also show that vehicle modifications actually lower the value of the automobile or motorbike, with customers often indulging in useless car parts or dragons spray painted on the side of their vehicle.

But what about when you take it to the next level? Pickup truck modifications are these days all the rage, with some owners going all out with regards to customizing their pickup. However, most pickups just can't deal with the extra mods and end up worse off than before. Let's take a look at 20 pickup mods that people think increase performance (they don't).

20 Tailgate Nets

The tailgate net is designed to keep air moving through the truck while driving as well as adding style to your pickup. Sadly, the tailgate net doesn't succeed in any of these things and instead makes your truck look incredibly silly and stupid.

For some reason, thousands of truck owners across the road are adamant that the tailgate net increases fuel economy and performance thus expanding the gas mileage.

But guess what? A number of scientific tests have shown otherwise with some proving that the opposite happens instead. Yes, the net actually reduces mileage and the pickup trucks overall performance. Go figure.

19 Large Lifts

A big fat lift on your truck is designed to do a number of things. For instance, attaching some monster wheels, making your frame all that more visible, or simply attempting to look good. In fact, most truck owners believe that lifts make life easier for you when you drive off-road, with it said that it gives you much more ground clearance. Sadly, this is false. Because the frame is more visible the gaps in the fender wells become exposed, therefore not only does the truck look pretty damn ugly, it is also prone to messing with the handling and the driveline components. Basically, just don't do it.

18 Xenon Lights

Xenon lights first became popular around the early 1990s when they were seen plastered over a number of BMWs. These days, they are now all the rage and are extremely popular, especially with pickup trucks.

The lights are designed to give drivers more visibility on the road and to make their vehicle look that little bit more flash. However, in reality, they actually cause other drivers numerous problems.

For instance, when used to the full effect, they "blind" other drivers causing some serious problems and accidents. They are really a true driving hazard and should be avoided at all cost.

17 Spinner Hubcaps

Spinners, which were founded in The United States Of America, became a "must have" car accessory in the early 90s. Designed to make your vehicle look more expensive, rappers and sports stars quickly jumped on the bandwaggon to bag these so-called beautiful beasts. Sadly, a number of cheap knock-offs began being distributed throughout the world resulting in cheap material and an even cheaper appearance. Needless to say, the "fad" got so out of hand, a song was made by the Three Six Mafia urging people to stop their vehicle and let the spinners keep spinning. Gross.

16 Loud Bass (Subwoofers)

Subwoofers come in all shapes and sizes depending on your vehicle and are designed to give you a better quality of music. However, in reality, subwoofers are extremely annoying not to mention expensive.

Not only do they put you out of pocket they also steal all your space in your car, and what for? A silly noise that irritates everybody around you.

Plus, due to the weight of the silly thing, it constantly eats away at your gas, resulting in more money being spent. So, if you want a day out with your friends forget it, you'll have to leave one of them behind to make room for your bass booster and fill that tank up more often.

15 Undercarriage Lighting

Probably one of the most stupid mods on the list, undercarriage lighting is available in Neon or LED form and created to make your truck look smokin' hot after nightfall. However, this it does not do and instead makes you look like a wannabe rock star or someone who thinks they are very important. In fact, several of the neon colors have been banned in the USA as they have been known to distract other drivers, and vehicles can also be mistaken for the emergency services. And if that wasn't enough, the tiny tubes are also filled with gas and are prone to breaking, so forget going over a speedbump.

14 Humungous Exhausts

A large performance exhaust males your truck sound extremely powerful and efficient, as well as strong and reliable, or so people think anyway.

In fact, large exhausts are so expensive that they burn even bigger price tags into your pockets as well as burning holes into the environment.

Not only that, the exhausts are so loud that it also contributes to noise pollution as well as irritating everybody who is within 5 miles of you. So, no, big exhausts don't make your truck your powerful, they don't enhance the performance and they certainly don't look good. They just really annoy your fellow drivers and pedestrians.

13 Stick-On Hood Vents (Hood Scoops)

Hood scoops are a component designed to go on the hood of your vehicle which provides a better airflow for your truck as well as giving it more of a "sports car" kind of look. These days they are very popular with more and more vehicles adopting the hood scoop design. But, guess what? They don't provide a better airflow at all and instead cause more damage than good. For instance, to install one you have to drill a hole in your hood, leaving the front of your car looking bullet-ridden. Furthermore, the scoop allows dirt and debris to enter your engine bay. So if you like cleaning and drilling holes in the hood of your truck this one is for you.

12 A-Pillar Gauges 

Stylish gauges come in all shape and sizes and used for a handful of things. For instance, they can be used for the speedometer, the temperature, and the oil pressure, yes, you get the point. The gauges offer your truck a sleeker and sportslike appearance, but not without the worries of whether they're actually working properly.

Gauges are known for giving shoddy information which then causes drivers to drive faster without realizing.

This then results in heavy fines and speeding tickets. Gas gauges are also pretty awful and give drivers false information with regards to the amount of gas in their tank, and nobody wants that do they?

11 Fake Performance Badges

Let's be honest, we all want a nice vehicle which provides us with the best performance possible. Therefore, by sticking performance badges to your vehicle, you are showing what your vehicle is capable of, right? Wrong. Sadly, most people don't know the differences between such performance badges and automobile benefits, therefore when car enthusiasts notice such things it can become irritating. In fact, car enthusiasts are sick and tired of seeing bogus badges plastered on vehicles. You should be proud of the car you're driving, if not, maybe get a new one so you don't need to try and disguise what wheel you're sitting behind.

10 Scissor Doors

The Lamborghini was the first production car to produce the Scissor car door and required some hardcore mods to the vehicle. But what's the point? Once they're fitted there's no going back.

That's right, you'll need to spend a small fortune on fitting the doors as well as completely ruining your car for good.

Also, be prepared, as you'll be teaching people how to open the door so they don't get damaged for years and years. Furthermore, they have been known to fall off their hinges when slammed too hard. Save yourself some cash and keep your original door maybe?

9 Window Tints

Modifying your truck with window tints gives the impression that you are a celebrity, a VIP, or a person so important that you have to hide from the general public. However, people with window tints are most likely not, and just have them installed to look cool. People think they protect you from UV light, but guess what? They don't. In fact, some tints are illegal across the globe, because they're too dark and can make your vehicle look suspicious, so be prepared for those "random" police stops. They can also give the driver a lower level of visibility, therefore it is advisable that you avoid things like tunnels if you like to see when you are driving.

8 Racing Stripes

Some classic vehicles are born to have racing stripes on them, and yes they actually do look kind of cool. But pickup trucks? No. Having racing stripes on your truck is a controversial subject, to say the least. Yes, they may give your truck a kind of sporting theme or whatever you would like to call it, but they can also make you look like a bit of a poser. In fact, some owners believe that racing stripes make your truck go faster. Seriously. But, sadly this is not true. Automobile fanatics say that if you're crazy about your vehicle, then it is best to leave the stripes to the ones that deserve them.

7 Body Kits

Applying a body kit to your truck is a good way to make your vehicle look a little more classy as well as brand new. In fact, body kits are also sometimes used for old trucks that need a "facelift" or a little sprucing up.

However, if you haven't had extensive shop training, be prepared to spend a lot of money. Cheap parts don't exist and if you do find them they are probably faulty or the wrong one for your vehicle.

Therefore, the only way to get one fitted is to spend a small fortune which is sometimes more than the price of a brand new car. In reality, they are a complete waste of money and you are better off just gutting your truck for parts and buying a new one.

6 Low Riders

Low riders are the most ridiculous modification to come out of the 20th century. Low rider research shows that the fad became apparent in Mexico during the 1920's. Men used to parade around slowly to show off their vehicles in other villages and car shows. However, realistically they are more of a burden than a help. That's right, not only are you forced to drive extremely slowly but you also have to avoid hills. Basically, low riders are pointless and exceptionally awkward for everyday use. Forget driving over a speed bump, in the snow or the rain, or anywhere actually.

5 Fake Engine Sounds

Fake engine noises have recently been dubbed "dirty little secrets" and are designed to give the impression that your truck is much better than it actually is. However, basically, it is all a big sham and the noises are simply, well, just noise.

In fact, some truck owners have been tricked into believing that the extra bangs and bashes are actually improving the trucks performance.

But, sorry to break it to you, they are most definitely not. The truck noise also offends bystanders, neighborhoods and pretty much every other driver on the road, so stop it.

4 Chrome Fit

Let's be honest, Chromed vehicles have become a massive celebrity trend over the years and are designed to make your vehicle look expensive. In fact, it is expensive, and a Chromed wrap actually costs a small fortune. However, although owners believe that they protect the car from air pollution and of course, the weather, they actually hinder your car more than anything. The chroming process is extremely toxic and requires numerous layers if you want it to look good. Furthermore, it also weighs your vehicle down and increases your gas cost. And if you want it super shiny? That's also going to cost you, the car will need a coating of nickel before the chroming process has even started. Crazy.

3 Wind Deflector

A window deflector or a rain visor is usually installed above the doors of a standard vehicle and protects you from the rain, wind, or any other strange object while your windows are down.

Yes, they're cheap, but when it comes to fitting these bad boys the costs can rocket. Plus, prepare to have your noise level increased.

When driving the noise from these little deflectors can reach a ridiculous pitch and can even distract you from concentrating on the road. Plus, the windows won't even close properly as small clips are used on the windows. Next time, just get air conditioning.

2 Massive Wheels

Increasing the size of your wheels on your truck can make you look pretty awesome, or so people think anyway. Most truck owners believe that big wheels help with the performance, thus the bigger the wheel, the better the road handling experience. However, this is wrong, huge wheels actually make it difficult to meet load requirements, although the problem can be resolved by adding additional material, so that's okay right? Wrong again. This can cause problems for the suspension due to the increased weight which therefore starts guzzling your gas. Oh, and the additional weight can also cause bearings, spindles and brake systems. If you want your brakes to work, avoid this one.

1 Rolling Coal

Rolling coal is a practice that involves increasing the amount of diesel in the engine. This process causes a large amount of pollution which then causes serious respiratory issues and really makes the driver look like a complete moron.

Furthermore, rolling coals are intimidating to other drivers and are known to act as a form of aggression. And, if that wasn't bad enough, rolling coal can cost drivers anything between $200-$5,00o, so it's also expensive as well as dumb.

In July 2014, the practice was made illegal by the United States Environmental Protection Agency offering drivers a hefty $5,000 fine if they are caught doing it.

Sources: autotrader.co.uk, theindependent.com, motors.co.uk