Buyers Guide To Different Truck Bed Accessories
There’s no question that pickup trucks are some of the most popular vehicles on the road today. In fact, they’ve become American icons in their own right, with some models holding the spot in the lists of best-selling vehicles in the US for years. Pickup trucks greatly appeal to the public because they are highly versatile and functional. Today, many people buy pickup trucks for daily driving, work, and recreational purposes.
Do you know what the first thing people do when they get a new pickup truck? They buy a bunch of accessories for it. Whether they’re using it for work or play, there’s a ton of different truck accessories and options to make their rig perfectly suited to their needs. However, many new pickup truck owners specifically look for truck bed accessories after buying their vehicle.
For the most part, truck beds are pretty bare-bones when you buy them straight from the dealership. There are so many different truck bed accessories available on the market. It can be difficult to know which ones you exactly need for your vehicle. In this buyer’s guide, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular truck bed accessories on the market and what purposes they serve.
Tonneau Cover
Tonneau covers are one of the most popular truck bed accessories. They protect the contents and bed itself from road elements and harsh weather conditions that can cause damages to your truck bed and belongings. Tonneau covers enclose the truck bed to ensure that you can safely carry your gear and equipment while driving. They also secure your cargo, making the contents locked and hidden away from thieves whenever your truck is parked.
Tonneau covers are available in various materials, including vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, and canvas. They also come in different styles, such as roll-up, folding, and retractable covers. Each style offers its own locking function and safety features.
Truck Bed Rails
Truck bed rails are a pair of long metal rails attached to the truck bed walls and spanning the truck bed length. The rails serve as tie-down areas to help secure large items and small vehicles like ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles. The multiple tie-down points help keep your cargo steady while driving. The rails are also helpful when you need a place to hold on when accessing the truck bed.
Truck Bed Liner
A truck bed liner is a must-have accessory to protect your truck bed from scratches and dents whenever you’re hauling cargo. Without a good bed liner, your truck bed is also vulnerable and exposed to moisture that may cause rust and paint damage.
Bed liners come in bed mats, bed rugs, and spray-in. A bed mat is a simple and inexpensive option, covering the truck bed floor like a carpet. It is soft to the touch, yet it has a tough surface capable of protecting your truck from any damage. The carpet-like texture prevents your cargo from sliding while driving. A bed rug is similar to bed mats, but it covers the entire truck bed, including the bed wall, tailgate, and wheel well. It is a heavy-duty and water-resistant liner with a non-slip surface. The spray-in bed liner applies corrosive-resistant Poly Hybrid compounds to your truck bed using a spray gun. The substance hardens as it covers and protects every nook and cranny of the truck bed. It blocks any dirt and moisture from entering while preserving the contour and design of the truck bed.
Cargo Manager
Transporting all sorts of cargo is one of the essential uses of pickup trucks. The truck bed makes hauling cargo incredibly easy. However, the truck bed contents may slam into the sides and get in disarray as you drive. A cargo manager allows you to restrain, secure, and organize your cargo in your truck bed. It is a simple solution to keep your gear and equipment organized and in place in the bed while driving. It makes it easier to look for the specific item you need to use as it keeps the truck bed clean and free of clutter. Cargo manager includes various options such as stabilizer bar, cargo gate, cargo net, tie-downs, truck bed tray, truck bed pockets, and retrievers.
Truck Bed Toolbox
Whether you’re using your pickup truck for work or recreational activities, owning a truck bed toolbox is very handy. You can use it to store the tools you need for vehicle repair and in times of emergency. It is also secured storage for the gear and equipment you use for work, fishing, camping, and off-roading. The toolbox is placed behind the cab and is usually mounted over or beneath the truck bed rails when you have a tonneau cover installed.
Truck Bed Rack
Truck bed racks help safely transport items taller and longer than the truck bed. The truck rack provides extra space above the bed to haul items such as luggage, bikes, surfboard, kayaks, and more. Most truck racks are compatible with tonneau covers and can support heavy loads of up to 500 lbs. It is available in different sizes, including ones that extend above your truck cab to accommodate taller objects.
Truck Bed Extender
A truck bed extender is an accessory attached to the tailgate end of your pickup truck to provide an extra length of cargo space. It allows you to haul longer cargo like furniture, sporting goods, and hardware materials. A standard truck bed extender looks like a metal tube fence or gate that prevents the cargo from spilling over the tailgate. A hitch-mount bed extender is also available for extra-long loads like boards, lumbers, and ladders. It can support heavy loads and includes reflective tapes to warn other drivers of the extended cargo. Both types of truck bed extensions can be easily stored in the bed when not in use.
Loading Ramp
A loading ramp provides an inclined plane to make it easier to load and unload heavy cargo to your truck bed from the ground or vice versa. Loading ramps are a definite necessity if you frequently carry small vehicles like ATVs, snowmobiles, or motorcycles in your truck bed. It comes in different styles, such as trifold, arched dual ramp, and straight dual ramps. If you’re going to add a ramp, ensure that it comes with safety straps to keep it in place.
When deciding on what truck bed accessories to buy, it is important to consider the purpose they’ll serve in your truck bed. Truck bed accessories are designed with different functions to help you maximize the utility of your truck bed. It doesn’t matter if you want to use your pickup truck for work, daily driving, and play; these truck bed add-ons ensure that your pickup truck is equipped for the task.
