Now that you have your truck, it’s time to make sure you’re getting the most out of it, with the must-have pickup truck accessories of 2021. Accessories allow you to customize your truck to fit your needs and lifestyle. There are so many options out there that will help you avoid spending too much, and get the right accessories with the biggest bang for your buck. No matter how you use your truck, there are some aftermarket add-ons that you really should consider.
In this article we’ll go over the main categories of accessories and our top recommendations. These are the main aftermarket parts that every pickup truck owner should consider buying:
- Floor Liners
- Tonneau Cover
- Seat Covers
- Tool Box
- Bed Mats
- Running Boards
- Vent Visors
Floor Liners
Pickup floor mats or liners protect the carpeted floor of your truck’s cab from whatever you track in. Whether it’s snow, water, or mud, the mess can accumulate over time. Owning a solid set of rubber mats cut to the perfect size means you just need to hose them off or run them through the washer belt at the car wash.
Why You Might Need Floor Liners
The carpet floor mats that come with your truck aren’t built to last or stand up to any kind of rough treatment. If your truck is a commuter vehicle only, you might be able to get away with relying on those. But if you’re going to be wearing snowy or muddy shoes, carrying passengers, or just generally being messy in your car, you’ll want to upgrade your pickup truck floor mats. A set of sturdy floor mats can ensure you’re not doing long-lasting damage to your truck.
Our Recommendation
It’s easy to pick a winner here. WeatherTech Truck Floor Mats are a classic and a long-time favorite of pickup truck drivers. They offer a universal size, but even better, they also come in custom sizes for most makes and models of trucks and come in heavy duty materials like rubber. In general, you can’t go wrong with the WeatherTech brand, they’re an industry heavyweight for a reason.
Picture Courtesy of WeatherTech
Tonneau Covers
A tonneau covers the top of your truck bed and anything you’re carrying in it. Tonneau covers are a classic must-have truck accessory and come in lots of different styles including rolling, folding, and stretching. Materials vary from solid fiberglass pieces that need to be lifted onto your truck with a small crane, to a flexible textile that stretches over uneven cargo that sits above the truck bed rails.
Why You Might Need a Tonneau Cover
Your truck bed is awesome for hauling cargo, but without a tonneau cover your belongings are left exposed to the elements. Rain and snow are an obvious problem, but even hot sun or dirt and dust can damage your things or even your truck bed itself. A truck bed cover eliminates the threat of exposure. A pickup tonneau cover can even help prevent theft by keeping your belongings out of sight, or in some cases locked up underneath the cover.
Our Recommendation
There are so many tonneau covers that it can be hard to pick the best one for you. How do you balance a truck bed cover that isn’t too heavy, with one that is still tough enough to stand up to bad weather and piled-up snow? What about a cover that doesn’t get in the way when it’s not needed, or even one that can cover your items even if they’re on the bigger side? Sawtooth’s STRETCH Tonneau strikes the best balance of truck bed covers out there. It’s the only flexible tonneau that can expand to cover whatever load you’re carrying. Even if you’re hauling a larger item like a kayak, this tonneau can keep it protected.
Seat Covers
Seat covers are probably the most self-explanatory of all truck accessories. From spilling a drink, to wearing dirty clothes after a long day at the worksite or a fishing trip, eventually you’re going to make a mess in your truck. With your seats covered by the best heavy duty truck seat covers, you’ll make clean up easier and won’t have to worry about being careful with your truck’s interior.
Why You Might Need Seat Covers
Seat covers as pickup truck accessories are a hot topic for drivers because while they definitely add a lot of utility, they also can change the appearance of your truck’s interior. Luckily, there are plenty of options out there so you can choose one that looks as close as possible to the way you like. Will you have kids riding along in your truck? If so, seat covers will be an extra appealing option for you and are definitely worth considering.
Our Recommendation
If you need the best heavy duty truck seat covers, take a look at these Fia LeatherLite Seat Covers. Despite their name, they can stand up to all kinds of wear and tear and even offer a 2 year warranty. With a custom fit for your vehicle, they’ll look nice too. Another popular option is the best neoprene truck seat covers. If that’s a good fit for your needs, check out these Rough Country Neoprene Seat Covers which are easy-to-install and offer a snug, streamlined fit for your truck seats.
Picture Courtesy of Rough Country
Storage Solutions & Tool Boxes
Cargo management options range from full bed trays that can slide out of your truck bed for loading, to nets that section off parts of the bed, to a simple toolbox that sits up near the cab.
Why You Might Need a Storage Solution
Cargo management is one of the top big truck accessories for any pickup truck owner. One of the best parts of your truck is how much it can carry. It will be capable of carrying even more when you put some effort into organization. Plus you can prevent your things from rolling and sliding around when you accelerate or take a quick turn. If you’re on the fence, just ask yourself if you always have loose items in your truck bed. If so, it’s worth investing in a storage solution. If you’re only occasionally hauling a large item and don’t always have some tools lying around, you might not need one of these.
Our Recommendation
The options here are pretty much endless because of how customizable some of the cargo management systems out there can be. A great place for most truck owners to start is a simple toolbox. This aluminum crossbed toolbox by Weather Guard boasts a nearly five-star rating due to its lifetime guarantee, weather-proof finish, and commercial grade locks. We’re willing to bet it’s the most secure truck tool box on the market.
Picture Courtesy of Weather Guard
Bed Mats
A pickup truck bed mat covers the floor of your truck bed to protect it from scratches and damage over time from exposure. They come in different materials and finishes so you can find one that blends in well with your truck bed. If you don’t want your bed mat to be noticeable at all--that’s definitely an option!
Why You Might Need a Bed Mat
When you’re looking for truck accessories, keep in mind that investing in a truck bed liner can extend the life span of your truck bed. Plus, you don’t have to worry as much about being careful as you load and unload your truck. An extra perk is that you’ll also save yourself from the scratches and scrapes to your knees that are inevitable when kneeling to grab something out of the back of your truck.
Our Recommendation
Pickup truck bed mats are a crowded field, but we prefer Westin Truck Bed Mats. They’re cut to size for a custom fit, offer 3/8" of rubber protection, and are made in the U.S. (This means a lot to us too, so we make all Sawtooth Tonneaus here in the U.S.A.). These are the best truck bed mats for most drivers. Plus, they’ll work whether or not you have a spray liner in your truck bed.
Picture Courtesy of Dee Zee
Pickup Running Boards
Running boards and step boards serve a pretty obvious purpose: they make it easier to get in and out of your truck. When you start shopping you’ll quickly learn how many different models you can buy. Two common products you’ll come across are running boards and nerf bars. At first glance the two might look interchangeable, but they have different sets of pros and cons. Pickup truck running boards come standard with some trucks and serve as a simple step down. Nerf bars, on the other hand, have a tube shape instead of a flat profile, and they are a more rugged option that can serve well if you go offroading often. Read more about these two options on Car Parts.
Why You Might Need Running Boards
If your truck doesn’t come with running boards, they are a popular first big truck accessory purchase that you’ll see the benefits from right away. If you’re driving a full-size truck you know that stepping up and down without pickup running boards can be a pain. Plus, if you have kids who might be passengers, running boards will be a necessity.
Our Recommendation
If you’re in the market for a new set, your first stop should be Running Board Warehouse Running Boards. Their website is the perfect place to compare models, read reviews, and get good deals on most brands. They offer pickup truck running boards in pretty much any style and look you can imagine.
Picture Courtesy of Go Rhino
Vent Visors
Vent visors are a type of deflector that help keep wind and rain out of your windows, even if they’re cracked while you’re driving. They are easy to install, too, and don’t require any extra tools.
Why You Might Need Vent Visors
Do you like driving with your windows open? Do you ever worry about water getting in? When one of your truck accessories is a good set of vent visors, you don’t have to worry about water entering your car, even on a windy day. You’ll still be able to crack your windows either driving or parked, even while it’s raining. Great vent visors are built to still let fresh air in without letting water come in with it.
Our Recommendation
If you want the best vent visors for your truck, take a look at AVS Ventvisors (AVS stands for Auto VentShade). They are industry experts and offer not only side window visors, but also a deep selection of bug shields, hood protection, and light covers, too. Their range of high-quality accessories complements the truck AVS ventvisor window deflectors and will keep your pickup protected from front to back.
Picture Courtesy of AVS Ventvisors
Conclusion
At the end of the day, pickup truck accessories are a way to take a truck that many other people own and make it uniquely your own. Whether you want to invest in gear that protects your truck bed and the cargo in it, or things like pickup floor mats that improve the in-cab experience, this is your chance to customize your ride. From pickup truck bed mats to pickup truck running boards, you can find your perfect combination of accessories. Ready to shop tonneau covers? Our team of truck experts is ready to help! Give us a call at 801-692-3368 or check out our expandable tonneau covers custom fit for your truck’s make and model. Shop for Ford Maverick truck bed covers, Nissan Frontier truck bed covers, a Chevy Colorado bed cover or any other make and model.