Put Your Truck to Work With These 10 Accessories

Class 1 (Mid-Size)

Class 1 pickups are light-duty, mid-size models, like the Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, and Toyota Tacoma. These pickups typically feature smaller-displacement, four or six-cylinder engines boasting solid fuel economy and decent overall power. While not engineered to tow heavy loads or haul a pallet of pavers, class 1 pickups are ideal for carrying tools and gear to and from a job site. They’re also terrific for those that regularly commute for work!

Class 2A (Full-Size Light-Duty)

Class 2A pickups are still considered light-duty; however, this class moves into the full-size, half-ton range, like Ford F-150s, Chevy Silverado 1500s, and RAM 1500s. While not the top of the food chain, class 2 pickups offer the convenience of a full-size bed (up to eight feet), larger cabs, longer wheelbases, and more powerful engines, resulting in higher payloads and towing capacities! These pickups can haul a substantial amount of cargo and tow solidly well, with modern half-tons boasting towing capacities of around 10,000 pounds (depending on the configuration.)

Class 2B (Full-Size Medium-Duty)

Class 2B pickups account for most medium-duty, full-size trucks, like the RAM 2500, Ford F-250, and Chevy Silverado 2500. While Class 2B pickups, also called ¾-tons, share several qualities with Class 2A, these pickups are engineered for commercial work, often packing turbo-diesel powertrains, beefed-up chassis and drivetrains, and eight-foot-long beds. 

Class 3 (Full-Size Medium-Duty)

Class 3 pickups are also considered medium-duty compared to semi trucks and large box trucks; however, they feature heavier payloads and towing capacities than their Class 2B counterparts. Class 3 accounts for most 1-ton pickups, like the RAM 3500, Ford F-350, and Silverado 3500. This class usually adds DRW availability and high-output powertrains, significantly bolstering towing and payload capacities.

Tool Boxes

Let’s begin with the basics; It doesn't matter which trade you’re in; every work truck needs safe and secure storage for tools, supplies, and gear. There’s no better solution than a toolbox, offering a weatherproof and theft-proof compartment that keeps your cargo out of the cab. There are several toolbox styles, mounting in different locations and offering unique features; however, we prefer the convenience of a classic crossover or side mount.

Crossover tool boxes, like the Merritt Smooth Aluminum Crossbody Tool Box, offer classic rail-to-rail styling and loads of storage space; they also typically sit above your pickup’s bed floor, allowing you to slide eight-foot boards and full plywood sheets up against the bulkhead.

Side-mount tool boxes, like Dee Zee Red Label Side Mount Tool Boxes, offer easy tool access, mounting above your pickup’s bedside and featuring an outward-facing door or top lid. They’re also minimally invasive, retaining most of your pickup’s cargo space.

Bed Liners

The average work truck’s bed sees more abuse in a single month than a daily-driven family hauler does in a lifetime! And as such, it’s essential to protect your work truck’s bed against unnecessary damages, ensuring years of reliable service. Arguably the best means of protecting your pickup’s box is installing a premium bed liner! 

Bed liners come in several different styles, including plastic drop-in, spray-in coatings, heavy-duty rubber, and polyethylene fiber; however, they all serve the same general purpose: guarding your pickup’s bed against impacts and abrasions that’d result in unsightly, rust-prone dents and scrapes. 

For work trucks, we’d recommend a rugged DIY spray, like the Al's Liner Do It Yourself Spray On Bed Liner. For additional protection, consider adding a heavy-duty rubber bed mat, like the Gator Rubber Truck Bed Mat. Not only does this mat offer exceptional impact resistance, but it also prevents excess cargo shifting while you drive!

Interior Protection

Most work trucks get used as commuters to and from the job site. If that’s the case, you’re likely spending two to three hours per day behind the wheel! Why do so in an uncomfortable, dirty, and worn-out interior? 

Every work truck can benefit from quality interior protection, keeping your seats and factory carpeting (if equipped) free from tears, stains, and excessive wear and tear. Plus, these products preserve your work truck’s resale value! 

We recommend vehicle-specific, all-weather floor mats for every work truck, like Husky Liners WeatherBeater Floor Liners. These premium floor mats offer an exceptional fit and finish, guarding against spills, muddy work boots, snow, and anything else you can throw their way! 

For seat covers, consider the blue-collar styling and superior protection of Covercraft Carhartt Seat Covers, manufactured from genuine Carhartt duck fabric, in Carhartt colors, with the iconic Carhartt logo stitched directly into the headrests. These seat covers are water, stain, puncture, and abrasion-resistant, protecting your ride’s upholstery from your dirty, sweaty work clothes after a long day on the job.

Truck Racks

Regarding work trucks, there’s no such thing as too much cargo space. Especially if you’re piloting a short-bed pickup, consider bolstering your pickup's carrying capacity with a premium truck rack! 

For a multi-purpose ladder rack, we recommend the original WEATHER GUARD Steel Truck Rack, featuring a robust steel construction, heavy-duty black powder coat finish, and up to 1,700-pound carrying capacity! With its over-the-roof design and integrated side rails, you can easily transport ten-foot boards, long stretches of pipe, electrical conduit, and more!

We also carry rugged headache racks, like the Backrack Three Light Headache Rack, offering exceptional rear-window protection, auxiliary lighting, and a sturdy means of transporting ladders, wall studs, and other oversized cargo.

Cargo Slides

Continually hopping in and out of your work truck’s bed can be a hassle, adding unnecessary strain to your already tired body from laying flooring, framing, hanging drywall, or anything else on the job site! Take a load off with a premium bed slide, allowing full access to your cargo right off the tailgate!  

Cargo slides, like the CargoGlide CG1000 Truck Bed Cargo Slide, feature a sliding platform riding on a rugged steel frame with sealed roller bearings, reducing friction for an effortless extension. Most feature cargo capacities similar to or higher than your pickup’s, allowing you to load building materials, equipment, and other sizable cargo without fatigue. 

Alternatively, we carry cargo slides with integrated drawers, like the DECKED Truck Bed Storage System. The Decked system takes the place of a cargo slide and a toolbox, allowing quick access to your tools and gear as well as lockable and weatherproof storage!

Hitches and Ball Mounts

Whether or not you regularly tow, a quality trailer hitch and ball mount are essential to any work truck! These must-have components allow you to safely and efficiently haul cargo trailers, run to the landfill to dispose of old building materials, bring fresh building materials to the job site, and more! 

While most pickups come with a tow package, you can always upgrade to a heavy-duty hitch, like the Curt Class V! This premier trailer hitch is ideal for medium-duty pickups, like ¾ and 1-tons, offering exceptional strength and a simple, bolt-on design. And to adjoin the hitch receiver to your trailer, you’ll need a quality ball mount, like the Weigh Safe Adjustable 180 Ball Mount. This product features an adjustable design for compatibility with various height trailers and a 180-degree design, allowing you to alternate between conventional 2-inch and 2-5/16 inch hitch balls.

Tie-Downs and Straps

If you plan to haul cargo in your work truck’s bed or on a flat-deck cargo trailer, you’ll need quality tie-downs and straps to secure your load! Heavy-duty straps and tie-downs help to keep your cargo from shifting while driving, protecting your truck, your cargo, and other drivers on the road. 

We recommend installing tie-down anchors in your pickup’s bed, like Bull Ring Retractable Tie Downs. These sleek tie-downs mount in your pickup’s stake pocket holes and offer an intuitive retractable design, tucking below the bed rails when not in use and popping up for easy access when required for tying-off cargo! 

With your anchors taken care of, you’ll need dependable straps, like the Supreme Suspensions Ratchet Strap. These high-strength polyester straps offer exceptional durability, safely withstanding forces up to 1,460 pounds! They’re also weather and UV-resistant, ensuring a long service life in even the harshest conditions.

Safety & Cargo Lighting

No work truck is complete without auxiliary lighting, whether safety lights for roadside service or vibrant cargo lights to load and unload your tools on a dark job site. Proper lighting isn’t just convenient but also a safety consideration, preventing injuries from lack of visibility. 

The Putco Hornet 16-Inch Stealth LED Light Bar is the perfect addition to any work truck, especially for those that regularly work in poorly-lit conditions. This compact, roof-mounted light bar features multiple preset patterns, fully-encapsulated electronics, a compact 16-inch design, and over 50,000 hours of life expectancy!

For a budget-friendly work light, consider the Trux Accessories 6-Inch Rectangle LED Work Lamp, featuring a compact 6-inch design, vibrant 900-lumen output, amber and white illumination, and strobe/spot functionality!

Bed Steps

When you work out of your pickup, accessibility is key; there’s no sense in throwing out your back or knees climbing into your pickup’s bed before you even clock in! Instead, save your body with a quality bed step, like the AMP Research Bed Step. This sleek, retractable bed step offers easy access into the bed beside the rear bumper, allowing you to climb onto your pickup’s tailgate or rear step bumper with ease. 

Alternatively, we also offer running boards with integrated bed steps just before the rear tire, like the N-Fab Textured Black Bed Access Podium Steps! These steps feature an integrated hoop step at your pickup’s bedside, allowing easy access to tools in your crossover toolbox or cargo near the bulkhead.

All-Terrain Tires

As a final addition to every work truck, we recommend a quality set of all-terrain tires, like the Nitto Recon Grappler or Falken Wildpeak A/T3W. All-terrain tires are especially useful if you regularly work at job sites in remote areas, allowing you to claw through loose dirt, mud, and other challenging terrain types, even with a fully-loaded bed! All-terrain tires offer exceptional characteristics on and off-road, ensuring a comfortable work commute and ample traction when needed!