While your truck may be a natural heavy-duty workhorse, it also comes with various customization options that expand its overall functionality. Truck upfits are a great way for you to get more use out of your truck while also improving its multipurpose capability.
There’s nothing quite like customizing your truck to fit your personal preferences and improve your experience behind the wheel.
From bed liners to step bars to cargo carriers, there are various ways that you can personalize your truck. Below, we’ll take a look at the ten must-have upfits that you should consider for your truck.
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Top 10 Truck Upfits
The following truck upfits are what we consider to be the ten must-have upfits in 2021.
- tonneau covers
- bed liners
- toolboxes
- running boards
- winches
- bumpers
- bullbars
- roof racks
- cargo carriers
- towing accessories
Tonneau covers
For any truck owner, tonneau covers are a much-needed upfit, whether you’re looking to protect your truck bed, gear, and equipment you frequently haul or simply give your truck’s bed a sleek look.
Tonneau covers are designed to protect your truck bed from potential hazards by shielding it from road elements and weather conditions.
Tonneau covers are similar to that of a truck cap, but the design is noticeably different, wherein it does not extend to align with the truck cab but instead spreads a flat surface over the truck bed.
Because they can be folded and removed, allowing you easy access to items stored in your truck bed, tonneau covers have a distinct advantage over camper shells in terms of versatility.
Bed liners
Because trucks are constantly exposed to extreme weather conditions and various road elements, truck beds are highly susceptible to rust, dents, scratches, and other damage. Luckily, bed liners provide a protective layer that helps to prevent this from happening.
Drop-in liners are standard on most pickup trucks, but they eventually need to be removed and replaced. Instead, consider opting for a spray-on bed liner for a longer-lasting, highly efficient, and effective bed liner.
Toolboxes
Installing a toolbox on the back of your truck or inside the bed of your truck is one of the most common work truck upfits.
This not only helps you get rid of excess clutter if you have a lot of tools and equipment, but it also serves as secure storage, freeing up space in your truck bed and lowering the risk of misplacing valuables.
Toolboxes are typically mounted behind and slightly below a pickup truck’s rear window, but different variations allow for side-mount or bed-floor mounting. Additionally, there are several material options, with aluminum and powder-coated finishes being the most versatile.
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Running boards
It can be a big step from the ground to the cab for many larger trucks, which is why adding running boards is an excellent upfit to make it easier for the driver and passengers to get inside the vehicle.
Running boards are built to withstand a lot of weight, often up to 500 pounds, and they also help keep your interior clean, prevent paint chips, and improve the overall aesthetic of your truck.
Chrome running boards should be avoided because some do not mix well with the salt spray from winter roads, and metallic finishes can easily peel off or rust, requiring them to be replaced after only a couple of winters.
Winches
Another great upfit to consider for your truck is the installation of a winch. Winches are rescue tools that attach to your pickup truck’s bumper and are extremely useful in the event of an emergency.
Most winches include everything needed for self-rescue, including 50 to 100 feet of steel wire spooled on a drum, and come with a built-in motor capable of pulling over 10,000 pounds.
Excellent for self-rescue and towing other stuck vehicles, winches are also particularly useful for hauling large, heavy loads and extricating smaller vehicles from mud or snow.
Bumpers
In a low-impact collision, bumpers are your truck’s first line of defense, which makes this upfit another great addition to consider. These metal reinforcements are attached to your truck and aid in the absorption and redistribution of impact energy.
Most bumpers are made of stainless steel or carbon steel, but aluminum bumpers are lighter, more corrosion-resistant, and require less maintenance, making them a better performance upgrade.
Bullbars
Bullbars give your vehicle an aggressive and assertive look while also providing additional protection in the event of a collision. Bullbars are usually attached to the vehicle’s frame and installed over the bumper’s center and underside.
Unlike grille guards, bullbars cover a more specific area at the front of the vehicle and do not include hitch mounting plates. They are one of the best exterior upfits for any truck owner to consider because of their aesthetic and functionality.
Roof racks
If you enjoy camping or outdoor sports, a roof rack is another excellent truck upfit to consider. Roof racks give you another storage option for bulky items that won’t fit in the truck bed during travel, such as sport and camping gear.
A roof rack can also help you transport more cargo while improving your truck’s overall aesthetic and versatility.
Cargo carriers
One of the best things about owning a pickup truck is being able to haul heavy loads, and there are several truck upfits explicitly designed to assist you with your cargo.
Cargo carriers are installed on the roof of your truck’s cab and support and carry loads that are too large to fit in your truck’s bed, increasing your vehicle’s hauling capacity and giving you more space for more precious cargo.
Towing Accessories
Last but certainly not least, every truck needs adequate towing equipment. A towing hitch and other towing accessories are required if you plan to camp with a trailer.
The type of hitch you need will be determined by the size of your truck and its hauling capacity, so be sure to read your owner’s manual to get a better idea of what kind of towing equipment you’ll need.
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Contact TCS Upfitting for help with your next project!
While your truck may look great and work perfectly well as it is, there’s always an opportunity to improve. Whether you need off-road gear, safety equipment, or any other kind of aftermarket upfit, TCS Upfitting can provide.
At TCS, we recognize the value of high-quality craftsmanship, especially when it comes to upfitting your truck. That is why we specialize in supplying and installing an extensive catalog of truck upfits that can dramatically improve your truck’s utility.
If you’re looking for a reliable and trustworthy truck and commercial vehicle upfitting partner, get in touch with us today by calling (316) 448-0402. We’re excited to work on your vehicle, and all of our upfits have a lifetime warranty as well!