It’s no surprise that truckers log some of the longest hours behind the wheel of anyone on the planet. You could spend years in your vehicle if you love what you do!
With that said, we want to make sure you’re comfortable — and safe — while on the road.
Equipment Experts, Inc. is here to show you some of the most important, must-have truck accessories to make your ride more comfortable, safe, and accessible for both you and other drivers on the road.
Let’s jump into our list of 21 must-have and luxury truck accessories for semi trucks, pickups, and other heavy-duty vehicles.
Diesel trucks come in all different shapes and sizes, which is why we compiled a list of truck accessories perfect for all different makes and models of trucks. The following truck accessories are perfect for novice and veteran truck drivers of all walks of life.
Those tiny little black rubber flaps on the back of a truck? Yep, those are what we call mud flaps.
Mud flaps are a must for semi-truck drivers. They attach to the back of the rear wheels and offer protection against metal debris and cracks, cracks which can result from chunks of gravel, sharp objects, and previously salted roads.
Not only are you doing yourself a solid by using these easy-to-install wheel guards, but you’re also protecting your roadside community by shielding them from mud that could be thrown by your vehicle.
Installing mud flaps is a common sense choice when it comes to protecting other vehicles on the road. Consider mud flaps as a way to protect your vehicle, other vehicles, and your reputation for courteous driving on the road.
These cargo-saving, sturdy devices help keep gear and items in place. Tie-down straps can help protect your cargo from shifting or flying all over the back of your truck.
Consider investing in pickup or semi-truck truck bed ratchet straps to carry heavy loads and awkward-shaped objects.
Also called receiver hitches, these devices attach to the underside of the vehicle and are easy to install. Get hitched with a receiver hitch tube, a hitch attachment that comes in the shape of a ball, or your favorite hitch design.
Trailer hitches can help pull loads from the rear of the truck, making them an ideal and essential pickup truck accessory for those long tows and awesome vacation rides.
Speaking of tows, you’ll never have to worry about hauling heavy loads with these tailgate assists. Tow hooks attach to the back of a truck and help move hefty loads.
Whether you’re hauling bales of hay, cartons of produce, or a boat for the family lakeside vacation, you’ll want a tow hook that will help keep cargo safe, in place, and free from damage.
Just make sure to write your vehicle identification number (VIN) on the hook to protect against potential thieves who might want to take it. Better safe than sorry, right?
Keep yourself safe and protect your fender from dents with steel grill guards. Whether you’re having a run-in with deer and wildlife on the road — or need to make an emergency stop — every truck owner would be wise to invest in a fender guard for their vehicle.
Coming in all different shapes, sizes, and materials, they’re perfect for night-time conditions and for the unexpected on the long road ahead. Whatever your needs may be, go with front guards for increased safety, protection, and peace of mind for those long-distance drives.
Perfect for off-road, utility, and fleet vehicles, electric winches are accessories that are motor-powered and operated to help lift your vehicle out of a jam on the road.
These retractable devices are quick, efficient, and waterproof, and they even have a large pulling and load capacity. If you find yourself stuck — or if your truck has taken a rough tumble or roadside spill — electric winches can quite literally save the day.
One of the perks of owning a truck is that you have one of the best vantage points on the road. You can see everything while looking over the dash on top of your truck.
Whether you’re driving a Peterbilt or Toyota, a Ram 1500, or a Chevy Silverado 1500, climbing up into the cabin can take a toll on your joints, though. That’s why we recommend Nerf bars and door guards for your vehicle.
To protect you while climbing up to see the view, we recommend purchasing sturdy nerf bars. Nerf bars can protect your doors and rocker panels against damage as well.
Best of all, these sturdy steps give you added stability to help you climb into the driver’s side of your truck without having to bear additional weight on your knees.
Make your truck friendly on your knees and eyes with easy-to-use Nerf bars.
When you’re just miles away from your destination, and your battery is low on juice, charge cables can save the day. In case something goes wrong, you’ll want to have them on you.
Whether you’re miles away from your destination, or are just trying to make it to your local fleet and truck repair shop, consider keeping charger cables in your pickup bed (or in the back of your truck) to ensure your battery has enough juice to take you to your final destination.
But let’s just say that the electricity is out — and you’re stuck on the road in the middle of ice, snow, mud, or sand. Escape track mats are an effective solution to slide out of even the worst road conditions when your engine won’t run.
These heavy-duty, sturdy mats are made with extra traction, so that all you have to do is ensure part of your wheel is under the mat, and voila! You can help weasel your way out of any slippery situation.
For those off-road sticky situations, consider an escape mat for an easy and smooth exit from tough roadside conditions.
Whether you drive a pickup truck or other heavy fleet equipment, you’ll want to be able to see over your shoulders at all times. Blind spot mirrors help you see what’s in your blind spots.
These mirrors can easily be fixed onto your side view mirrors and are the ultimate winning combo for safe driving. Keep your eyes in all places at once with blind spot mirrors designed to help you keep your eyes on what matters most.
Uh-oh, the check engine light went on again. You can help save yourself time running back and forth to different mechanics trying to figure out what’s wrong by scanning, diagnosing, and erasing trouble codes with a trouble code diagnostic scanner.
Instead of showing up to the repair shop or a mobile repair service station without the least idea of what’s the matter with your vehicle, you can plug a diagnostic scanner into the computer mainframe on your vehicle. When it comes time for repairs — if any are needed — you’ll have the confidence to tell your fleet repair technician team exactly what needs repairing.
Whether it’s a polyester, fluorescent-yellow safety vest, a pair of leather, industrial gloves, or even road flares for stalled out vehicles, keeping a tool box of safety gear in your truck bed or in the cab of your vehicle will keep you safe for any road condition.
Cones for stalled vehicles or construction vehicles, safety apparel, and safety accessories are a must-have for any truck driver. Though you may not use them every day, you’ll sure be happy you had safety gear on hand for those one-off emergencies.
We know not everyone drives a heavy piece of equipment like a semi-truck or forklift. But with over 166 million private and commercial truck vehicle registrations in 2021 alone, according to a Forbes study summarizing findings conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, we thought we’d provide some must-have pickup truck accessories.
The following accessories are perfect for pickup truck owners and drivers.
Tonneau covers are meant to keep the contents inside your pickup truck bed secure and dry from wet weather. These heavy-duty accessories can help protect against rust and build-up from road salt.
These pickup truck bed covers can keep cargo from sliding around in the bed of your truck. These truck bed covers make accessing cargo easy, as drivers won’t need to open tailgates to access tools or other items.
Whether you’re using your cover as protection from the elements or just to protect your pickup truck’s bed liner, camper covers are a smart choice for convenient and easy storage and item transportation.
Some trucks don’t come equipped with enough ample storage space in the bed of the truck. For situations that require additional storage, consider adding a roof rack.
Many truck drivers use roof racks to mount gear — such as bicycles, tents, and canoes — for overnight excursions. These savvy space carrying pods are perfect for the outdoor enthusiast gearing up for a trek into mother nature.
Driving overnight can be tough. It’s not always easy to fall asleep against nothing but a seat cushion and headrest.
Fortunately, there’s a solution for that. Mostly, bed covers are laid over the bed of a pickup truck and are used to help protect cargo.
However, they’re also used to create a comfortable sleeping environment for a tired traveler. If you’re looking for a more comfortable way to sleep — and see the stars — consider laying a bed cover down onto your truck bed.
Ahh, it’s time for bed.
No list would be complete without a few accessories worth splurging on. The following luxury truck accessories can be easily installed, can be used in old and new trucks, and are useful for novice and veteran drivers alike.
Your 12V truck needs to stay warm in the winter. With the help of heated seat covers, you can warm up quickly while you’re waiting for your engine to do the same.
Made of a variety of different materials and colors, heated seat covers are the perfect addition for a frosty night’s winter drive or a cool Fall day.
Whether you need to take a load off your shoulders or are looking for a bed that’s built to last, an inflatable truck bed and tent can come in clutch for those nights when you’re in a pinch to find a place to rest for the night.
These surprisingly spacious home-away-from-homes clamp to the inside of your truck bed and can easily be inflated using your 12V outlet.
Plus, they make camping just plain old fun!
Keep your truck dry and comfortable with a waterproof seat cover. Whether you’re driving your furry friend across the state or are hauling a huge inventory of fizzy canned sodas, you’ll want to make sure you have water-resistant seat covers for your truck.
Coming in all different shapes, sizes, and materials, they’re the perfect indoor accessory for both man, man’s best friend, and man’s precious cargo.
Trick out your ride with LED lights. These lights fit on to a truck’s grill and can turn a frumpy looking ride into a sleek, lean mean driving machine that will have people staring and snapping pics.
If you’re looking for something alternative to exterior grill lights, interior LED lights might do the trick. You can turn boring, drab floor mats into a red carpet fit for a celebrity — or turn that rearview mirror into a rainbow kaleidoscope of color and style.
Whatever your choice, LED lights are a great way to add personality, functionality, and style to your ride.
Most truck drivers opt to store items only inside their trucks, but not on the exterior of the truck. But what if we said you could have it both ways?
Well, now you can. With detachable truck storage boxes, you can unload and load items — such as pickup truck tool boxes, liners, and tie-downs — with a convenient detachable truck storage box. These water-resistant boxes can hold loads of weight and can be attached to the driver or passenger’s side of the truck.
Whatever your needs may be, consider a detachable truck storage box for convenient and flexible storage.
There you have it: 21 truck accessories for all your tricked-out trucking desires. We know that every truck driver has a different need, which is why we want to let you know that we’re here for you and are pleased to offer a variety of in-shop and mobile truck repair services for your needs.
With over 20 years of experience working with trucks and fleet equipment, we’ve helped repair hundreds of vehicles over our time in the business. If you’re looking for an expert repair shop that can help you and your truck be the best it can be, contact us today.
