14 Truck Accessories Worth Picking Up Before Your Next Big Project

These aren’t your average truck accessories. We found 14 upgrades that transform pickups into serious work machines without the fluff.

Annemarije de Boer Avatar
Annemarije de Boer Avatar

By

Our editorial process is built on human expertise, ensuring that every article is reliable and trustworthy. AI helps us shape our content to be as accurate and engaging as possible.
Learn more about our commitment to integrity in our Code of Ethics.

Image: Gadget Review

Key Takeaways

Some say a truck is just a truck, but anyone who’s actually used one knows it’s a Swiss Army knife on wheels—especially when kitted out with the right gear. Whether you’re hauling ingredients to a pop-up kitchen or chasing food trails across the country, a few smart gadgets can turn your pickup into the ultimate culinary command center. We’ve scoured Amazon for the best accessories that boost functionality, convenience, and style, focusing on durable gear that pulls its weight without emptying your wallet. So buckle up and get ready to transform your ride from basic to badass—because your next culinary adventure starts here.

This content may contain affiliate links. If you wish to support us and use these links to buy something, we may earn a commission.

1. XT Freestyle Suspension System

Image: CRUISEMASTER

The automotive equivalent of noise-canceling headphones, only for bumps and potholes.

Engineered for extreme terrains, the XT Freestyle Suspension System improves durability and adaptability, sparing both your rig and your spine. You’re hauling a portable kitchen to a remote food festival, the road looking like it was designed by Jackson Pollock. The XT system—available in coil spring and airbag configurations, made from heavy-duty reinforced steel, and with adjustable ride height—ensures your crème brûlée arrives un-cracked.

With a lifetime warranty on suspension arms and mounting hardware, expect future suspension tech to follow XT’s lead. It’s the difference between arriving at your destination feeling refreshed and crawling out of your cab like a contestant on Survivor.

2. DECKED Professional-Grade Storage System

Image: Amazon

Built to keep all your tools and equipment organized, so you can find that 10 mm socket without a scavenger hunt.

If your truck bed looks like a yard sale after every mobile gig, you’re not alone. This is where professional-grade drawer systems come in clutch, especially for tradesfolk who practically live out of their trucks. Heavy-duty steel construction with corrosion-resistant coating means your gear stays dry and secure through any weather.

A mobile mechanic arrives on-site, slides open a lockable drawer, and pulls out exactly what he needs, all thanks to adjustable compartments. It’s not just about tidiness; it’s about peace of mind, knowing everything’s secure and exactly where you left it. Honestly, you can’t put a price on that kind of organized bliss.

3. Truck Bed Lighting System

Image: Amazon

Forty-eight LEDs turn your truck bed into a mobile operating room with the tap of a remote.

You know that feeling when you’re rummaging around in the back of your truck at night and can’t see a damn thing? Apparently, zero automakers thought to install lighting in truck beds. Until now, that is. This aftermarket kit comes with 48 white LEDs—eight per module—so you can finally see what you’re doing after the sun goes down, which beats holding your phone in your teeth.

You’re setting up camping after a long drive, the sky’s black as a Spinal Tap album cover. Instead of fumbling around for your tent in the dark, a tap of the remote illuminates everything perfectly. Installation is easy; gel pads or screws, your choice. Plus, brightness is adjustable, and the lights remain stable even on bumpy roads.

4. Ascender Expedition Grade Camper

Image: 27North

Built for culinary gladiators hitting up rural food trails or chefs chasing pop-up gigs in Death Valley.

Remember those old-timey covered wagons? Now, picture that, but jacked up on a Ford pickup chassis and injected with tech. The Ascender Expedition Grade Camper is designed for extreme heat and cold—kind of like my ex, but way more reliable. The base model comfortably sleeps four, while the premium variant accommodates up to seven—perfect for that family food tour, even if your mother-in-law insists on joining.

Complete with a kitchen and an advanced off-grid power system boasting four lithium-ion batteries, you can whip up a gourmet meal in the middle of nowhere. When your mobile kitchen can handle Death Valley heat and Montana snow, who says road trips have to suck?

5. Cargo Beam

Image: Amazon

Think of it as a telescopic support bar that adjusts like those shower curtain rods, only for precious cargo.

Cargo shifting is the unwelcome guest at any road trip, turning your precious haul into a pricey game of pickup sticks. The Cargo Beam is a practical solution to stabilize your load, reducing the risk of cargo shifting. Constructed from steel with rubberized ends that press firmly against your truck bed walls, it adjusts to your bed’s width.

Anyone who’s ever hauled groceries knows the terror of eggs Benedict-ing themselves by the time they get home. Transporting grandma’s antique china becomes infinitely less terrifying when your cargo stays put. This simple device minimizes shifting damage, because nobody wants to explain shattered heirlooms to grandma.

6. Black Armor Bed Mat

Image: Amazon

Made from thick 2-inch recycled rubber that’s tougher than your mother-in-law’s meatloaf.

When it comes to truck beds, you have options: scratches, dents, and stains, or dependable protection. The Black Armor Bed Mat delivers, shielding against impacts and liquid spills like a backstage pass for your pickup. Forget wimpy liners—this mat’s UV and chemical resistance is like sunscreen for your truck bed, and the textured surface prevents shifting.

You’re hauling cinder blocks, and even your cargo has its own TikTok account because it’s that steady. Snug fit? More like a love affair—this mat’s custom-designed to hug every curve of your bed, making it look and feel like a million bucks, even when it’s hauling bags of fertilizer.

7. Busy Dumper

Image: Pathfinder Snowplows

This electric-powered assistant transforms your pickup into a mini dump truck, tilting up to 60 degrees.

Why break your back hauling landscaping materials when you could let hydraulics do the heavy lifting? This device transforms a standard pickup into a mini dump truck, ideal for handling loads of sand and gravel like it’s NBD. Perfect for DIY landscaping gigs or mobile catering setups, it features a powerful hydraulic system that handles loads up to 6,000 pounds.

Anyone who’s ever wrestled with a wheelbarrow during a backyard project knows how soul-crushing manual labor can be. Instead of shoveling mulch for hours, you simply drive, dump, and chill while your neighbors think you’ve joined the Illuminati of efficient gardening. It’s the kind of upgrade that makes you feel like you’re playing SimCity in real life.

8. Cargo Net

Image: Amazon

Made from reinforced nylon that’s flexible yet resistant to tearing, like a superhero for your truck bed.

Ever wonder how to keep your precious cargo from turning into a chaotic mess during a long haul? This cargo net is a dependable way to keep everything secure. Made from durable reinforced nylon, it’s flexible yet highly resistant to tearing, so you don’t have to worry about your stuff spilling out like a bad reality show.

The integrated attachment system includes D-rings, while the metal components boast a corrosion-resistant finish. Using this on a cross-country move, hauling your grandma’s antique china—you’ll have peace of mind knowing it’s not sliding around like a contestant on Wipeout. Security isn’t just about locks; it’s about knowing your gear is as protected as your search history.

9. Space Kap

Image: SpaceKap

Standing 53 inches tall with integrated LED lighting, it’s the Swiss Army knife of truck caps.

It’s annoying when you’re always running back to the shop. For contractors needing a mobile office, the Space Kap turns a pickup bed into a mobile workstation. Plumbers on service calls can now roll up to a residence, flip up the rear and side doors, and have ample space for tools right there. With integrated LED lighting, you can grab that pipe wrench even as dusk settles.

Forget those days of lugging around a toolbox like you’re auditioning for a strongman contest; with these, you have a mobile workspace. Designed with the busy contractor in mind, only it doesn’t slice your fingers off. As more contractors go mobile, expect caps like this to become as ubiquitous as avocado toast at brunch.

10. Thule Helium Platform Bike Rack

Image: Amazon

Its platform-style tray design accommodates wheels from 26 to 29 inches and handles tires up to 3 inches wide.

You’re prepping for a weekend cycling trip, and the last thing you want is a wrestling match with your bike rack. But with the Thule Helium Platform, you get a dependable and user-friendly solution that makes you wonder why all racks aren’t this easy. A lever-based locking system makes securing your bikes a breeze, plus it fits both 1.25-inch and 2-inch hitch receivers.

The Helium bike rack is so simple that setting it up is less complicated than assembling IKEA furniture. It supports up to 90 pounds, but the real genius is in the locking mechanism: less like a deadbolt, more like Fort Knox. It just may outshine your own car alarm.

11. Fold Down Step

Image: Amazon

Built from cast aluminum alloy and rated to support up to 300 pounds, it’s compact but convenient.

Accessibility shouldn’t require a gymnast’s flexibility, but for some trucks, that’s the level of contortion you need to reach the bed. This Fold Down Step attaches to the truck frame with bolts, turning what was once a stretch into a simple foot tap. Forget boosting yourself like you’re auditioning for Cirque du Soleil.

Unlike those flimsy, aftermarket options that seem about as sturdy as a politician’s promise, this step is built from cast aluminum alloy and rated to support up to 300 pounds. If you’re hauling heavy bags of grain for a culinary event and need quick access, this step can make life a lot less of a lift. It might be compact, but it offers convenience—kind of like finding an open parking spot downtown.

12. Tommy Gate Hydraulic Liftgate System

Image: Tommy Gate

The G2 series can hoist loads up to 1,500 pounds, while the original series handles 1,000 pounds.

Hydraulic systems, at their core, are pure physics in action: liquids don’t compress, so force applied at one point gets transferred, undiminished, to another. Designed for strength and efficiency, the Tommy Gate Hydraulic Liftgate system uses this principle perfectly. More than enough to get your beer fridge into the truck bed, unlike your last Tinder date.

A catering company prepping for an outdoor gig can wheel heavy food crates onto the Tommy Gate instead of throwing out their backs. Available in two main configurations, this beast integrates easily into most truck setups, meaning less sweat and more canapés. When heavy lifting becomes push-button easy, your productivity skyrockets.

13. Curt Bed Extender

Adds 26.5 inches of usable space, meaning those 12-foot planks suddenly fit like a glove.

Ever play Tetris with lumber, only to find your truck bed is a block short? The Curt Bed Extender adds 26.5 inches of usable space, meaning you can haul that extra-long load without resorting to creative (read: illegal) tie-downs. You’re grabbing supplies for a deck, and those 12-foot planks suddenly fit, not like a game of Jenga waiting to happen.

Constructed from powder-coated steel tubing, the fold-down tailgate-style panel is compatible with many bed covers. Plus, the square frame design optimizes interior volume, because who wants wasted space? And for those who think truck mods require a PhD in engineering, fear not—it mounts easily without drilling.

14. LEER Truck Caps

Image: LEER

Constructed from fiberglass or aluminum, most models transform your pickup into a mobile kitchen while protecting gear from the elements.

Before there were truck caps, there were just trucks—open beds catching rain, unsecured tools bouncing around like pinballs. Today, LEER Truck Caps elevate vehicle style and utility with offerings in covers and camper shells. Most models sit at cab height and offer serious versatility.

Setting off on a cross-country culinary adventure becomes infinitely easier when your pickup doubles as a mobile kitchen. Optional roof racks become crucial for hauling extra equipment, while available customizations provide storage solutions. Like a Swiss Army knife, these caps make your truck ready for almost anything.

Share this Article



About Gadget Review’s Editorial Process

At Gadget Review, our guides, reviews, and news are driven by thorough human expertise and use our Trust Rating system and the True Score. AI assists in refining our editorial process, ensuring that every article is engaging, clear and succinct. See how we write our content here →