Are these add-ons worth the money?
PICKUP TRUCKS: Just because they are popular doesn’t mean owners should dash out to pick one up
Accessories or vehicle add-ons represent a multi-million-dollar industry in Canada, and no one dresses up their vehicles like truck owners.
Whether for function or for looks, accessories for pickups top the list in terms of dollars spent by drivers. But is all that glitters really gold (or chrome) in terms of durability, value and day-to-day use?
Tonneau covers
These handy truck bed covers come in a wide variety of styles and prices. They not only let you keep cargo safe (with locking covers) and relatively dry (none are absolutely watertight), they can also improve fuel efficiency by reducing the wind drag that open pickup beds and tailgates impose. Avoid one-piece solid tonneaus that hinge at the front of the truck bed and any soft-vinyl cover.
The one-piece solid units often only open a few feet and won’t allow you to carry anything taller than the bed’s side walls; you can’t drive with them in the open position without risking damage. If you do have to transport a taller load, the cover must be removed.
Soft tonneau covers — the roll-up or multi-panel folding type — are made strictly for the sunny south. One Canadian winter can reduce them to trash because they won’t hold snow or ice without stretching or tearing. They do offer the benefit of coming in at the lowest price, but are strictly a fair-weather option. They also are easily punctured with a knife.
The best options are hard-panel folding covers or hard roll-up covers. To improve the weather resistance. add self-adhesive weather strips to the area at the rear of the side panels where the tailgate closes and at the bottom of the tailgate. This will prevent water, snow and dust from migrating in from the rear.
Kick-out steps or power running boards
Retractable truck steps are a great way for non-NBA-player-sized humans to reach items in the bed of a pickup or even get into one (especially a 4X4 model with raised suspension). Unfortunately, these units (whether electrically driven or mechanically spring powered) are no match for our climate and heavy road-salt diets.
Their under carriage location means they quickly can be relegated to the metal scrap heap. If you do want a step up in the pickup world, consider a solid running board for door entry (tube steps are best because they give you a wider space for sure-footed shoe planting).
For ease of entry into the truck’s bed, trailer hitch-mounted steps are a quick and inexpensive fix (unless you bought a new GM model with built-in bumper steps).
Cover your seat
What could be wrong with a good quality, form-fitting seat cover to protectyour automotive investment? Seat upholstery, especially in work vehicles, often takes a beating in terms of wear and stains. Buying and installing a durable and washable cover is a great way to keep any interior looking new. The only drawback to seat covers (other than poorly designed units with terrible fit) is seat-side airbags.
Many automakers now install airbags in the sides of the front seat backs to protect passengers and drivers in side collisions. If you cover that seat back and don’t have a tearaway portion over the airbag, the bag will not deploy properly. The solution is to ensure that any cover you buy is compatible with seat-side airbags or simply to cover the seat bottoms and not the backs. You can also cover just the portion of the seat back that your upper body touches and secure it with adhesive Velcro strips.