A Top Ten List of Must-Haves for Your Pickup Truck

Accessorizing Your Pickup Truck

Cincinnati is a city with a rich history, and its vibrancy and traditions give it a sense of personality, unlike any other city. There’s plenty of things to do in Cincinnati, delicious foods to eat, and a lively community stitches it all together. When you want to step away from the bustling big-city and take in Ohio’s natural beauty, you’ll find an extensive list of beautiful trails that are perfect for off-roading provided by the Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance (CORA). Thanks to the list of local trails provided by CORA, owning a pickup truck in Cincinnati is an enjoyable experience full of fun and exciting adventures. Before you set off on your adventures, it’s important to accessorize your truck and get yourself familiarized with a top ten list of must-haves for your pickup truck.

#1: Floor Mats

Floor mats are a quintessential part of keeping your pickup truck clean and preserving the interior of your vehicle as long as possible. Let’s say you plan on visiting one of Ohio’s beautiful trails such as the popular Mount Airy Forest in Cincinnati to do some hiking; your hiking shoes will get messy. Floor mats are durable, easy to clean, and most importantly, they keep your truck’s floors underneath in pristine condition. Floor mats are also a must-have, especially for drivers who have kids because, as many parents know, messes can be inevitable. When it comes to preventing accidental damage to your truck’s interior, there are few accessories as proficient as a trusty floor mat.

#2 Trailer Hitch

Chances are you’re probably planning to do some towing with your truck at some point, after all, it’s what trucks do best. Towing with your truck opens a world of possibilities, but in order to get started, you’re going to need a trailer hitch. Typically a heavy-duty trailer hitch is the one in particular that you should invest in for the best results. Towing trailers of multiple sizes will be a breeze, as well as boats should you want to visit one of Ohio’s gorgeous lakes such as East Fork Lake in Bethel, located roughly half an hour away from Cincinnati. Many shoppers on the used market often look for accessories such as heavy-duty trailer hitches, so keep this in mind if you plan on selling your truck later down the line.

#3 Spare Tire

Let’s face it, tires aren’t perfect and are prone to losing their air pressure due to either a sharp object on the road or long-term continuous usage. Ever since cars and trucks began production over a century ago, it’s been often recommended to travel with a spare tire stored in your vehicle at all times. If you find yourself on the side of the road with a flat, you’re going to want to have that spare tire with you. Of course, familiarizing yourself with the fundamentals of tire-swapping is another important piece of the equation so that you don’t have to solely rely on road-side assistance.

#4 Bed Liner

Bed liners are an essential accessory that every truck owner should purchase. Truck beds are often used for transporting large objects, storage containers, aggregate, and other materials that can cause damage to your truck. With all of these items in your truck bed, you’re going to need a liner that boosts the stability of these objects with skid-free surfaces and protects the floor of your truck bed from scratches and rusting that comes with time along with general wear and tear. There’s no denying that beds are one of the most heavily utilized parts of pickup trucks, and keeping them in pristine shape is a great thing for any truck driver to do.

#5 Infotainment System

Something that many modern vehicles share with one another is the inclusion of an infotainment center. These infotainment centers have become increasingly popular over the years, and vehicles nowadays posses more functionality and connectivity than ever before. Infotainment centers not only act as the central hub for all things radio and music for your truck, but they also feature an extensive array of features from hands-free phone calls to onboard navigation. Either through this onboard navigation or an app through Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, you can easily find new places to discover. These maps can provide you detailed directions to your favorite restaurants as well should you be craving some Cincinnati famous skyline chili.

#6 Splash Guards / Mud Flaps

Trucks excel at maintaining solid reliability in even the harshest of weather conditions. However, just because your truck can drive through mud and six inches of water, doesn’t mean you should do so carelessly and not protect the area around your tires. Nobody likes dings, scratches, and dents as they are ugly to look at and cost money to repair. Because of this, mud flaps (sometimes called splash guards) are a fantastic way of protecting your vehicle from any cosmetic damages that come from pebbles, gravel, mud, water, etc. Simply put, if you’re going to be taking your truck on any trails, then slash guards are a must-have accessory for your pickup truck.

#7 Truck Bed Extenders

Although truck beds can be respectably sized, sometimes you just need a little more space. Purchasing a truck bed extender is the perfect way to increase the overall size of your bed, usually by up to three additional feet. Bed extenders are excellent choices for any truck owner; it can make smaller beds feel like a larger one while making larger ones feel gigantic. Even if you don’t always need the extra space on your truck bed, you can’t deny that having it as an option at the ready is ideal. Once you’ve installed your extender, your truck will automatically gain more efficiency through much appreciated additional space.

#8 Toolbox

Many truck owners agree that a toolbox is a necessary thing to have in your pickup truck. Sometimes you simply never know what tool may come in handy when the job requires it. Those who own a large number of tools will find a significant amount of reasons to own one for themselves, and if you need to acquire your own set of tools, then there are some great shops in Cincinnati to purchase them. Whether you require a toolbox for your line of work or as a hobbyist, having one in your truck at all times can make all the difference.

#9 Truck Bed Tents

To take your camping experience to the next level, it’s highly recommended that you invest in a truck bed tent. These are foldable tents that you attach to the bed of your truck, and less than a minute later, you’ll have a full set-up tent. No longer will you have to worry about finding the perfect spot at a camping ground to pitch your tent, instead all you need to do is park your vehicle, and you’re good to go.

#10 Seat Covers

Goes without saying, if you’re protecting your interior with floor mats and the like, you may as well cover up those seats too. Seat covers are ideally the best way to protect your seats from any human-based error such as stains or spills. Additionally, many seat covers are also washable, so you can always keep them looking fresh.

Where To Shop

Purchasing your truck and any accompanying accessories is a truly exciting experience, and working alongside a dealership that will provide you with all of the necessary information is a great way to get started. At McCluskey Chevy, we are one of the top-rated Chevy dealerships in Cincinnati, and we gladly serve the greater state of Ohio with top-notch vehicles at competitive prices. Browse our extensive collection or chat with one of our knowledgeable experts; together, we can help you purchase the truck you’ve always wanted. We’re located at 9673 Kings Auto Mall Road in Cincinnati, Ohio.