5 Tips for Buying the Best Truck Parts & Accessories
The key to a successful trucking business is having a fleet of high-performing, long-lasting trucks. You need good truck parts and accessories to make this happen.
If you want a successful trucking business, you need durable, productive trucks. They are effective and work for longer periods. As such, they generate more revenue for your business.
To achieve this, you need to customise your truck to fit the kind of work you need to get done.
If you use the wrong parts and accessories, your operations can get affected as your trucks may break down more often. And this will lead to money wasted and missed opportunities. But if you go for the right truck parts and accessories, your trucks will last longer.
The good news is you have lots of options for getting truck accessories. You could patronise an online retailer or drop by your local store. You just have to know what you’re looking for to get the best available options for your vehicle.
But maybe you don’t know which truck parts to buy first?
Keep reading to find out our six tips for buying parts and accessories for your truck.
The 6 Tips
Tip#1 – Look out for All-Terrain Tires
All-terrain tires are a combination of off-road and all-season tires. They’ve got open treads that are peculiar to off-road tires and give a handling experience associated with street tires.
All-terrain tires have good traction on all surfaces, too. That means they perform well on both off-road and highways.
And to pick the perfect all-terrain tires for your needs, keep the following in mind:
Tread pattern
All-terrain tires with lugged sidewalls and aggressive treads favour muddy conditions. Those with more biting edges and sipes centred on the tread favour on-road driving.
Road Noise
All-terrain tires make lots of noise on highways and paved surfaces. The noise could be bothersome. If you drive on those surfaces often, you might want to put this into consideration.
Treadwear Warranty or Performance.
All-terrain tires with a long treadwear warranty are made with harder rubber. As a result, they last longer. However, they don’t offer much traction. Those made with softer rubber give you more traction but they have a shorter lifespan.
Tip #2 – Truck Lift Kits vs Leveling Kits
Lifting your truck is one of the most beneficial customisations you could make to it. That’s because it comes with lots of benefits, such as:
- It gives your truck a rugged and tough look.
- It makes it easier to drive on rough terrain without risking damage to your vehicle.
- It gives your truck better control and comfort in tough off-road areas
- It gives you higher and improved visibility when driving. This helps you to avoid accidents easier.
There are two main ways to lift your truck:
#1 – Lift kits
A lift kit is specially designed to raise your truck as much as 2 to 10 inches off the ground. These kits come in two forms: body lift kits and suspension lift kits.
Body lift kits lift the truck using lift spacers and blocks. Hence, you don’t need to change your steering parts, driveshaft, and suspension. When installed, your handling will remain the same but you can have stability issues if you lift it too high.
Suspension lift kits give you better handling because it gives your truck a higher centre of gravity. However, it requires replacing parts of your steering, suspension and driveshaft systems.
#2 – Levelling Kits
Most trucks are built with their rear on a higher level than the front. This design is intentional as it makes hauling heavy loads easy without causing the truck to sag under the extra weight.
A levelling kit raises the front end of your truck so that both ends are level. It gives your truck a more appealing look and makes driving in offroad regions easier.
However, you don’t need this kit if you haul stuff often or want more stability.
Tip #3 – Invest in Good Floor Mats
Truck owners often overlook floor mats because they’re a tiny addition. But having them can make a world of difference.
For one, they protect the wiring for the electrical components of your truck. It’s because these connections are typically located underneath the flooring of the vehicle.
Also, floor mats prevent liquid and dirt from building up and causing damage. This increases the longevity of the electronics they’re connected to.
In addition to this, floor mats improve the aesthetics of the interior of your truck. This can prevent the resale value of your truck from going lower than you’d like.
Tip #4 – Install a Truck Bed Liner
A bed liner is a coating of your truck bed in the form of a spray or a solid liner made out of heavy-duty rubber or plastic. It protects the bed from UV rays, corrosion, scratches and harsh weather.
When combined with a tonneau cover, it reduces the vibrations and sounds your truck makes when in motion. This leads to smoother, quieter, and more comfortable rides.
The liner also adds traction to the bed, holding down your cargo in place during rides. On top of that, it gives your truck a cleaner, more professional look.
Tip #5 – Consider High-Performance Exhaust Systems
Stock exhaust systems are designed to reduce noise and filter exhaust gas before it’s released into the environment. However, they restrict exhaust airflow which lowers the performance of your engine.
High-performance exhaust systems don’t have this issue.
They have a wider tube, unique bends, and other attractive features. They give your truck a higher horsepower and boost its efficiency. It also gives your truck that powerful, rumbling growl sound associated with premium exhaust systems.
In addition, your truck will make less noise and look more attractive.
Tip #6 – Opt for Essential Aftermarket Accessories
Trucks are versatile vehicles. You can use them for work, as an overlanding rig, and even as your daily driver.
No matter what task you use your truck for, customising it with some accessories will boost its efficiency and longevity.
Here are a few essential aftermarket accessories to consider:
- Tie downs
- Truck bed toolbox
- Tonneau
- Tow hitches
- Running boards, side steps and/or nerf bars
- Truck bed lights
- Truck bed campers
Truck Parts and Accessories Are Not Just For Aesthetics
Installing the best truck parts and accessories is instrumental to a successful truck business. After all, they can improve the function of your truck and make them last longer. As a result, you’ll generate more income for your business.
So, don’t hesitate to invest in floor mats, all-terrain tires and high-performance exhaust systems. Know which truck lift kit suits you best. And get aftermarket accessories to customise the truck to your needs.
If you need more guidance in buying the right heavy-duty truck that meets your needs, visit Truck Dealers Australia.