Most truck accessory purchases fail for one of three reasons: bad fitment, wrong material for the use case, or buying based on Amazon star count instead of actual suitability. This guide covers what to look for in each major category so you spend money on things that last.
Seat Covers — What to Look For
The single most important factor is fit. Universal seat covers bunch, slide, and look terrible within a month. Always buy vehicle-specific covers.
- Material matters: Cordura (like Bartact uses) is the gold standard for durability. Neoprene is great for water resistance. Leatherette looks nice but cracks over time.
- Airbag compatibility: If your truck has side airbags in the seats, your covers MUST be SRS compatible. Cheap covers that block airbag deployment are dangerous.
- Made in USA vs imports: For vehicles Bartact supports (Tacoma, 4Runner, Jeep, Bronco), their USA-made mil-spec covers are the clear winner. For other trucks, Coverado and OASIS AUTO offer the best import value.
See our full seat cover rankings →
Tonneau Covers — What to Look For
Tonneau covers come in three main types, and the right one depends on how you use your truck:
- Soft roll-up: Cheapest, lightest, easiest to use. Low security. Best for weather protection and fuel economy. (Gator ETX, TruXedo TruXport)
- Hard tri-fold: Better security, cleaner look, moderate price. The sweet spot for most owners. (BAKFlip MX4)
- Retractable: Best security, works with rack systems, most expensive. For serious builds only. (RetraxPRO XR)
The most common mistake is buying a hard cover when a soft roll-up would have been fine, or buying the cheapest option and regretting the lack of security.
See our full tonneau cover rankings →
Floor Mats — What to Look For
The three brands worth considering are WeatherTech, Husky Liners, and 3D MAXpider. Everything else is a gamble on fitment.
- Containment walls: The whole point of a molded mat is keeping liquid and debris contained. Higher walls are better.
- Vehicle-specific fit: Never buy universal floor mats for a truck. The footwell shapes are too different.
- Material feel: WeatherTech is rigid, Husky is slightly softer, 3D MAXpider is the most refined. Pick based on your priority.
See our full floor mat rankings →
Recovery Gear — What to Look For
Recovery gear is where cheap products become genuinely dangerous. A snapped strap or failed shackle under load can injure or kill.
- Kinetic ropes over tow straps: Kinetic ropes stretch and absorb energy. Static tow straps create shock loads that break things.
- Rated recovery points: Never attach recovery gear to a tow hitch ball, bumper, or tie-down hook. Use rated recovery points only.
- Soft shackles: Lighter and often safer than steel D-rings. Rhino USA makes good affordable options.
- Recovery boards: MAXTRAX is the standard. X-BULL is the budget option. Both work, but MAXTRAX lasts longer under heavy use.
See our full recovery gear rankings →
Lift Kits — What to Look For
Lift kits are one of the most over-purchased and under-researched truck accessories. Before you buy:
- Leveling kit vs suspension lift vs body lift: A leveling kit (1-2 inches front) is the most practical upgrade for most trucks. A suspension lift (3-6 inches) changes handling and requires more supporting mods. A body lift is cosmetic only.
- Alignment and driveline angles: Any lift over 2 inches should include an alignment and potentially new driveshaft or CV angles. Skipping this causes premature wear.
- Tire clearance: The main reason people lift trucks is to fit larger tires. Make sure the lift you choose actually clears the tire size you want without rubbing.
- Brands that matter: Bilstein, Icon, Fox, and Old Man Emu make quality suspension components. Cheap eBay lift kits are a false economy.
Bed Organizers — What to Look For
Match the organizer to how you use the bed:
- Full drawer system (DECKED): Best for work trucks and overland builds. Expensive but transformative.
- Bed slide (Bedslide): Best for heavy gear access. Saves your back.
- Cargo bar: Best cheap fix for preventing cargo from sliding. Under $50 and genuinely useful.
- Cargo net: Best for irregular or loose gear. Simple and effective.
See our full bed organizer rankings →
Dash Cams — What to Look For
- Front + rear coverage: A front-only cam misses rear-end incidents. Always get two-channel if budget allows.
- Parking mode: Requires a hardwire kit to work properly. Without it, parking mode is just marketing.
- Heat tolerance: Truck windshields get hot. Cheap cams with poor heat management fail faster.
- Image quality: 2K or 4K front, 1080p rear minimum. Anything less and license plates become unreadable.
See our full dash cam rankings →
Phone Mounts — What to Look For
- Vehicle-specific mounts beat universal: Bulletpoint and Offroam make truck-specific mounts that are more stable than any suction cup.
- Vibration resistance: Trucks vibrate more than cars. Cheap mounts shake loose. RAM Mounts is the rugged universal standard.
- Magnetic vs clamp: Magnetic is more convenient. Clamp is more secure on rough roads. Pick based on your driving.
See our full phone mount rankings →
The Golden Rule
Buy vehicle-specific over universal. Buy for your actual use case, not the most extreme scenario. And when a product is genuinely better (like Bartact for supported vehicles), the upfront cost almost always saves money long-term compared to replacing cheap alternatives every year or two.