If there’s one thing you can appreciate about a Chevy truck, it is its customizability. Trucks are meant to be changed and adapted to your exacting needs. Is a truck you’re looking at missing something important? Go out and buy the accessory you need to make it work for you.
Because trucks are so highly adaptable, it can be difficult to know exactly how much you can customize it or in what ways. Beyond manufacturer and dealership features and upgrades, there are a lot of aftermarket parts and accessories you can buy to extend the usefulness and capabilities of this type of vehicle. What you choose will depend on how much money you have to spend and what you need the truck to do. If you’re the type of person who likes to upgrade a truck for the sake of experience, this alone may motivate you to make upgrades here and there.
Whatever your needs or reasons are, here are some of the most common parts and accessories you can use to make your Chevy truck even more of a performance machine.
Performance Modifications
Some people like to start with the most important types of upgrades: modifications to the engine, drivetrain, or overall ride. Compared to other types of vehicles like cars and SUVs, trucks can be relatively easy to upgrade in the performance category without having to buy a new, more powerful engine. Sometimes, the basic quality of the ride is enough to feel like you’re driving a brand-new truck even if it is decades old.
That is why many people find a worthwhile upgrade to be the suspension. A basic lift kit or more beefy suspension system can help smooth out even the roughest rides if necessary. This is a common upgrade for truck owners looking to make their vehicle more off-road friendly and capable as well. Depending on the make and model of the truck, you can reasonably find several suspension options or even advanced systems like airbags.
Continuing with the theme of off-roading, there are many exterior upgrades you can research to protect the chassis from natural hazards you’re likely to find in nature. Things like protection bars, skid plates, and other “armor” for your truck will keep it dent free when the rocks and sticks start to kick up. If you anticipate running into tricky situations or difficult terrain while off road, the addition of a power wench can be a good investment to dig yourself out when traction is hard to find.
Finally, to soup up your truck on the exterior, think about something that has both a practical and visual benefit. Fog lights, for example, add an extra degree of stylistic points to the look of the truck while increasing the visibility you have at night. These lights will often attach either to a special mounting bracket in the back or the front of your truck near the grill.
Cargo Bed Upgrades
The area that is arguably most versatile in the truck is the cargo bed. Depending on the size of the bed and accessories you install, you can easily carry a large number of tools and equipment or the occasional large purchase with ease. For many people, a truck bed is an indispensable addition to a commercial vehicle. Having the capability to hold and transport a number of different tools makes the job easier and more convenient.
For many truck owners, the first place to start upgrading your truck bed is with its storage and organization. A couple of extra storage boxes can add some versatility to the truck’s carrying capacity. This is a great way to keep smaller items and tools like hammers, nuts, and bolts, and toolkits organized without getting them mixed up with the main bed compartment.
Protection should be another area of concern if you want to extend the life of your truck. For the bed, a typical liner made up of rubber, carpet, or even metal can protect the underlying surface from the usual scrapes and bumps it is likely to experience as you move items in and out of the bed. Bed liners are often specifically designed for the particular make and model of the truck, so make sure you have one made for your vehicle for a perfect fit.
If your storage and organization needs are larger than what a simple toolbox can offer, you may invest in a rack system to expand the organization potential. These systems often allow you to mount a number of different accessory points and brackets to attach some rails with ease. Whether it is equipment, bikes, or random, awkward objects, these systems allow you to maximize the space of the bed and even utilize extra space above with double or triple-decker setups.
Upgrading the Interior
Finally, if you want to increase the quality of the driving experience, you should think about adding a few accessories to the inside of the truck as well. Depending on the model and trim level you get, the interior may already come with some luxury upgrades such as an advanced infotainment system, leather seating, heated surfaces, and more. If not, there are many areas in the interior you can upgrade after you have bought the truck.
Some affordable accessories include floor mats and seat covers. All weather floor mats that come from aftermarket companies often offer higher protection and quality compared to the mats that come from the manufacturer. These can protect your floors and extend the life of the interior, especially if you live in an area that sees bad weather like snow frequently.
Seat covers are a great way to upgrade the quality of your seat without having them reupholstered if they don’t have luxurious touches like leather fabric. You will find many different materials and styles available online or at your local automotive shop. Such covers also help in the wintertime if you lack heated seats since certain materials like fur will warm up the surface of the seat a lot quicker than traditional fabrics.
If your Chevy truck is new enough, you may find there’s a lot of potential to upgrade some of the safety and convenience systems built into the infotainment console. Many stores sell aftermarket LCD panels you can use to add additional features like GPS navigation, rearview cameras, or even additional sensors like blind spot detection systems. The ability to upgrade such a system will depend on the particular type of infotainment computer in the truck already and how compatible it is with third-party options.
Upgrading Your Truck Today
To make the performance and driving experience of your truck even better, you can start today with additional parts and accessories. Many of these accessories are simple to install by yourself at home. More complicated things like infotainment upgrades and safety features may require the help of a professional mechanic to get right. When in doubt, always take your truck to a certified dealership or mechanic shop to get the work done. This can reduce or eliminate the possibility of errors or issues after the upgrades have been made.
In the end, you can think of upgrading your truck as an art. It is, in part, an expression of who you are and what you want out of your vehicle. Whether they are purely performance upgrades or additional touches to increase the visual appeal of the truck, any addition you make will take your overall driving experience up to the next level.
