Buying Guides
Answers to the questions truck owners actually ask: what to buy for your truck, and how to fix the leak, the rattle or the sag. Built on makers' published specs and what owners report.
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Buying GuideBest Bed Rack for a Pickup
The best bed rack by job: Leitner ACS FORGED for a tent on dirt, Xtrusion XTR1 to keep a roll-up cover, Yakima OverHaul HD to remove.
Buying GuideBest Winch for a Truck
Best winch for a truck: Badland Apex vs WARN VR EVO, sizing by GVWR x 1.5, synthetic vs steel rope, warranty, mounting and safe pulls.
Buying GuideBest Truck Cap
Best truck cap and camper shell picks: LEER 100XR, Softopper, SmartCap or A.R.E., with leaks, roof loads, warranties and fit by truck.
Buying GuideTacoma Rock Sliders vs Running Boards
Rock sliders or running boards on a 3rd or 4th gen Tacoma? What each one does, the step problem, factory rock rails, and the boards we would buy.
Buying GuideBest Running Boards
Best running boards: Go Rhino RB20 fixed, Rough Country or AMP power steps, step height, winter, install and which fits your truck and cab.
Buying GuideBest Truck Tool Box
The best truck tool box for your bed: a UWS crossover for open beds, SwingCase under a tonneau, DECKED drawers for daily tools, by truck.
Buying GuideBest Brake Controller
The best trailer brake controller for a truck without a factory unit: Tekonsha P3, REDARC Liberty, Primus IQ or CURT Echo, matched by truck.
Buying GuideBrake Controller
Do you need a brake controller? What Ford, GM, Ram and Toyota manuals require, state law examples, factory vs aftermarket by truck and our picks.
Buying GuideBest Truck Bed Tent
Best truck bed tent picks: Napier Sportz, Kodiak Canvas or Backroadz, which size fits your truck, floor vs floorless, and vs a rooftop tent.
Buying GuideWhat Size Winch for a Truck
What size winch for your truck: WARN's GVWR x 1.5 rule, a winch-size table, where Superwinch and Smittybilt differ, and limits past the winch.
Buying GuideBest Tonneau Cover for a Multifunction Tailgate
For a MultiPro, Multi-Flex or Ram split tailgate, we pick the TruXedo Sentry CT. Listings that name your tailgate, covers to skip, Pro Access.
Buying GuideBest Tonneau Cover for a RamBox Ram 1500
For a DT Ram 1500 with RamBoxes, we pick the UnderCover Ultra Flex. Five covers with RamBox listings, silver vs black rails and tailgate gaps.
Buying GuideDo You Need a Weight Distribution Hitch? Your Truck Maker Decides
Do you need a weight distribution hitch? What Ford, GM, Ram and Toyota manuals require by truck, receiver ratings, payload math and our picks.
Buying GuideDo Tonneau Covers Improve Gas Mileage? Sometimes, and Not by Much
Do tonneau covers improve gas mileage? What road tests and wind tunnels measured, why the tailgate stays up, why nets hurt, and our picks.
Buying GuideBest Roll-Up Tonneau Cover
Our best roll-up tonneau cover is the TruXedo Sentry CT. When a soft TruXport or Lo Pro or BAK's X4s fits better, and when to skip a folder.
Buying GuideBedRug vs Spray-In Liner
BedRug, spray-in liner, drop-in or rubber mat? Which bed floor suits gravel, furniture, camping or a work truck, and when to run two.
Buying GuideBest Floor Liners for Winter
For snow, slush and road salt we'd put the Husky WeatherBeater in most trucks; TuxMat suits snow-country commuters who want footing.
Buying GuideMost Secure Tonneau Cover
The most secure tonneau cover for tools is the RetraxPRO XR, keyed on the cover. How each cover locks, the LEER and Peragon, and the tailgate.
Buying GuideMost Waterproof Tonneau Cover
No tonneau cover is waterproof. The TruXedo Sentry CT keeps a bed driest; every cover we have reviewed ranked by leak risk, plus setup tips.
Buying GuideBest Floor Liners for a DT Ram 1500
The Husky WeatherBeater is our pick for most 2019-2024 DT Ram 1500s; TuxMat suits snow country, and the Kagu covers 2025-on Crew Cabs.
Buying GuideFolding vs Retractable Tonneau Cover
Folding vs retractable tonneau cover on bed space, the rear window, racks, locks, leaks, winter and price, with the two of each we would buy.
Buying GuideTonneau Cover vs Camper Shell
Tonneau cover or camper shell? How they compare on dry storage, load height, security, rear view, racks and removal, plus the covers we'd buy.
Buying GuideHard vs Soft Tonneau Cover
Hard vs soft tonneau cover on security, load ratings, leaks, snow, bed access, weight and warranty, plus the covers we would buy on each side.
Buying GuideBest Tonneau Cover for a Ram 1500
The best tonneau cover for a DT Ram 1500 is the TruXedo Sentry CT. Picks for RamBox beds, split tailgates, racks, security and budgets.
Buying GuideBest Tonneau Cover for a Ford Ranger
The best tonneau cover for a 6th gen Ford Ranger is the UnderCover Armor Flex. Picks for budgets, 2026 trucks, Raptors and racks, with fit notes.
Buying GuideBest Floor Liners for a 3rd Gen Tundra
For most 2022-on Tundras we'd fit the Husky WeatherBeater, with TuxMat for snow and hybrids and the Kagu as a full Double Cab set.
Buying GuideBest Tonneau Cover for a Colorado or Canyon
The best tonneau cover for a 3rd gen Colorado or Canyon is the BAK Revolver X4s. Picks for folders, racks, the sport bar and budgets.
Buying GuideBest Budget Tonneau Cover
The best budget tonneau cover is the Tyger T3. What cheaper covers give up in lock, load rating, bed access and warranty, and when to pay more.
Buying GuideBest Floor Liners for a Silverado or Sierra 1500
For most T1XX Silverado and Sierra 1500s we'd fit the Husky WeatherBeater. WeatherTech suits bench seats and TuxMat suits snow country.
Buying GuideBest Retractable Tonneau Cover
The best retractable tonneau cover is the RetraxPRO XR. Picks for cheaper rails and no canister, and when a hard roll-up beats them, by truck.
Buying GuideBest Floor Liners for a Tacoma
Husky WeatherBeater is our floor liner pick for most 3rd and 4th gen Tacomas, with TuxMat, WeatherTech and Kagu matched by cab and transmission.
Buying GuideBest Hard Folding Tonneau Cover
The best hard folding tonneau cover is the UnderCover Ultra Flex. Tri-fold and quad-fold picks for security, a coated top and budgets, by truck.
Buying GuideBest Floor Liners for an F-150
The best floor liner for most F-150s is the Husky WeatherBeater. TuxMat, WeatherTech and Kagu picks matched to Gen14 and Gen13 cabs and seats.
Buying GuideBest Tonneau Cover for a Silverado 1500
The best tonneau cover for a Silverado or Sierra 1500 is the TruXedo Sentry CT. Picks for racks, security, budgets and MultiPro beds on the T1XX.
Buying GuideBest Tonneau Cover for a Tundra
The best tonneau cover for a 3rd gen Tundra is the TruXedo Sentry CT. Picks for deck rails, racks and budgets, matched to each bed.
Buying GuideBest Tonneau Cover for a Ford Maverick
The best tonneau cover for a Ford Maverick is the TruXedo Sentry CT. Picks for racks, a free tailgate and budgets on the 4.5 ft bed.
Buying GuideBest Tonneau Cover for a Tacoma
The best tonneau cover for a Tacoma is the UnderCover Ultra Flex. Picks for racks, a clear rear window and budgets, by 4th and 3rd gen bed.
Buying GuideBest Tonneau Cover for an F-150
The best tonneau cover for an F-150 is the TruXedo Sentry CT. Picks for racks, security and budgets, matched to Gen14 and Gen13 beds.