Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover
Soft tri-fold cover that locks, folds flat, and keeps your bed dry.
$229.00Check It Out
May 1, 2026 · 7 min read
The Complete Truck Accessories Guide: What's Worth Buying and What Isn't
Walk into any truck accessories store and you'll find $10,000 worth of stuff to bolt onto your truck. Most of it is optional at best and regrettable at worst. There are a handful of upgrades that genuinely improve what a truck does — and a few things you should keep in the bed without bolting anything. Here's the practical list.
A tonneau cover: the most practical bed upgrade
Covering the bed protects cargo from weather, reduces aerodynamic drag at highway speed (1–3 mpg — real but modest), and secures the bed without locking off access. A soft tri-fold like the Tyger Auto T3 runs $229, installs in under an hour without drilling, and folds back when you need full access. If you haul gear regularly, a tonneau cover is the first upgrade worth making. It also makes the truck look more finished.
A phone mount that actually works
Vent mounts block airflow. Suction mounts fail in heat. The correct solution for most trucks is a cup holder mount that holds the phone at eye level without fighting the HVAC. The WeatherTech CupFone is the standard — made in the USA, adjustable for any phone size, doesn't rattle, and works with cases. If you're currently propping your phone against the cupholder with a water bottle, this is the fix.
A jump starter — don't skip this one
Jumper cables require a second car and a willing stranger. A portable jump starter requires nothing except that you charged it at home. The NOCO GB40 fits in the glovebox, starts gas engines up to 6 liters, and doubles as a USB power bank. It also has reverse polarity protection so you can't connect it wrong and fry your vehicle's electronics. This is the clearest buy-it-before-you-need-it item on this list.
A tow strap — for yourself and for others
Soft recoveries — pulling someone out of a ditch, getting yourself unstuck from mud or snow — require a synthetic strap, not a chain. Chains don't have stretch and the shock load when they go taut can damage both vehicles. A synthetic tow strap stretches slightly and absorbs the load. The Smittybilt 30-foot strap is rated for 30,000 lbs break strength. Keep it under the back seat. It takes no space and at some point you'll either use it yourself or be the person who can help someone else.
A LED light bar — for people who actually need one
A 20-inch LED light bar is a useful tool for anyone who drives logging roads, ranch tracks, hunting property, or job sites after dark. The Rough Country 100W bar runs spot and flood in combination — spot reaches farther, flood covers width. Comes with mounting hardware and a wiring harness with on/off switch. Skip this if you're mostly on city streets. Buy it if you drive places where stock headlights genuinely aren't enough.
A cargo net — the accessory nobody thinks about until they need it
Open trucks at highway speed are projectiles waiting to happen. A cargo net keeps lumber, bags, and gear from becoming road hazards — and from bouncing out when you hit the brakes. A heavy-duty adjustable bungee cargo net costs $28, stretches to fit most full-size beds, and holds down loads that would otherwise fly out at 70 mph. Not glamorous. Very useful.
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WeatherTech CupFone Universal Phone Holder for Car
No-drill phone mount that fits in your cup holder and holds any phone.
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NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000A UltraSafe Portable Jump Starter
Lithium jump starter that fits in your glovebox and starts dead batteries in seconds.
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Smittybilt 97430 30ft x 3in Tow Strap with Safety Hooks
30-foot tow strap rated for 30,000 lbs. Keep it under the seat.
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Rough Country 20-Inch Single Row LED Light Bar — 100W Spot/Flood Combo
100W LED light bar. Spot/flood combo. Built for the roof, bumper, or roll bar.
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Heavy-Duty Truck Bed Cargo Net
Heavy-duty bungee net that keeps your gear from becoming someone else's problem at 70 mph.
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