This can sometimes be a difficult decision.  To help you out, here are some truck cap accessories to consider.

• Roof Rack – Whether it’s for travel or work, a roof rack will come in handy.  Many people choose roof racks as a truck cap accessory.  When purchasing a truck cap, be sure to get the roof’s weight capacity if you plan on installing roof rack.
• Slide Access Doors – This makes it very easy to reach in and grab items in your truck bed.  If you get slide access doors, make sure they have the right security features so they stay locked and secure.
• Headliner – A headliner adds insulation to your truck bed keeping it warmer.  It also protects the fiberglass shell of your truck from scratches.  A headliner keeps your truck cap looking nice and clean.
• Hanger Rods – These are great for hanging clothes as well as other items in your truck.  It’s great when you’re moving or if you’re going on a trip.
• Window Tinting – If you don’t want people to know what you have in your truck bed, you need to get window tinting.  It helps to better secure items in your truck.

These are just a few truck cap accessories to consider.  Check with your truck cap manufacturer to find out what other accessory options are available.

We’d love to hear from you!  What type of truck do you own?  Leave your comments below!

A truck bed system is a great way for you to easily reach and organize tools and other items in your truck bed.  With an easy-to-access sliding tray, you’ll never have to crawl into your truck bed again.

Today’s truck bed systems are easy to install, and they don’t tear up your truck bed.  If you’re looking for a truck bed system, here are some things you should consider.

• Weight Capacity – Find a truck bed system that can hold some serious weight.  This is especially important if you haul heavy items in the back of your truck.  Visit truck cap manufacturer websites to find the weight capacities of their truck bed systems.
• Accessories – When searching for a truck bed system, be sure to look at the different accessory options.  Some truck bed systems have great storage accessories.  This allows you to store items so they don’t slide and roll around your truck.
• Clearance – If you have a tonneau cover on your truck.  You’ll want to find a truck bed system with the proper clearance, so it fits with your tonneau cover.

As you explore the different options, be sure to read plenty of reviews and speak with retailers to learn more about the different truck bed systems.

When doing online research, visit online forums and blogs on trucks to get the information you need to make the right decision.

You may even want to check Facebook.  Some truck bed system manufacturers have Facebook pages where you can learn more about their products.  Visit the ATC Truck Covers Facebook Page to learn more about our products and hear from ATC Truck Cover customers.

A pickup has several benefits over sedans and SUVs. Here are a few.

• Distraction-Free Driving – A regular-cab pickup can usually only fit one passenger.  This means your teen won’t be distracted with lots of passengers while driving.
• They’re Safe – In general, trucks are safe vehicles because of their high road clearance and their weight.  Your teen will be a lot safer if they get into an accident.

If you’re considering getting a truck for your teen, follow these truck buying tips.

• Safety First – If you’re buying used, make sure it has airbags and other safety features such as anti-lock brakes.  If the truck is over 10 years old, you may want have the airbags checked.
• Avoid Custom Modifications – If you’re teen is just learning to drive, avoid the lift kits and off-road tires until they get some driving hours under their belt.  If they’re looking for truck accessories, consider fiberglass tonneau covers or from a tonneau cover manufacturer.
• Think about Cab Size– As noted earlier, standard cab trucks offer distraction-free driving. Avoid getting your teen an extended cab truck.
• Check Safety Ratings – Finally, you’ll want to check the safety ratings of any trucks that you’re considering for your teen. Motor Trend is a great resource for finding the safety ratings of trucks.

We’d love to hear from you!  What was your first vehicle?  Leave your comments below.

So how do you find the right one for your truck?

If you follow the tips below, you’ll find a great tonneau cover that has style and comes at a reasonable value.

• Visit Manufacturer Website – Visit various websites to see which tonneau cover best matches your truck.  Be sure to compare the styles, prices and features that come with each tonneau cover.

• Look at the Reviews – Look for online reviews about the tonneau cover company and their products.  Also consider posting questions on online truck forums to see what people think about the different tonneau cover options.

• Visit Some Stores – At this point, you’re ready to visit some stores.  Really ask the salespeople the difference between the brands and models of tonneau covers.  Be sure to check about available tonneau cover accessories.

• Sleep on It – After you’ve shopped around and made a decision.  Sleep on it.  You want to make sure that you’ve made the right choice.  A tonneau cover is a big investment.

Following these tips will help you select the right tonneau cover for your truck.

When you’re looking at tonneau covers, be sure to check out ATC Truck Covers.  We’re the top choice for premium truck lids at an affordable price.

We have lots of great accessory options you can add to your tonneau cover.  To see our tonneau covers, visit our website now at www.ATCTruckCovers.com.

If you’re looking to start plowing snow, you’ll need these accessories.

• Snow Plow – There are two types of plows for trucks.  Straight plows and V-plows.  Both are great options.  However, V-plows make it easy to initially break through snow and ice.
• Truck Toppers – A quality truck topper or truck cap is a must.  It keeps your shovels and road salt dry.  Plus it keeps people from stealing anything out of the back of your truck.  You can’t go wrong with a truck topper.
• Lamps – For safety purposes, it’s very important to install lighting on your truck.  Investing in some lighting will make plowing at night easier.  You’ll also avoid getting into accidents on residential roads and parking lots.
• Plow Deflector – Adding a deflector to your plow will help prevent snow from disrupting your visibility while plowing.
• Salt Spreaders – If you don’t want to dispense road salt by hand, get a salt spreader to attach to the back of your truck.  It makes the job a lot easier.
• Truck Bed Slides – Having a truck bed slide, also known as a truck bed system, makes it easy to get those hard-to-reach items in your truck bed.  The truck bed slide tray slides out of your truck bed for easy access to shovels and other items.

For more great information about trucks and truck accessories, read other posts on the ATC Truck Covers Blog.

However, trucks sometimes get flat tires.  If you want to avoid getting a flat tire, you need to know some of the common causes of flat tires.

Here are some of the top causes of flat tires for trucks.

• Sharp Things – Sharp things such as nails and screws can sometimes puncture a truck tire.  It’s more common with cars, but it sometimes happens, especially with old tires.

• Valve Stem Issues – Sometimes there will be a leak in the valve stem.  This happens a lot with older tires because the valve stem gets cracks in it because of wear and tear.

• ire Bead Leaks – When the tire bead seal begins to break apart it can cause air to slowly leak from your trucks tires.

• Vandalism – We hate to put this one on this list, but vandalism is a common cause of flat tires.  To prevent this, be sure to park your truck in well-lighted, secure areas.

It’s always a good idea to keep a tire gauge on you to check your truck’s tire pressure.  This will help to improve your gas mileage as well as prevent a tire blowout.

Common causes of tire blowouts include small punctures to the tire, potholes as well as going over your truck’s payload capacity.

Also be sure to consult your owner’s manual to make sure that you’re buying the right grade of tires for your truck.  This will help prevent flats as well as tire blowouts.

For more information about truck care maintenance as well as the latest truck accessories, read other post on the ATC Truck Covers Blog.  We’re a truck lid manufacturer that makes truck lids as well as truck lid accessories.

Here are some of the best places in the country for tailgating.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (Kansas City, Missouri) – We’re a little biased, but Kansas City has some of the best tailgating in the country.  Great barbeque and great fans make tailgating at Arrowhead Stadium lots of fun!
2. LSU Tigers (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) – BleacherReport.com call this the “biggest party in college football.”  We agree with them.  It’s a great place to find good Cajun cooking and lots of night games.
3. Green Bay Packers (Green Bay, Wisconsin) – Forbes Magazine names this as one of the top NFL tailgating spots.  There’s a lot of history at Lambeau Field.  It’s a great atmosphere for football and tailgating.
4. Notre Dame (South Bend, Indiana) – At Notre Dame, there’s tradition as well as great tailgating.  Fans pack the parking lot around Notre Dame Stadium for tailgates.  There’s grilling, cheering and lots of fun.
5. Dallas Cowboys (Arlington, Texas) – This one probably wouldn’t have made the list a few years ago.  However, the new Cowboys Stadium is a great place to watch a game and tailgate.  It’s a must see!

No matter where you tailgate, be sure to secure your grills and other items when you’re watching the game.  Having a truck with the latest truck tailgating accessories as well as a truck cap can help keep your belongings safe.

Where is your favorite place to tailgate?  Leave your comments below.

Do you know the difference?

This posting will help you make the right decision in choosing between HD Radio and Satellite Radio.

Satellite Radio

You can think of satellite radio like cable television.  You pay a monthly fee, and you get tons of stations.  The great thing is that these stations are commercial free.

Typically, you’ll pay anywhere from $12 to $16 a month for satellite radio.  The biggest provider is SriusXM.  This is included as an optional feature in most new trucks.

If you own an older truck, you can get a satellite radio receiver.  They can typically cost anywhere from $50 to a few hundred dollars.

The great thing about satellite radio is the number of stations.  You get tons of music genres as well as lots of sports stations.  It makes a great tailgating accessory to go along with any truck tailgating system and other truck cap products.

HD Radio

HD Radio stands for High Definition Radio.  HD Radio does not require a subscription like satellite radio.   However, you must have an HD Radio receiver.

These come in most new trucks.  If you’re looking for an HD Radio receiver for your current truck, it will probably cost somewhere between $30 to $160.

You won’t get as many stations as satellite radio.  However, you will get crystal clear sounding radio.  It’s a big upgrade over standard radio.

So which is better?

It all depends on your budget as well as your preferences.  You can’t go wrong with either.

Obviously, there is a savings when you buy used.  But before you start looking at used trucks, here are some reasons that you should take a look at new ones.

• Savings – Many truck manufacturers have significant discounts and incentives to buy new.  Because demand for new trucks is lower than usual, it’s a lot easier to strike up a bargain at certain times of the year.
• Less Maintenance Costs – When you buy new, you don’t have to worry as much about repairs.  If you buy used, you may have to spend a little on some repairs.
• Customizations – With a new truck, you get a clean slate to accessorize your truck with fiberglass truck lids, truck bed slides and other truck cover products.  This often isn’t the case with used trucks.
• Warranty – With a new truck, you’re covered for at least three years on major repairs.  You can’t easily get this type of warranty with a used truck.  You’ll have a peace of mind knowing that your truck is covered.
• Maintenance Specials – Some dealerships offer maintenance specials when you buy new. In many cases, you’ll save some money on oil changes.

These are just a few reasons to buy new. Whether you decided to buy a new or used truck, be sure to take it on a test drive.

Do you prefer to buy new or used trucks? Leave your comments below.

These trucks operate similarly to hybrid cars.  They’re typically more expensive than similar trucks that have standard gasoline engines.  However, hybrid trucks get better gas mileage.

So are hybrid trucks worth the money?  We’ll let you decide.  Here is comparison of two 2012 GMC trucks.

GMC Sierra Hybrid vs. GMC Sierra 1500

This is just one comparison.

In general, both of these trucks matched up pretty equally in terms of seating capacity, height, length and cargo volume.  You can see the full comparison here.

However, there were some differences.

As you can see, the Sierra hybrid got much better city gas mileage than the regular gas engine GMC Sierra.  However, both get similar gas mileage on the highway.

You’ll also notice there is a price difference between the two.

Finally, there was a difference in payload capacity of approximately 600 pounds.

So which truck is right for you?  It all depends on your budget as well as your typical daily commute.

To find the right truck, we recommend taking both out for a test drive.  Also consider talking with family and friends.

By doing this, you’ll be able to purchase the right truck so you can load it up with truck bed slides and other accessories made from a quality truck cap manufacturer.