Work trucks and vans have come a long way. No longer just bare-bones utility vehicles, they now offer creature comforts and tech-assist features that rival some luxury vehicles. Many serve as comprehensive mobile offices, while others work a second jobs as daily drivers.
Despite the ways in which manufacturers have improved the capability, comfort, and performance of these vehicles straight from the factory, they are still fundamentally intended to be customized. Every job is different—as is every worker. That's why aftermarket upgrades are so essential to this segment, transforming work trucks and work vans into the perfect custom tools for your specific needs.
Essential Upgrades for Your Custom Work Truck or Van
At Parts Via, we offer a wide range of parts and accessories designed to take your vehicle from a utilitarian workhorse to a mobile office with serious professional cachet. Whether you're looking to enhance security, improve cargo management, or upgrade ergonomics, we've got you covered.
Let’s dive into the key areas of improvement to help you get the most out of your work vehicle.
Connectivity Solutions
In today's world, your work truck or van often doubles as a mobile office. Whether you’re working remotely and need reliable tech access or you’re juggling devices in an already-crowded cockpit, aftermarket products can significantly enhance your workspace.
Phone Mounts: We don’t need to tell you the importance of hands-free calling or smartphone use; state laws reinforce it all on their own. If your custom work truck or van isn’t already equipped, there are a variety of phone mounts available to suit different needs, including vent-clip, dash-mount, and more versatile “anywhere-mount” styles. Whatever type you opt for, we recommend you consider mounts with built-in chargers to help keep your devices powered throughout the day.
Laptop and Tablet Mounts: For those who need to work on documents or do research when parked, sturdy laptop or tablet mounts by fleet-friendly brands such as Havis and Bracketron can improve comfort and productivity. No more twisting into an unnatural position, straining your neck or back; these add-ons ensure a professional and ergonomic setup.
Service Boosters and Mobile Hotspots: When working in remote areas, reliable connectivity is crucial to keeping your business up and running. Service boosters and mobile hotspots can enhance your mobile office setup by amplifying weak signals and providing reliable internet on the go, ensuring you stay connected even in challenging locations.
Interior Storage Solutions
Work vehicle cabins are notorious for accumulating clutter—spare tools, equipment, and various odds and ends seem to multiply quickly. While you can't buy good habits, you can buy items to help encourage organization.
Heavy-duty under-seat storage boxes, like those made by Du-Ha and WeatherTech, are great for creating additional storage for tools, first-aid kits, or personal items that you’d just rather keep out of sight. Likewise, accessories like center console cargo organizers, dashboard storage bins, and seat-back organizers can help manage everything from small tools to important paperwork.
Look for storage items that integrate into other products, like Tuffy Security’s locking console safe with compartments or TigerTough’s heavy-duty seat covers, available with built-in pockets.
Security
Protecting your tools and equipment is key, especially when your work vehicle is a prime target for theft. High-value tools and gear are attractive to thieves, so investing in solid security measures is essential for safeguarding your investments and ensuring you can keep working without disruption.
High-quality toolboxes and tonneau covers are great for custom work trucks needing secure, locking storage that keep valuable cargo hidden. For custom work vans, consider adding puck locks to sliding doors as an additional layer of protection against break-ins, as well as lockboxes inside the cabin area to ensure valuable items are safe and sound.
In any custom setup, alarm systems and cameras are a wise investment, alerting you to any unauthorized access and providing valuable evidence to insurance providers if a theft does occur.
Overhead Storage
Work trucks and custom vans can only offer so much space within them—so, maximizing storage sometimes requires thinking outside the box (literally). If you typically transport long or bulky items, overhead storage solutions can be a game-changer.
Ladder Racks: A staple for many tradespeople and professionals, ladder racks mount to a vehicle’s roof and are specially designed to accommodate long, awkward cargo—think piping, lumber, and of course, ladders.
Cargo Racks: Designed to accommodate a more diverse array of items from building materials to recreational gear, cargo racks mount to the vehicle’s roof or over a truck bed and often feature more adjustable components for customization.
Headache Racks: Useful for storing equipment upright or supporting bulky, long loads in a truck bed, headache racks also prevent cargo from crashing through the cab’s rear window.
Utility Lighting
While nobody underestimates the importance of auxiliary lighting in helping you navigate the poorly-lit, tight roads that work vehicles frequently travel, many forget to think about all the other ways this upgrade can prove useful.
Bright work lights can illuminate dark job sites, ensuring you have clear visibility even after dark, while adding cargo lights to your truck bed helps you easily find your equipment, making it easier to stay organized. Safety lights, such as strobe lights or LED beacons, enhance your vehicle’s visibility and create a safer environment by alerting others to your presence.
For better forward-facing illumination, consider upgrading with extra lights mounted on your grille guard or bumper. These additional lights can provide brighter and broader illumination, helping you navigate dark roads safely and efficiently.
Ergonomics
Getting in and out of your work vehicle safely and comfortably is more important than you might think. Repeatedly climbing in and out, especially while carrying equipment, can put a lot of strain on your joints and lead to work-related injuries. Investing in good ergonomics can make a huge difference!
Running boards, which are great for both trucks and vans, help ease the strain on your joints and reduce the risk of slipping. Hitch steps are another practical upgrade, providing a stable way to access your truck bed. For vans, grab handles are essential for maintaining three points of contact and ensuring a secure entry and exit. Telescoping cargo retrievers are also invaluable, letting you reach items in the back of your vehicle without unnecessary stretching. These upgrades not only enhance comfort but also help prevent long-term injuries, making your workday smoother and safer.
Find Custom Work Truck and Work Van-Specific Accessories at Parts Via
An entire book could be written on how to create a custom work vehicle with the vast array of aftermarket parts available today. These are particularly versatile platforms, designed to be tailored specifically to the tasks they will perform.
From bulkhead dividers and shelving units to insulating solutions and cabin-comfort upgrades, the possibilities for custom work vans are extensive—almost endless. And trucks aren’t left in the dust either. A truck bed is not just for basic cargo storage anymore; there's a wide array of customizations available to transform this space into a highly functional and organized area, from toolboxes, chests, and cases to bed slides and comprehensive bed drawer systems.
To ensure you find the most useful upgrades, we recommend focusing on three main areas:
- How much time you spend inside the work van or truck
- What kind of equipment you’ll need to store and how frequently you’ll need to access it
- Any current pain points or challenges
These areas will help you determine which upgrades are most practical and necessary for comfort, convenience, storage, and security, as well as what order you should prioritize them in. Weigh those needs against your budget, and you can make more informed decisions about which upgrades will provide the biggest bang-for-your-buck improvement on your daily operations.
Check out Parts Via’s extensive selection of van equipment upgrades and truck bed accessories to find solutions that fit your needs. Plus, enjoy the convenience of free ship-to-store options, making it easy and affordable to get what you need. Shop now and transform your work truck or van into the perfect custom tool for your job!