Compact and nimble, with better fuel efficiency and maneuverability than their full-size siblings, the mid-size truck segment continues to gain some serious ground on the consumer market. With luxury trims, capable off-road packages and plenty of safety bells and whistles available, many shoppers are finding these smaller haulers suit their needs quite well – and at a lower price-point to boot.
What holds many buyers back, however, is the fact that mid-size proportions translate to lower payload, towing and cargo-carrying capacities. Thankfully, the aftermarket offers an almost overwhelming number of accessories designed to address these gaps in capability.
While no product can increase a vehicle’s hauling or towing capacity, there are many that can maximize its potential by ensuring cargo is safe, secure, organized and properly distributed. Whether you use your truck for work or play, these accessories will help you get the most out of your mid-size truck's hauling potential.
Cargo Catchers
Sometimes it really is the littlest things that make the biggest impacts.
Those using their mid-size trucks as general daily drivers or family shuttles probably aren’t in need of big, bolt-on cargo solutions. More likely, they just need some clever and convenient ways to help keep things organized. Cargo ‘catchers’ are a simple and affordable way to do just that.
Different suppliers refer to these accessories by different names – bags, holders, baskets, slings, organizers – but the idea behind them is the same. They help corral smaller bits of cargo, like groceries or the kids’ sports gear, that would otherwise be rolling around the truck bed with gleeful abandon.
In addition to keeping things within arms reach and free from damage, these products also help protect your truck bed by ensuring heavy items or sharp edges don’t create dings, dents and scratches. Better yet, most of these accessories are soft-sided and collapsible so they’re in-place when you need them and tucked away when you don’t.
Bed Extenders
Another great temporary accessory that can add a lot of utility is a bed extender. Much like they sound, these devices attach to the back of your pickup truck and extend the bed by providing extra space for carrying cargo.
There are a few different styles of bed extender available. Some attach to the end of tailgate to create a larger surface area for cargo to rest on, while others mount into the hitch receiver and extend out from the rear of the truck. Hitch-mounted extenders are usually intended to carry longer payloads, like lumber, pipes or ladders.
Some bed extenders actually mount inside the truck bed so they can double as a cargo divider. AMP Research’s BEDXTENDER works like this, using the tailgate as a floor to maximize hauling size and then flipping back inside the bed to serve as a cargo corral for smaller or more delicate items.
Similar to extenders are sliding truck bed trays, like those from BEDSLIDE or DECKED. These rolling platforms mount into the truck bed and then operate like a big kitchen drawer, sliding cargo out towards you for easier access. While they technically won’t maximize your hauling space, they’ll definitely enhance it.
Weight Distribution Hitches
Mid-size truck towing capacities vary widely, but generally range from 3,500 to 7,700 lbs. While weight distribution hitches are usually required when pulling anything over 5,000 lbs., many towing experts recommend using them on just about any trailer.
Weight distribution hitches maximize towing capacity by evenly distributing the weight of the trailer across the axles of both the tow vehicle and the trailer. This helps prevent the rear of the tow vehicle from sagging, which can drastically improve steering, braking, handling and overall stability.
Ultimately, you cannot tow more weight than your vehicle is rated for. But a weight distribution system can help you make the most of heavier loads, and ensure a safer, smoother and more enjoyable towing experience.
Toolboxes
Simple and effective, a sturdy toolbox can do wonders for your truck’s utility – and style.
Honestly, what truck doesn’t look better with a toolbox out back? It’s like growing a beard or getting a really good haircut; which is to say, this category hardly needs justification for purchase.
If you haul tools, small equipment or anything that qualifies as a “supply,” then a truck toolbox is a worthy investment. Truly, the hardest decision won’t be whether or not to get one, but rather what kind to purchase.
Available in steel, aluminum and heavy-duty plastic, toolboxes come in dozens of configurations that mount to various parts of the truck bed. The most popular style is a crossover toolbox, named so because it sits at the base of the cab and crosses over the truck bed, sitting on top of the bed rails.
Crossover toolboxes offer a large amount of storage space, are easy to install and allow for full use of the truck bed. You can find them in any of the construction materials mentioned above, and many options come with user-friendly features like locks, gas struts for easy opening and weather-resistant seals.
Cab Racks
Talk about an accessory that adds a little grunt to your truck. Nothing says ‘I ain’t afraid of a little manual labor’ like a cab rack.
A common sight on work trucks (and for good reason), cab racks maximize cargo capacity and vehicle protection. In addition to providing convenient tie-down points for big and bulky cargo, they also prevent said cargo from crashing through your cab’s rear window.
Cab racks, sometimes called ‘headache racks’ or ‘cab guards,’ extend across the rear of the cab and mount to stake pockets in the truck bed’s side rails. While their size and shape don’t vary too much, their designs do.
Some cab racks feature full wire screens for maximum protection, while others have more open designs to make it easy to hook a bungee cord or ratchet strap around the bars. Those who need to install auxiliary lighting can find racks specially designed to make mounting easier, or even with lights already installed.
Truck Bed Cargo Racks
Very popular with the overlanding crowd, truck bed racks have exploded in popularity, not to mention capability and variety. Whether you need to haul work supplies to a jobsite or survival supplies across the Serengeti, the aftermarket has a cargo rack for you.
Installing on top of a truck’s bed rails, truck bed cargo racks maximize storage space by providing a platform space above the bed. Installation typically involves mounting the rack to the bed rails using brackets and bolts and may require drilling or modifications, making this a more permanent truck accessory.
In addition to providing extra cargo space (particularly for bulky items like kayaks or bikes), truck bed cargo racks also serve as excellent platforms for rooftop tents.
Truck bed cargo racks make it easier to organize items as well, especially since many products come with special tie-downs, mounting spots or even MOLLE panels.
Rack-Integrated Tonneau Cover
Looking for the best of both worlds? Brands like RETRAX, TruXedo and BAK, among others, can set you up with a tonneau cover that not only covers and protects your truck bed but also maximizes its storage.
Rack-integrated tonneau covers optimize cargo capacity by allowing you to open and close your cover – even while bulky items are stored above it. The trick? T-slot track rails that run the width of the cover and accommodate a huge variety of cargo accessories from popular brands like Yakima, Thule and Rhino Rack.
Even those tonneau cover manufacturers who don’t offer their own racking systems usually produce covers that at least play nicely with other aftermarket accessories. Whether you buy an all-in-one solution or piece-meal your own, a tonneau/rack combo is a great idea to maximize storage, cargo-carrying and protection on your mid-sizer.