Do you haul cargo in your pickup truck? If you use your truck for work and regularly haul tools, supplies and a massive collection of large and small items, a bed slide could be the accessory that makes life a little easier and puts your truck to work for you. Bed slides, also called bed drawers, protect the truck bed and improve its function by giving you access to three sides of the cargo area. They effectively eliminate crawling, climbing and rummaging. If you already have accessories from a Houston truck bedliners company, a bed slide could be the perfect addition to your work truck.
What is a Truck Bed Slide?
A bed slide consists of two major parts. First, you have the frame that bolts into the interior of the truck bed. Second, you have the bed slide or drawer, which glides along a track in the frame. Depending on the model, there are several differences. Weight capacities generally range from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds. Sturdier materials along with better bearings and rollers give you a greater weight capacity. Units have anywhere from eight to 20 rollers. The more rollers you have, the easier it is to slide the cargo out for unloading.
The materials of the bed slide also vary. Most are made from anodized aluminum or steel. You will also find slides with rubberized floors that create a non-slip surface and prevent your cargo for shifting. Then, you get into the other extras and add-ons that you can find through a Houston truck accessories outlet. Once you have a bed slide, you can add cargo baskets and partitioned buckets to keep your cargo organized.
Most bed slides are compatible with tie-downs and cargo straps. Depending on the type of cargo that you haul, you might prefer a tray-style bed slide or one with higher sides that act more like a drawer and keep items secure.
Selecting the Right Model
Bed slides are available for most pickup trucks, and some can also be installed in SUVs. The options available to you will depend on your budget and the make, model and year of your vehicle. A variety of slides are available for the most popular trucks made by Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Dodge and other manufacturers. What you haul, how heavy your cargo is and how much you want to spend have the greatest bearing on the model that is best for you.
The Advantages
A bed drawer is as protective as a liner, but it is significantly more practical. In addition to making loading and unloading easier, you can access items without rolling back the tonneau, lifting a hard cover or crouching down under a cap. Your cargo is accessible but is also stored securely. Bed slides are great for anyone who has back problems, is handicapped or is simply tired of climbing in and out of the pickup bed every time another tool or supply is needed.
Bed slides work great with other accessories. If you are a fan of truck lift kits and special suspension systems or if use your vehicle for off-road driving, a bed slide can put your cargo within reach. Bed Slide systems improve safety by reducing the number of times that you climb into the truck and eliminating the damage that occurs as you rummage around the bed looking for the one tool that you can never find.
If you purchase a bed slide from a local truck accessory company, you can have it installed and start using it the same day. Once you pack your first load, you will not be able to stop showing your friends. Pretty soon, everyone you know will want their own.