The F-150: Great for Carrying Cargo

The F150 is a great truck for anyone who wants or needs to be able to haul around a large

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 amount of cargo. The large cab can easily hold several pounds of cargo without weighing down your truck and slowing your pace while on the road. Whether you regularly carry goods for work or just want to be able to help with moves and other events, this is one of the best trucks on the market for carrying goods. However, even a truck as good as this can’t do everything on its own, and one thing this truck can’t do is keep your cargo completely safe. That’s why you need an F150 tonneau cover.

A reliable F150 tonneau cover will be made of a strong, durable material, such as aluminum. It will fit easily onto your truck, preferably without drilling or other time consuming installation processes that can damage your truck. It should also be able to stand up to all of the different kinds of damage your cargo can encounter. That means protecting against, rain, snow, sleet, hail, excessive winds, collisions or impact, thieves, and sun damage. Fortunately, Auto Truck Depot has some of the best tonneau covers around, so you can find exactly what your truck needs.

There are roll-up covers, perfect for people who want easy access to their cargo and/or who only tend to use their covers every once in a while and want them out of the way the rest of the time. There are also flip-up covers, folding covers, and so much more. Browse through the large selection, find the perfect product, and start making the most of your F150.

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Hottest Tonneau Cover

Are you looking for the mother of all tonneau covers? If so, then it’s time to step up to the Bakflip G2, the newest innovation in these protective covers. Like no other cover, this model can protect your precious cargo from everything Mother Nature can throw at it. Sun damage, rain and other precipitation, and even the heaviest winds don’t stand a chance with this cover blocking them. Your cargo will also be protected from collisions and impact and from sticky fingers when your cargo is left unattended!

The Bak Bakflip G2 is constructed entirely of metal, meaning nothing is getting through this cover! Unlike covers made from soft materials, you don’t have to worry about moisture seeping through and damaging your goods. Plus, the panels on this cover move easily, allowing you to access your cargo without hassle and, when you don’t want to use the cover, you simply move the panels to expose the bed. There’s really no need to take this cover off—ever. Use it when you want and forget about it when you don’t! Installation is incredibly simple as well, and you don’t need a professional to do it in most cases.

You can find this and other great, innovative new covers at Auto Truck Depot. Just make sure that you choose a cover designed to work with your specific truck. Have the make, model, year, and other important information close by as you browse. That way, picking the right cover will be a breeze. Once you place your order, your package should arrive shortly, and you can install your cover and start enjoying it right away!

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The Best Brake Controllers: What Kind is Right for Your Trailer?

Any time people are on the road, being able to stop safely is important. When someone is hauling around a trailer, quick stopping can be doubly important. Having the right brake controllers installed on trailers is the key to safe stopping power. Of course, there are many popular brake controllers on the market today, so it's important for us that our customers choose the right one for their trailers.

Braking Types

Many of the people that we talk to often mention that they aren't sure which type of controller to buy, as they use different types of braking technology. Essentially, trailers are going to either have electric or hydraulic brakes. That means that some people will need to buy one type of brake controller or another, based upon how their trailers are set up. However, there are brake controllers, like the P3 Electronic Brake Control, which allow people to choose from either electric or hydraulic braking systems.

Why is this Important?

Over the years, some folks end up changing trailers and if the new trailer had electric brakes, but the new one has hydraulic brakes, that means a new controller has to be purchased. Unless, that is, the controller in question is the P3 Electronic Brake Control, as it can be used on either type of braking system.

That's not the only selling point of the P3, by any stretch of the imagination. It also has a gorgeous, easy to read LED screen and many other features that really set it apart from the other controllers on the market today. It truly is a high end braking system for people who want the best stopping power for their trailers.

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A “User-Friendly” Pickup Truck: Running Boards Make it Possible

There's nothing like getting up in the morning and heading to work in your pickup truck. We know how much pride truck owners take in their vehicle, and that's why it's always exciting to see so many people driving the best pickup trucks. Of course, getting up into a full-size pickup truck isn't always that easy. And it's not just kids or smaller folks who can have difficulty getting into full-sized trucks. There are often times when we could all use a step up. And that's why running boards are some of the most in-demand truck accessories on the market today.

They Look Good Too

Of course, you may not have any problems getting into your truck. But that doesn't mean that you won't benefit from having running boards on your truck. Let's face it – running boards just make a truck look better. Whether you're talking about a traditional running board or a step bar, these accessories just plain look great on pickup trucks.

Easy Installation

It isn't too hard to get boards or steps installed on a pickup truck. For folks who like to tinker with their trucks, getting them installed is relatively quick and pain-free. In fact, the boards that we sell all come with instructions and the hardware you need, so the process isn't difficult at all. However, if you just don't want to deal with doing an installation on you own, we can take care of getting your running boards installed in no time. 

Running boards and truck steps make it easy to get older family members and children into your truck. And since they look great too, getting them installed on your truck is a win-win situation.

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Is it Time for a Truck Box?

No matter how many cool automobile accessories hit the market, there's something that we just love about the traditional truck box. And since truck boxes have really improved in recent years, there's even more to love about these big, sturdy and attractive truck accessories. There's just something about having a nice truck tool box installed that makes a good looking pickup truck transform into a great looking one.

Of course, we all know that there's more than aesthetics to consider when purchasing a truck box. First and foremost, you'll want to get one that suits your needs. If you're in the construction, plumbing or any other field that requires you to have tools with you everywhere you go, then a truck tool box has to be easy to access and extremely secure.

Here's the most important features of a truck box, as we see them:

-    Security – a tool box that's located in your truck bed has to be secure. And to be secure it has to be tough and equipped with good locks.
-   Size. Since you can pick up truck boxes in differing sizes, it's important to make sure that you get one that's got enough room to fit all your essential tools. And since you never know when you might add a new tool to your collection, you'll want to make sure that the tool box you get has a bit of extra room for expansion in the future.

Keep these key features in mind, and be sure to check out the wide assortment of truck boxes we have available. Once you've picked yours out and have it installed, your truck will look great and your cargo will be more secure than ever before.

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What Kind of Tonneau Cover is the Best?

Tonneau covers have come a long way over the years. We can still recall just a few years back when you hardly saw these covers on any trucks at all. Of course, that's all changed, as you don't have to go far to find plenty of pickup trucks with tonneau covers installed. And since these handy covers provide security and, very often, improved fuel economy, it's easy to understand why they have surged in popularity.

Which Kinds are Best?

Any time we talk about a truck accessory being the best, we have to bring up the fact that every scenario is different. For example, if you just want a tonneau cover that can be used to cover up the groceries in case it rains, then a soft cover or even a simple truck box may be best. However, if you do a lot of work with your truck, then a different type of tonneau cover may be called for.

Here are some of the basic types of covers that are available today:

-    Fiberglass Covers
-    Retractable Covers
-    Trifold Covers
-    Soft Covers

And while all of these covers are nice, each is different, so there's really no way to say that one is better than another – they're just different, for different tastes and needs. As you get familiar with the different types, you'll be able to focus in on the models that you like the best.

You can check out some of our best tonneau covers on our website or stop by our store to see some in person. By seeing some of these covers for yourself, you'll be better equipped to decide which types of covers will be the best for your own, particular needs.

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Brake Controller Considerations

If you're like me, and have spent some time hauling trailers around, you know how important it is to have a responsive brake system. And when there is a trailer involved, you can't just rely on the brakes of the towing vehicle alone. It's safer and easier to drive when you have brake controllers installed on your vehicles when they're towing any type of trailer. These handy controllers help to evenly distribute the stopping power of your braking system and keep trailers from going into the dreaded jack knife while you're on the road.

Food for Thought

Here's a few of the things you need to consider when buying brake controllers:

-    Should you go wireless? You don't necessarily have to hard wire a brake controller. These days there are some very reliable wireless models available. I like to keep things simple, so I am really impressed with how easy it is to install a wireless system. However, if you don't mind doing a little wiring or hiring someone who does, you can still get a hard-wired unit for your truck & trailer.
-    Axle count. Most controllers are designed for a specific number of axles. This is very basic, but important to mention. Don't buy a brake controller, unless it is designed for the exact amount of axles that you'll be hauling.
-    Price. Like anything else, we know that the bottom line matters. Luckily, there are quite a few controllers to choose from these days, so it's not too hard to find one that will suit just about any budget.

There you have it – our top tips for buying the right brake controllers - for safe driving when you're pulling a trailer.

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Rollup Tonneau Covers: Do you Really Need a Hard Top Cover?

Rollup Tonneau Covers are a practical and affordable purchase for your truck.  They give you the same amount of protection that a trifold or fiberglass Tonneau cover can give you, but at a cost that is much more affordable.  Much like shades in your home, you use a pull mechanism to roll back the cover.  This means you only have to use the cover when you need it.  This is highly practical for people who don’t want all the fuss of having to deal with full or partial coverage.

We offer basic rollup Tonneau covers and “roll and lock” covers so you can secure the contents of your truck bed should you need to run into a store.  These types of covers come in variable thicknesses and level of effort involved.  You can get a rollup Tonneau cover that is under $300 and ones that are over $1000.  When people are purchasing a rollup cover over a folded or other harder surface retractable cover they do tend to go with the lower end models and that makes sense.
 
Installation of these types of Tonneau covers is easy-peasy, as they say.  Most of them work on a clamp system making them one of the types of covers that we actually endorse people putting on by themselves at home.  This creates a greater level of affordability for our customers.  They are all pretty durable and the feedback from our customers (so far) has been great.  Naturally, they aren’t going to last as long as say an aluminum or fiberglass model would, but then again you aren’t paying as much so it probably evens out over the course of five years.  If you want an affordable protective solution for your truck bed check out our rollup Tonneau covers.

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Who Makes the Best Pickup Box?

A pickup box is a highly useful piece of aftermarket equipment.  Probably our top selling item, in fact.  Customers ask us a lot which is the best pickup box or truck box that we sell.  My answer is: all of them.  I say this because I specifically only choose those vendors that create quality, top-of-the-line items.  Our two top sellers: Tradesman and Weather Guard are pretty much identical in construction.  They were made by master craftsmen and will last you forever, practically.  I don’t think when it comes to items we stock in our showroom that I could choose which is the best product line, I think I would just ask someone first what they want to use a truck box for and go from there.

You see, there are all types of truck boxes out there.  Boxes that will haul huImage via Wikipedianting dogs, boxes that will haul tools, boxes that can safely haul liquids—I mean, really, if you can think of something that could be hauled in a box, trust us, Tradesman and Weather Guard thought of it first.  Do you want to haul power tools in your pickup box?  Weather Guard has tool boxes that can be fitted onto your truck.  Do you not like to share the driving experience with your hunting dog, Flash, and would prefer he have a comfortable bed in the back of the pickup?  Tradesman has a nice dog box that would do him nicely.  Are you afraid of keeping unlocked guns in the back of your truck?  Tradesman and Weather Guard both have L-Shaped boxes that can store hunting and fishing equipment.

Really, these products are expansive and customizable.  We love the added utility these truck boxes add to our trucks, vans, and SUVs.  You can put on a single gullwing, or add to the configuration with side boxes, underbed boxes, and L-shapes.  They can be hard resin or metal, steel colored or powered white and black.  They can fit under Tonneau covers or be stand alone.

So when asking which truck box is the best, it is really a question we should ask of you?  What pickup box suits you best?

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Popular Truck Bed Boxes

Truck Bed boxes for trucks literally come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.  There are L-shapes, gullwing, dog boxes, side boxes, drop down boxes, tool boxes—if you can think it up there is probably a truck box already made for it.  Metal, hard plastic, fiberglass…powder coat, stainless steel, sports team themed—I’m telling you there are a lot of bed boxes out there to choose from.

Here at Auto Truck Depot we keep a huge selection in stock because they are probably our best selling item.  In fact, I’d almost hazard a guess that the gullwing truck box is probably the top seller at our store.  They are highly functional, useful pieces of aftermarkImage by jp1958 via Flickret equipment.  People can safely store tools in their bed boxes or even purchases that they just made at the store.  A truck box can keep the items safe from the destructive nature of the elements, as well as, preventing lightweight “loose” items from flying out the back of your vehicle.  And when you purchase something like a gullwing truck box you are buying a storage unit that won’t take up too much space in the back of your vehicle (most of them allow you to store items under them) thus enabling you to still use the full range of your truck bed.

Other popular types of Truck bed boxes include tool storage boxes.  Weather Guard makes a really popular line of tool storage boxes for trucks that our contracting customers just love.  Not only do they come in the gullwing, L-shape, underbed, and rail top shapes, but also they have compartments for all of your tools.

You really have to come down to the show room and have a look because I cannot describe them all.  Suffice it to day we carry a lot of truck boxes because they are utilitarian and attractive.  Our customers simply cannot get enough of our line of bed boxes.

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Retractable Tonneau Covers: So Many to Choose From, So Little Time…

Retractable Tonneau covers are very popular with our truck crowd.  Tonneau covers, in general, are popular but more and more we’re getting inquiries for the retractable Tonneau covers (as opposed to the hinge-lift) types.    These bad boys come in manual and electronic models for ease of use.  So whether you want to fold up your Tonneau cover by hand or push a button via remote control, we have a retractable cover that will suit your hauling needs.

People love retractable Tonneau covers because it allows you to only “partially” open your vehicle cover should you only need to put in a smaller item.  This comes in handy when it’s raining or snowing and you don’t want to have to expose the full bed of your vehicle to the weather.  It’s also nice for when you’re just feeling lazy and don’t feel like opening up the entire cover just to throw in a bag of groceries.  A lot of people like having the partial option when their cover is remote controlled because it enables you to start opening the cover before you even get to the vehicle, so you can make a quick exit from a crowded parking lot. 

Most of our Tonneau covers are no-drill, clamp-in designs.  We don’t believe that a product needs to be invasive to be secure.  So don’t worry about having to drill holes in your truck just because you have a fancy, remote-controlled retractable Tonneau cover.   Products should be functional, attractive, and non-invasive because you never know come resale time what the next owner will want from their vehicle.

Because of the popularity of these products with our customers, I can assure you that you will find in our showroom a Tonneau cover to fit whatever requirements you may have.  We have roll back soft tops, hinged fiberglass, fold back aluminum, and (of course) retractable Tonneau covers.

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About Our Trailer Hitch Accessories

Here at Auto Truck Depot we try to be your one-stop-shop for practical aftermarket items for your car, truck, or van.  We don’t sell fiberglass racing panels and wings, nor do we sell sway bars, Noz or other “fun” stuff that kids like. We sell sturdy, practical items like trailer hitch accessories—but we like to think we do it in a fun way.  Our line of trailer hitch accessories is fairly complete.  We sell everything you need to install your trailer hitch and hook up your trailer at home.  We can also install everything that you purchase while you’re waiting around drinking coffee. 

We sell the ball, ball mount, pins and clips, as well as, wiring supplies, hitch adapters, and hitch covers.  We even sell boxes that can fit on the trailer hitch.  All of the products we sell at Auto Truck Depot are top quality and “best of breed”.  We understand that our products are practical and high use aftermarket items.  Your trailer’s brake controllers, for example, are safety mechanisms that alert the vehicles behind you that you’re stopping.  Our trailer hitches and trailer hitch accessories are what keeps the trailer attached to your vehicle and not to the front end of another car or truck.

So, no, we don’t sell Sparco steering wheels or tanks of Noz.  And we get that trailer hitches aren’t “sexy”, but we do try to provide a fun, and positive experience to all of the customers who stop by Auto Truck Depot.  We also stand by each and every one of the products we sell, so that you know that the trailer hitch accessories that you’ve purchased from our showroom are the very best, safest, and most reliable products on the market today.  And that makes a huge difference when there’s snow and ice on the roads!  You have that extra bit of confidence in your vehicle and trailers that a can of Noz just can’t provide.

Truck Canopies: for when a Tonneau Cover “Won’t Do”

Truck beds come in a wide range of depths.  When people buy a truck box, cover, or canopy for their truck it is usually with some item in mind.  People purchase truck boxes when they want to securely store an item that they are carrying in their vehicle like tools or guns.  They purchase Tonneau covers when they want to protect larger items from the elements that may not fit in truck boxes or to protect the truck bed from rust.  Truck canopies can both protect larger items (like a Tonneau cover) and secure items (like a truck box).  They also are able to cover those items that would stick above the bed of a truck, and for this reason many people choose truck canopies over Tonneau covers.

These days, truck canopies come in several design types.  You can purchase truck canopies that look very similar to Tonneau covers (lids) and canopies that make your truck look like an SUV.  They also come in aluminum and fiberglass, both lightweight materials making them easy to put on and take off.

When you frequently haul items that would raise above the bed of your truck, especially in winter months it is more reasonable to choose a truck canopy over another type of cover.  We usually talk to our customers about their needs before recommending a canopy, truck box, or cover.  In general, the same people who look at Tonneau covers are the same customers that are looking at truck canopies.  Our sales staff knows to review the needs, truck bed height, and size requirements of items being hauled before making recommendations to our customers.  We don’t try to sell people more product than they need.  If you can get away with a Tonneau cover or lid, that’s what we’ll recommend.  If, however, you need something larger—or just like the look of truck canopies we are happy to sell you one of those, as well.

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Who Makes the Best Tonneau Covers

Our salespeople at Auto Truck Depot get asked a lot about “what’s the best” product.  People want to know things like, who makes the best Tonneaucovers?  It’s really hard for anyone here to answer a question like that because we feel that we have chosen the best vendors on the market for all the products we choose to sell.  Choosing between the best at their game is pretty difficult and subjective.  Our answer is usually goes something like this: whichever brand works the best for you.

 

The fact is whether its BAKFlip,Extang  Roll-N-Lock, or UnderCover you are purchasing a high quality product.  All of these companies were specifically chosen because of their high customer ratings.

It all boils down to your personal tastes, reason for using the Tonneau cover, and type of cover you’re looking for.  Some people like soft Tonneau covers, other people like hard ones.  The best Tonneau covers are those that suit your personal needs.  Soft covers are typically more affordable than hard covers, so if it saves you money you

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Why You Need Professional Installation for Brake Controllers

  We install everything we sell at Auto Truck Depot.  Most of the time, we do it for the convenience factor.  People just don’t have the time or inclination to install these products at home.  However, some do.  We have a lot of customers who are very hands on and do-it-yourself.  DIY is great because it cuts costs for you.  Although we certainly want your business, if you told our sales staff that you want to install your truck box yourself we’re not going to be broken-hearted.  Installing a truck box, however, is a bit different than installing an item that is considered a “safety feature”.  Brake controllers are safety mechanisms.  While there are a great many people out there that are meticulous and handy, it is still a good idea to have a professional team install any item that involves safety.  If you scratch your truck installing a truck box, you’ve done cosmetic damage.  If your brake controllers fail, you have a potential accident on your hands.

Since the mid 90’s manufacturers of RVs, trucks, and SUVs have all made allowances for trailers and are set up to use an electronic trailer brake controller.  Most of them now have brake controller units built right in, but some have what is called a “quick plug” on the dash somewhere that connects up to the standard brake controller.  This does make things a lot easier and there are customers that I know who I would sell a brake controller to with good conscience because I know that they will be just fine connecting the brake controller quick plug to their vehicle.

With older vehicles and trailers this process is not quite as cut and dry.  Someone would have to be good at wiring to create the connection between the trailer brakes and the vehicle’s own braking unit.  This means tapping into the brake light wiring, finding the brake light switch and running a 12 volt power wire, ground wire, and brake light wire to the controller and then back to the trailer’s brake wiring connector.  This isn’t rocket science—what is besides rocket science?  Still…I’d feel a lot better if I knew that someone who does this daily or weekly is handling it.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven behind a trailer whose brake lights don’t work.  

That concludes my rant of the day on brake controllers.

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Do I Need a Fifth Wheel Hitch?

Most of the time, people can get away with using a standard ball hitch for their trailer.  However, larger trailers (RVs, campers, livestock trailers, etc.) require a fifth wheel hitch because they allow for appropriate weight distribution.  The whole fifth “wheel” thing is a bit of a misnomer in modern configurations and dates back to the days of carriages when there really was a “fifth wheel”.  Today’s configuration consists of a coupling that has been installed in the bed of a pickup that consists of a “coupling pin” and a horseshoe shaped device (the “fifth wheel”).

When do you need a fifth wheel hitch?  Well, you absolutely need one when you are hauling larger livestock trailers, campers, or semi-trailers. You could use one when you have a medium sized trailer that requires the type of extra support and weight distribution that these hitches provide.

Once you’ve made the decision to purchase a fifth wheel hitch for your truck, stop by our showroom.  We work with several different manufacturers, each with their own set of strengths. It is easier to discuss which one is best for your vehicle in person because it allows the sales staff to physically point out things about the hitch or your vehicle that might help you make the right purchase. 

To answer the original question: when do I need a fifth wheel hitch?  The short answer is that if you’re hauling a second home with your truck, if you’ve got 20 head of steer you need to move, or your truck is actually a “semi” then you need a fifth wheel hitch.

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