Faraz Butt
Do you love your old truck but wish it had more of the latest smart features? You don’t need to buy a brand new truck in order to get features like a backup camera, Bluetooth speakers, console security, and more. You can keep your old truck and get all the new smart features you need – all you have to do is install the right smart truck accessories.
There are plenty of options for aftermarket truck accessories compatible with every truck, no matter how old and yes, beat up. Follow these steps to bring your old truck into the 21st century with backup cameras, GPS navigation, Bluetooth, and more.
Install a Backup Camera
Backup cameras may be among the most useful features on new cars and trucks, but if your old truck doesn’t have one, don’t despair. You can easily get a wireless backup camera installed on any vehicle. There are numerous models and types of backup camera available. You can get one that will broadcast images to a phone or tablet – installation can be as easy as sticking the camera to the back of your truck. If you need help with installation, retailers like Best Buy offer reasonable prices for the installation of backup cameras, car stereos, and other vehicle electronics.
Get Bluetooth
If you’re driving an older truck model, chances are you’re stuck listening to the radio or maybe to a selection of old CDs or even tapes.
Well, that doesn’t have to be your life anymore. If you have a tape deck or CD player, you can get a Bluetooth adapter that inserts into your media player and allows you to connect your phone to your truck’s sound system. You can finally listen to your favorite Spotify playlists in your truck!
Of course, you probably also need hands-free Bluetooth speakers to allow you to safely talk on the phone while you’re in your truck – especially if you use your truck for work. You can buy Bluetooth speakers that plug into your truck’s cigarette lighter. The speakers can be mounted anywhere in your cab it’s convenient, such as behind the sun visor. Bluetooth speakers are among the most popular truck accessories because they’re not just convenient – they’re a safety feature, too.
Navigate More Easily
If you’re already using your smartphone as a navigational device, it’s easy to see why you might just go ahead and skip equipping your truck with a dedicated GPS navigational device. But while Google Maps can take you anywhere you want to go, there are some reasons why you might want a dedicated GPS device in your truck.
For one thing, if you’re using your phone as a GPS, that makes it harder to use it as a phone, which can be important if you work from your truck and need to field calls from clients, customers, colleagues, and higher-ups all day long. Using your phone for GPS can also drain the battery quickly, leaving you dependent on a car charger to keep your phone charged enough to get around. Dedicated GPS navigational devices tend to be sturdier than phones, too, and that can be important if your truck is a work truck. And if you don’t have or want a smartphone, you’re going to need to invest in a dedicated GPS navigational device.
Keep Your Stuff Safe
Are you worried about leaving your valuables out in plain sight in the cab of your truck? Install a locking console box so you have somewhere secure to stash your belongings when you get out of the truck. These boxes fit into your center console and keep your wallet, phone, and other valuables safe from thieves.
Shed Some Light on Things
Most new trucks come with a light factory-installed on the back of the cab, so you can find things in your truck bed in the dark. But older trucks may not have this feature, and if your truck has a tonneau cover, a light on the top of the cab isn’t going to do you much good.
You can have your dealer install factory bed lights, or you can buy LED light strips that stick to your truck bed just under the lip. Some run on AA batteries, and these are easy to install yourself, but if you want to add lights that hook up your truck’s 12-volt wiring system, you should hire a mechanic to install them. That way, you won’t risk doing damage or voiding your warranty.
There’s a lot to be said for driving an older vehicle – for one thing, you usually don’t have to worry about paying it off. But older trucks don’t have all the same smart features that come standard in newer models. Use truck accessories to bring your truck up to speed, and enjoy all the bells and whistles without that new-truck price tag.
