The 10 Best First Mods for YOUR Truck

Whether you’ve just driven off the lot with your brand-new truck, or you’re adding a 'new-to-you' rig to your fleet, one thing is for sure: modifications can make a big difference. The right upgrades not only improve your truck’s performance but also enhance safety, durability, and overall enjoyment. If you’re unsure of where to start, don’t worry - we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into the 10 best first modifications that every new truck owner should consider.

1. All-Terrain Tires

Your truck’s tires are its first and most important connection to the road (or off-road). All-terrain tires provide better grip and traction, whether you’re navigating highways or hitting the trails. If you’re planning on using your truck for both work and recreation, this upgrade balances durability with performance in varied conditions. Plus, they look pretty rugged, giving your truck that bold, ready-for-anything feel.

Why it’s important: Upgrading your tires can improve capability and safety, greatly enhancing functionality and what is possible with your vehicle.

2. Tonneau Cover

A tonneau cover is an essential first upgrade for truck owners looking to maximize cargo space while protecting their gear. Whether it’s a roll-up or a folding cover, a tonneau will help keep your tools, equipment, or recreational gear safe from weather and prying eyes. Check out what we installed on the Raptor Build here.

Why it’s important: Boosts security, protects cargo from the elements, and improves fuel efficiency by reducing drag.

3. Essential Gear Storage

Whether you decide to select something like our soft textile Universal Velcro MOLLE Tech Panels, our Rigid Year/Make/Model specific Bedside Racks, BAR, Seat Back MOLLE Panels or just a plastic milk crate and bungees, mounting certain items such as a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, jumper cables and roadside tire repair essentials is imperative for having a prepared and well-equipped vehicle. 

Why it’s important: Ensures you are prepared to assist others or yourself in an emergency scenario.

4. Upgraded Lighting

Visibility is crucial for safety, and upgraded lighting systems - whether LED fog lights, A-pillar lights or bumper/roof mounted auxiliary light bars - make sure your truck is ready for anything, day or night. With greatly improved brightness and reach, you’ll not only see the road and trails better, but be more visible to others. Check out what we did with our Raptor Build's lighting, we went all out with this - but just a couple of auxiliary lights can make a world of difference!

Why it’s important: Enhances safety during low-light conditions and adds to truck’s capability.

5. Tinted Windows

Getting your windows tinted can be a great initial modification, depending on the laws where you live and if you mind receiving a ticket if it becomes an issue. This not only serves as a fantastic aesthetic upgrade, but it’s functional in that it makes whatever you keep in your vehicle a bit more hidden and less attractive to those ‘less honest’ folks out there. In addition to decreasing appeal for criminals, adding tints to your vehicle will help keep the summer sun out.

Why it’s important: Protects from prying eyes, keeps the interior temperature down and enhances your truck’s look. 

6. Dash Mount

Installing one of our Dash Mount systems is the best way to keep your essential hands-free, heads-up devices secured in your line of sight - no matter how hard you drive off-road. Discover the type of torture our dash mounts are built to live through by clicking here. Whether you need to mount phones, GPS, radios, radar or a dash cam, look no further than our Dash Mounts and Mountech’s phone holders and components.

Why it’s important: Keep your essential communications within reach, but hands free - reliably secured in your direct line of sight for maximum adjustability and safety. 

7. Bed Liner or Bed Mat

A durable bed liner or mat is a must-have for any truck owner. Whether you’re hauling heavy equipment, building supplies or recreational gear, a bed liner or mat will protect your truck’s bed from scratches, dents, and corrosion. Options range from spray-on liners to drop-in models, depending on your preferences. We MUST note here that if you plan on installing our Bedside Rack MOLLE Panels most drop-in bed liners are not an option. Some spray-in liners may need to be scored and trimmed in order to install our parts as well. Bedrugs can be an exception - if you have questions about your specific drop-in liner or bed protection fitment with our products, reach out to our industry-leading customer support here. We frequently opt for using a simple bed mat in our shop trucks.

Why it’s important: Protects your truck’s bed from damage.

8. Exhaust System / Intake Upgrades

Adding an upgraded exhaust system or intake does more than just give your truck a deeper, throatier growl - it can also improve performance by increasing airflow and reducing back pressure with a proper tune. Many performance exhaust and intake systems are designed to somewhat boost fuel efficiency while enhancing horsepower, giving you a much more exciting driving experience.

Why it’s important: Improves overall enjoyment and performance.

9. Suspension and Components

Depending on why you purchased your truck - whether for towing, off-road exploration or just daily driving - upgrading your truck’s suspension from the factory can do a few things for you reliably. With the right kits and components installed by the right people, you can send your rig through baja-level whoops, and with the wrong kits and a questionable install, you can be left stranded on the side of the road. We’re not here to recommend exact solutions for your specific application and vehicle, but we can advise that you take your rig to a trusted shop to have your desired system installed and ensure that your truck is all ready to be put to work.

Why it’s important: Increase your truck’s ride height and towing or off-road capabilities, articulation and performance on the rougher stuff.

10. BuiltRight Perfect-Fit Stubby Antenna

Finally, for those of you looking for simple ways to enhance the aesthetic of your vehicle from the factory, one of the easiest yet impactful “modifications” is a BuiltRight Perfect-Fit Stubby Antenna. While this precisely engineered piece of black anodized CNC machined 6061 aluminum doesn’t make your AM/FM radio reception any better, it does drastically improve the look of your truck’s front end - and it takes care of that huge OEM antenna. Whether you constantly notice it or not, the large silver unsightly whip antenna waving around can get bothersome and is a little ridiculous by today’s standards. We always put a Perfect-Fit Stubby on our shop trucks. Check out our Limited Ford and Jeep Nerf Dart Antennas too!

Why it’s important: Boost your vehicle’s curb appeal! This ‘mod’ is strictly aesthetic and doesn’t have a performance side to it - but it makes your vehicle look like a million bucks.

To Wrap Things Up...

Investing in these first modifications will ensure your truck is not only prepared for the daily challenges ahead, but also built to last and turn heads! Each of these upgrades enhances safety, functionality, durability, and aesthetics, we’ve found that these changes provide a perfect blend of form and function. Whether you’re hauling cargo, heading off-road, or just cruising around town, these modifications will take your truck ownership experience to the next level.

Whatever your priorities may be with a new truck, it’s time to make that rig truly yours!