Gearing Up Your Truck for Summer

A truck bed cover will keep your truck bed protected from damage and it's one way to save yourself some money on gasoline. Learn more about how a little extra maintenance can keep your truck in great shape in this ARA article.

(ARA) - Spring fever is setting in and many of us are starting to plan our summer road trips. Right now is a great time for you to get your truck and gear in tip-top shape before you hit the road. Whether going to the lake for a weekend of fishing and relaxation or camping in the great outdoors, you need to have the right gear. While there are many experts that can help you determine what gear to buy, it’s determining how to get all of those items to your destination safely and efficiently that can be the real test. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when packing up your truck for your summer trips.

Get organized and save space by compartmentalizing your gear into containers. You’ll be able to find items within seconds of opening the tailgate and unpacking will be much quicker once you reach your destination. Mark Sedenquist, publisher of RoadTripAmerica.com, suggests a combination of clear plastic containers, duffel bags, soft backpacks and cardboard boxes for organizing your gear while traveling. It’s also a good idea to place items you’ll need right away toward the back of the truck bed. For example, pack a cooler with your packed lunch or your tent and sleeping bags last, since they will be some of the first items you’ll want to unpack and set up.

While your truck bed is a great place to store items during your road trip, you’ll also want to make sure those items are protected from the elements and prying eyes. One way to protect your gear is with a roll-up truck bed cover. These affordable roll-up covers are easy to install and will give you 100 percent bed usage for hauling your gear. You simply roll up the cover to gain access to items in your truck bed.

A truck bed cover can also provide you with immediate gas mileage improvement, which may come in quite handy as gas prices tend to increase during the summer. A truck bed cover will help you save at the pump by reducing drag and making your vehicle more aerodynamic at high speeds. Most truck owners can see as much as a 10 percent increase in their fuel economy.

Through a little research you can find many different truck bed covers available. A high-quality and budget-friendly option is the Access Roll-Up Cover, manufactured by ACI (Agri-Cover, Inc), a North Dakota truck accessory company.

This soft roll-up cover is made of heavy-duty, double-coated vinyl material that holds up to the elements and numerous years of use in all different weather conditions. The roll-up cover installs quickly and easily with a clamp-on installation and is designed specifically to fit your truck model. When not in use, the cover can be rolled up behind the cab and never has to be removed when hauling your gear, making it a great option for road trips.

“I put on many highway miles during the year and in talking to other owners with a similar truck without a box cover, I am amazed at the savings in gas mileage I'm getting with my cover. The Access Roll-Up Cover is such an attractive addition to my truck. It really finishes the look I want," says a customer from Bismarck, N.D.

For more information on the Access Roll-Up Cover and to find out how it can protect your gear this summer and save you money at the gas pump, visit www.agricover.com or call (888) 685-2558.