In the construction industry, nearly everyone drives a full-size work truck. I personally drive a 2015 Ford F-150 XLT Super Crew truck—a 4-door model that comfortably seats six people. While this truck has some really great features, you can always add more when it comes to upgrading your work truck experience. While you can certainly pay Ford (or your local dealer) more for OEM parts, we've found that you can actually get some pretty good aftermarket stuff—many of which dealers can't offer. Here are some of the best aftermarket upgrades we think are right for your Ford F-150 work truck.
Upgrade Your Ford F-150 Floor Mats
Possibly one of the best aftermarket upgrades to provide your Ford F-150 Work Truck with interior aesthetics is a set of quality rubber floor mats. High-quality rubber floor liners can improve the usability (and, frankly, the looks) of your Ford F-150 interior. When you upgrade your truck, you can choose from a variety of solutions, from premium carpet pads to something a little more sturdy. Since this ended up being a work truck to us (albeit a good one), we wanted to go with the WeatherTech Ford 2015 F-150 FloorLiner DigitalFit. These are laser-measured mats that fit snugly against interior carpet and line the front, rear or even sides of the footwell. And because these mats are made by digitally laser measuring the interior surfaces of stock Ford F-150 Trucks (all models available), you get a truly consistent, perfect fit. Here's a front-to-back comparison of the rear of the 2015 F-150 Super Crew:
For the front bolster, you can choose between a full-width model or two separate driver and passenger side bolsters. We opted for individual pads and I found them easier to remove and clean. WeatherTech uses a patent-pending High Density Triple Extrusion (HDTE) material that has a solid core for strength while providing surface traction to the rug (so it doesn't move around). It also has a nice surface feel. They use advanced surface treatments to create channels that transport fluid and debris to lower reservoirs and further channel to help minimize fluid movement while driving. Once fluids are trapped in the reservoir, away from shoes and clothing, they can be easily removed from the WeatherTech FloorLiner DigitalFit above the threshold.
Price: $199.90–$229.90 (Super Crew Complete) | Get More Info on Your Work Truck | WeatherTech Floor Mat Review
Equip Your Ford F-150 Truck with a Quality Trailer Hitch
While you can order a trailer hitch for your Ford F-150 when and where you buy it, many people (myself included) buy used, or may wish to buy a model that doesn't have a factory or OEM hitch installed at a dealership. We wanted a Class IV trailer hitch that could tow a boat or a tandem trailer with a lot of construction material, debris or even an ATV. This is one of the best aftermarket upgrades to give your Ford F-150 Work Truck more versatility. You never know what you're going to encounter here, and we don't want to worry that our traction system isn't up to the task. After doing some research, we settled on the Draw-Tite Round Tube Max Frame Grabber (#75910). This is a black powder coated tubular frame hitch rated up to 6,000 lbs. (GTW) Weight Carrying (WC) and up to 12,000 lbs. (GTW) Weight distribution (WD). It uses a standard 2" square receiver tube and has a sturdy all-welded construction. These Draw-Tite Hooks are custom made to make and model year so you can be sure they will fit and be safe to use. They also come with a nationwide limited lifetime warranty.
We chose to install the Draw-Tite round tube Max-Frame receiver ourselves, and the instructions were very accurate in laying out what was involved and giving us the exact steps. The only hiccup we had was that we needed to grind off about 1/16" of the included rectangular steel washers in order to fit them as needed in the frame of our 2015 Ford. Other than that, the installation was a breeze, a partner and I had the new hooks installed and tightened to spec in no time.
Price: $160 | Get More Info | Order Online | Draw-Tite Hook Review
Upgrade to LED headlights
Next, we turned our attention to the LED headlights. We were impressed with the LED lighting technology as it works with work lights, tool lights and flashlights. It was not an easy task to integrate LEDs into our work trucks as well. LEDs can offer higher lumen output and different color temperature options, giving you better visibility at night (especially during the more difficult sunset hours). We turned to the F150LED and its 2015 Cree Headlight System MK II. This $299 system gets you two high powered Cree LED headlight bulbs for high and low beams, laser engraved electronic cooling fan units, laser engraved electronic digital ballasts and two custom shrouds. What we really like about this kit is how easy it is to install. Since you're replacing a halogen HID light, you won't have to run a ground wire or an odd wiring harness beyond simply wiring up the new Cree LED light and associated ballast. The result is a nice smooth light that eliminates hot spots and provides a truer white daylight.
Price: $299 | Order Online
LUND Nerf and Bull Bar
I don't know of a better (or more recognized) company than LUND nerf bars and bed steps. If your thoughts on the best aftermarket upgrades for your Ford F-150 work truck include making it look really cool (and more practical), then this is the company for you. We actually picked up a few products from this company, including the LUND Oval Straight Stainless Steel Side Bar and the Bumper Bar with Built-in LED Light Bar (also stainless steel).
Adding a product like LUND nerf bars might be an obvious choice. If you have a full-size truck, not only will they make getting in and out of the truck easier, but they'll keep the side seams of your seats from fraying as you slide over them every day. A nerf bar allows you to "sit" directly on the seat – even if it helps smaller people such as children get into the vehicle more easily. You can also get them in a variety of shapes and configurations, but we prefer the straight oval style here. With a bumper bar, well — it simply protects the front of your vehicle from bumps while adding a little visual punch to your truck. The bullpen adds a bit if length is your concern, but it's worth it if you ask us. The LUND bumper we tested also contained an LED light bar, which needs to be wired into the vehicle's electrical system (you can either wire a dedicated switch or wire it into the fog lights). We hooked it up using a harness we bought online for $26, and opted for a dedicated switch to keep the lights from the fog light system independent.
Price:
- LUND 5" Oval Stainless Steel Side Bar (#23990004) – $399 | Get More Info | LUND Neuro Rod Review
- LUND Bull Bar Built-in Stainless Steel LED Light Bar (#27021206) – $499 | Get More Info
AMP Research Bed Procedure
The Amp Research BedStep2 offers some convenience when reaching into the truck bed. The original Amp Research BedStep eliminates the need to step on the steering wheel or climb in through the tailgate, you can easily drop them down when needed and gain extra reach to pull supplies from the truck bed. They're so convenient that you can barely see them when you lift them back into place and put them away. We got a pair for each side of the truck (behind the LUND nerf bars). The Amp BedStep2 is another option, it fits behind the rear bumper to allow easy access to the steps when approaching the bed from behind. If you have a third-party trailer hitch, you may find that the thread clearance is insufficient to fit the BedStep2, so check your vehicle before ordering.
Price:
- AMP Bed Step (#75312-01A) – $209 | Get More Info
- AMP Bed Step2 (#75412-01A) – $229 | Get More Info | Read Our Amp BedStep2 Review
Enhance your audio with a Kicker subwoofer!
The sound system in the 2015 Ford F-150 truck is not bad – I've heard worse. One thing it lacks, however, is punchy bass on the low end. It doesn't help that you need more than upgraded speakers to take it back, and don't even touch the EQ on the radio. The Kicker PF150SC15 Subwoofer Kit is a multi-channel amplifier and powered subwoofer upgrade system that can be used with any 2015 Ford F-150 Super Cab or Super Crew equipped with a MyFord radio. Whether your screen is 4" or 8", this kit includes everything you need for installation, including the wiring harness and power cord that you will eventually pass through the firewall and connect to your battery's positive terminal. This particular kit doesn't work with the upgraded Sony, but Kicker offers the SF150SC15 powered subwoofer for this application, which doesn't include a multi-channel amplifier.
We installed this subwoofer in a few hours (a professional and experienced installer would have taken less than that) and it has significantly improved the audio quality in the cab. Not only has Kicker built a great product here, but they've included a solution that fits neatly behind the rear seats without taking up any valuable cargo space. It's as close to a factory upgrade as you can get, and it's an amazing upgrade that every truck owner with a stock radio should consider.
Price: $1499.95 | Get More Info or Order Online | Kicker PF150SC15 Review
TracRac SR
Many professionals are buying new Ford F-150 trucks for work—but they're also a lot of fun to drive. Hence, shorter beds are popular (and also greatly improved mobility). However, when you have a shorter bed, the space available can limit your ability to carry longer items. That's where the TracRac SR Sliding Truck Rack comes in. We reviewed the TracRac TracONE Universal Truck Racking System a few years ago, but the TracRac SR is their most advanced sliding racking system yet, allowing you to carry lumber, lumber, ladders—even a canoe or kayak—wherever you want. You simply place them on top and secure them to the included tie straps and cleats.
What we especially like about this system is that not only does it look great, but it also allows you to slide each rack rail independently as needed – you can even place them close to the cab when not in use. There are also accessories that allow you to add truck boxes and slide tie-down points along the track. This is an incredibly versatile system.
Price: $1129.98 | Get More Info or Order Online | TracRac SR Review
WeatherTech TechLiner Bed and Tailgate Liners
While spray-on bed liners are very popular, you probably don't need or want the extra costs associated with these permanent bed liner solutions. If you want something affordable and durable, look no further than the WeatherTech TechLiner Bed and Tailgate Liner. This is a two-piece kit (you can also buy truck bed liners separately) that securely attaches to your truck bed and protects it from scratches as you transport supplies and materials to and from the jobsite and scratched. It was very easy to install and we found it to be a really nice upgrade that helped protect our bed while keeping our supplies and materials from sliding around. Also to note that since our beds are made of aluminum and not steel, all the talk about getting moisture under the bed is not an issue. When Chevrolet switched to aluminum a few years later, it wasn't a problem for them either.
Price: $224.90 | Order Online
Peragon retractable aluminum tonneau cover
A bed cover is a great solution if you want to protect your belongings from theft and weather while using your truck bed. While there are dozens to choose from, we've found the American-made retractable Peragon Aluminum Tonneau Lid System to be one of the easiest we've seen to install and use. It's also one of the few folding backs that allows you to make the most of your bed while in use (without the space taken up by the rollers). It even works with the TracRac SR sliding shelf system, but you'll need to install it before reinstalling any shelves. You can order Peragon tonneau covers in white or black, or you can have them painted to match your truck—cool if you want a really nice finished look. Available options include stainless steel hardware, dual deadbolt locks, and a tailgate seal kit to help keep water out of the bed. You can also remove the entire comforter by accordion-folding it and then removing it from the bed. Since it is narrower than the bed, it can be stowed in the back of the SuperCab or Super Crew.
Price: $786 (with stainless steel hardware option and tailgate seal) | Order Online | Peragon Aluminum Tonneau Lid Review
in conclusion
You can add countless upgrades to your work truck, but these are some of our favorites. What you do with your truck depends on your needs and budget, but these are some of our favorite aftermarket upgrades that really turn our stock Ford F-150 XLT into something special. Let us know what your favorite aftermarket upgrade is in the comments—we want to know what you think is the best truck upgrade.