Of course, beds are only half the story. Many new accessories are aimed at making the interior more comfortable, flexible, and usable. An example is the SeatVault, a locking storage drawer that slides under a pickup's rear bench seat.
Overhead consoles provide modular flexibility for one of the few areas of the cab where there's still some underused space. So far, the modules available for such track-style systems have differed little from the conventional overhead consoles, but new options are coming soon. First-aid kits, AC power inverters, and other options will soon appear for those overhead track systems, predicts O'Connor.
In addition, the increased use of trucks in crowded suburban driveways invites the use of backup cameras and parking sensors to warn of objects and kids in blind spots. Such systems are available in the aftermarket from companies such as EchoMaster, and more trucks will surely come from the factory with such systems in the future.
The final frontier of the suburbanization of trucks may come by shifting the cab's focus from the family room to the kitchen. Aftermarket drink chillers and electric coolers are available from a wide variety of suppliers, and IPV USA offers one that replaces the center console.
Plan for your next truck to feature a fridge full of cold (soft) drinks within reach of your leather-covered easy chair behind the steering wheel. You'll be able to relax because you'll know that the cargo in the bed has been secured by a proven system instead of some jerry-rigged ropes.