Truck Comfort and Accessories

With the comfort, safety and technology features found in today’s pickup trucks, hauling a horse or cattle trailer doesn’t mean you have to crawl into a mobile torture chamber.

Both light and heavy-duty pickups can be had with creature comforts to rival a home’s family room, technology to keep you connected with the rest of the world from just about anywhere, and with electronic babysitters that keep you safe on the road.

If you want that little bit extra that shows who you are, there’s bling aplenty to be had. Ram’s Laramie Longhorn?—?in 1500 and 2500 series?—?goes the furthest over the top. Its fancy-stitched all-leather interior features seatback saddlebags and barbed-wire embossed floor mats.

Ram has upgraded Uconnect for 2013 with built-in wireless, remote start from web or smartphone apps, and wi-fi hotspot.

You also have hands-free navigation, texting, phone and music controls, and a seven-inch screen in the gauge cluster that allows a variety of customization options.

Ford’s F-Series brings a new Platinum line to go with the luxury King Ranch. It adds a lot of chrome and shiny stuff outside, and SYNC with MyFord Touch, navigation and upscale audio on the inside.

Not quite as flashy, Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra from General Motors nevertheless have a large suite of connection technology plus the convenience of OnStar services.

All these trucks have available heated power seats, power windows, locks and mirrors. Audio systems are a match to nearly any home system, and all will let you add rear seat entertainment systems. Most have heated steering wheels and adjustable pedals.

Safety systems include integrated trailer brake controls, trailer sway control, airbags everywhere, rearview cameras, park assist systems, traction control, stability control, rollover mitigation and more.

Gettin’ down the road has never been the same. You can have real wood, real leather, and a real good time getting from A to B.

Prairie born and bred, Harry Pegg has spent the last 18 years as a freelance writer specializing in cars and trucks. He writes principally for SunMedia group, QMI Agency and autonet.ca website.