The typical pickup truck is an extremely practical vehicle, especially when it comes to hauling cargo. However, some people often carry bulky gear that doesn't always fit snugly between the walls of their truck's box. It might be furniture, lawnmowers, motorcycles, or pallets of wood - anything bulky that could be damaged by too much movement from side to side. Most newer pickups are outfitted with cutouts and tie-downs that allow for ropes and chains to be attached, but they are positioned at very fixed locations, and it's not always easy or convenient to use them.

Putco has developed a stylish and utile solution to this problem: a line of side rails which span the length of your truck bed. Made out of chromed stainless steel and available in a variety of designs, these rails are easy to install, are strong, and will look great on your truck.

The rails are easy to install with simple hand tools, and anchor into your truck`s existing tie-down cutouts. There are two curved anchors and a long steel bar, which you join together. Once this is done, simply place the anchors atop the cutouts, and tighten the mounting bar from the top using an Allan key. The rails feature no visible clamps, and there is a rubber gasket which goes between the rail and your pain to prevent scuffing or scratching.

The simplest Putco locker side rails are a simple steel tube with a cutout at each anchor end in case of more involved tying. These can hold up to 1000, which is more than most hauling will require. A heftier look can be achieved by upgrading to 2.5 inch tubing with the same design, but these "Boss" railings, as called by Putco, can only hold 500 pounds.

Putco's Pop Up Lockers are a great option if you need to have more tie-downs, but don't want to clutter your truck's bed rails. These lockers have 4 hidden tie-downs rated at 500 pounds along the railing, which can be "popped" up to use, but otherwise appears solid, without the openings at the anchor points like on the standard version.

If you don't really need a tie-down but like the look of them anyways, the Putco SSR Locker is a great accessory for you. It adds a lot of shine because of its chrome construction, but won't overwhelm your truck like wheel well flares will, which compete with truck's wheels for visual attention because they're so close together. Adding chrome where none was will give a better effect.

Bed side rails are also useful for people who frequently find themselves climbing in and out of the bed of their truck, especially in wet conditions where bed liners or bare steel can be especially slippery. The rails make for excellent hand grips, and can also be good for providing you with leverage when reaching over the side of the truck bed for items down on the cargo floor. The only real downside to installing railings like these is that it makes it impossible to use a tonneau cover - although if you are regularly hauling large gear, that probably wasn't an option anyway. Putco side rails are a great way to dress up your truck. They're fairly inexpensive, at about $200, and they add a practical edge at the same time.