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Truck Parts Are in the Eye of the Beholder
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By Chris Casarez
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In the performance parts industry, people tend touse the words parts and accessories interchangeably, whileothers see a difference. So what’s the difference, forexample, between truck parts and truckaccessories if many of them serve the same basic function?It depends on who you ask.
Because the words parts and accessories each encompass a largenumber of products that overlap and can therefore be categorizedas either, people tend to the use the words interchangeablywithout any regard to the difference. In reality, when dealingwith the performance parts industry, the word onlyoverlaps in certain instances, and even then opinions will varyas to which factors apply. Truck parts and truck accessorieseach have their own list of included products, which ‘meetin the middle’ depending on their intended use, as well astheir categorization as an OEM or aftermarket product.
A truck parts advisor for example, may tellyou that a truck part has a more generic definition, andincludes everything from repair, maintenance, and restoration,to interior and exterior enhancement. Such products may includeoil filters, air filters, shocks, spoilers, or headlamps, asthey in effect, are part of the truck. So long as they are theoriginal part of the truck, or even a replacement or repairproduct, it can be described as a part whereas an aftermarketpart created to enhance the vehicle after the initial purchasetends to fall into the accessory category.
In the meantime, the same parts advisor may tell you that theword accessory is synonymous with the word part when referringto a product in general, but the specific make and use of theproduct will determine which category it falls into.
Car covers, sun shields, make-specific paraphernalia and suchproducts that serve mainly to enhance a car or truck (such aslift kits) would most likely be considered solely accessories. Asport utility rack could potentially fall into either.
Even oil filters, brake pads orrotors, or air filters could fall into either category. Thestandard, OEM version will typically be considered a truck partwhereas a performance-based aftermarket version thereof willmore likely be considered a Truck accessory (such as K&N oil filters, whichtake advantage of advanced filtration technology you won’tfind in its standard OEM counterpart). A lift kit, whichisn’t something that’s included with the truck butrather used as an enhancement will typically be classified as anaccessory, though some will still call it a truck part.
The items that tend to be categorized specifically asaccessories are aftermarket products made to enhance (whether itbe performance or aesthetic). For example aftermarket air filters, high quality seatcovers, and floor mats for trucks are typically considered truckaccessories if they are not the original OEM part. The issuebecomes even more clouded once you get into OEM-made accessoriesvs. aftermarket accessories or even aftermarket parts, butthat’s a completely different article.
In the end, the difference between the two will always vary fromperson to person, even among truck enthusiasts and professionalswithin the repair or performance parts industry.
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