Dale Harper

Dale Harper is the lead editor at Rigs Rated. He daily drives a 2022 F-150 XLT SuperCrew, previously owned a 2016 F-150 and a 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road, and tows a 5,000 lb travel trailer most summers.

Before writing about gear he spent seven years at a truck-accessory outfitter in Austin, Texas, which gave him a working feel for how these categories fit and which brands tend to generate warranty complaints. That background shapes how he researches, not a claim that he has personally installed every product reviewed here.

Every guide states plainly how its recommendations were made. When a pick is based on research, manufacturer fit data and owner feedback rather than hands-on use, the review says so directly, and no guide on this site claims testing that did not happen.