The chances are that, if you’re getting a truck, you have a pretty good reason. They’re fantastic vehicles, as they’re both practical and frankly fun to drive. But a good truck is a significant investment and, in a world where money doesn’t go as far as it used to, you need to be sure before you bite the bullet and make a purchase.
This article should help you work out what you want the truck for and what you need out of it. This way, you can narrow down your choices and find a truck within your budget.
Your Truck Needs
First things first, why do you need a pickup truck? This will inform the rest of your choices so you don’t make a poor investment.
If you want a pickup for everyday living, then you might not need a beast of a truck. Even a small truck is more useful than a car when it comes to hauling items and carrying a lot of groceries. You can still expect to become everyone’s best friend because you have a truck.
However, if you get regular use out of your truck that a car couldn’t manage, a bigger truck might be a better option. Every vehicle has a weight limit, and that includes pickups. So, if you need to haul heavy things, try a larger truck.
You should also consider where you’ll be taking your truck. If you’re sticking to the roads, most pickups will be fine. But some of the benefits of trucks are those nice big wheels that can tackle different terrains, and some lifestyles require a truck that can drive anywhere it needs to.
When you decide to get a new truck, write down all of your needs and why you want a pickup. Maybe you don’t necessarily need a pickup, or maybe you need something that can handle more than you realized at first. You don’t want to discover that your brand-new truck can’t tackle your daily tasks after you’ve bought it.
Your Truck Budget
Unfortunately, nothing in life comes for free. This includes pickups. Once you know what you need, you need to consider what you can afford and balance the two out.
As well as the initial costs of the truck, you should also factor in running and maintenance costs. Pickups aren’t very fuel-efficient, so you will have to fill up your truck more often than your family car.
While a new truck might look better and have a longer lifespan, a second-hand truck could be a more affordable option. Pickups can last forever if you look after them properly, so if you choose a second-hand truck, make sure that it’s been looked after by its previous owner.
Another thing to consider is whether you can get a loan for a new truck. A personal loan or a car loan can give you the money to pay up-front for your new vehicle, so you don’t have to think about leasing your car.
While leasing spreads out the cost, it can be more expensive in the long run than buying the car straight out. It’s always worth checking what you can afford before choosing between buying and leasing.
Off-Road Capability
As mentioned before, before you buy a truck, you need to consider your needs. This includes where you are likely to drive the pickup truck. As a general rule, most pickups can handle relatively tough terrain. They have large wheels, deep grips, and a high clearance.
However, pickups aren’t created equally. If you know that you’ll be spending a lot of time off-road or on especially rough terrain, it’s worth looking into a truck designed to handle this safely. Otherwise, you risk damaging your pickup as you drive.
One option is to look into lifted trucks like these Ford lifted trucks. The extra clearance between the wheel and the chassis means that the suspension is far more able to handle rougher terrain and even drive straight over obstacles. You’re also higher off the ground, so you can see potential obstacles earlier.
When going off-road, it’s also worth investing in good tires that can handle a lot of mud, rain, and debris. This gives your vehicle better grip and makes the truck easier to handle as you drive, which is very important when you’re transporting something.
A Mechanic’s Dream or Nightmare?
Depending on your skills, you might want a truck that you can tune up and fix yourself. In this case, some older trucks might be ideal, because they’re designed to be easy to fix. However, you should bear in mind that older parts aren’t necessarily as common as you might like, so you’d have to spend more money looking for appropriate parts.
Otherwise, you will have to take your truck to a mechanic. Unless you happen to be a trained and qualified mechanic, it’s probably a good idea to get it checked out by a professional anyway, but some trucks can be tinkered with if you have some experience.
Ideally, you don’t want to spend your life fixing your truck, and you definitely don’t want to lose all of your money this way. While it’s nice to be able to personalize and improve your truck, you still want a reliable vehicle that isn’t going to break down at the drop of a hat.
Carrying Capacity
One surefire way to damage your vehicle is by overloading it with stuff. Some people seem to think that a pickup can carry pretty much anything and, while pickups are generally better than cars, they still have a carry limit. If you put too much weight on your pickup, you can damage the suspension and even the chassis.
Check the carrying capacity of your truck before you buy it and definitely be familiar with it as you’re loading. Nobody wants to make two trips, but having to get a new vehicle because you bust your last pickup is even worse.
On a similar note, make sure your pickup truck can carry things securely. Pickups have an open back by nature, it’s how they can carry so much, but it’s still worth looking for options to keep things safe and secure so they don’t fall off the back. A lot of this comes down to how you load your truck and how you drive it.
You can strap items down if you need to, and you can use a tarp or a trunk cover to keep them safe from the elements. A roller cover or shutter can protect your load even better, but it will limit your space.
Interior Comfort
While pickups are designed to be workhorses, that doesn’t mean they can’t be comfortable. Not everyone who has a pickup wants or needs to spend their time off-road or working hard. A pickup can be a cool, luxury vehicle as well.
A lot of this comes down to the car interior. Seat covers are a great way to protect your seats while you’re working and they can make your vehicle more comfortable and more stylish as well.
You can also add heated seat cushions if your pickup doesn’t have them already. There’s nothing like coming into the car on a cold day and enjoying a warm seat. On a similar note, air conditioning is a must-have for the hot summers, especially if you’re also working hard.
All of this can make your pickup an all-around vehicle for everyday use, perfect for every household.