If you are planning to buy a new pickup truck, probably you don’t want to walk on the lot and choose the first one that catches your eye. If you purchase your truck impulsively, you could end up regretting your decision shortly after the purchase. Before you start shopping for a new pickup, there are a few things that you should consider. If you want your truck to be everything that you had hoped, you need to think about these things before heading over to the dealership. Following are ten helpful tips to choose your pickup truck mindfully.
1 Planned Usage
Before you purchase a new truck, you should think about what you are going to be using it for. For example, if you are going to be towing a boat or a trailer, you might want to buy a large truck that is powerful enough to tow whatever you hitch to it. If you are planning to use the truck to move things occasionally, you might not need such a big truck. Before you make a decision, think about what you want your truck to do for you.
2 Towing Capacity
The reason that many people buy a truck is so that they can tow other vehicles. If you are going to use your truck to tow a camper or truck, you need to understand that not all trucks are created equal. For example, a Dodge Ram can tow up to 10,000 pounds, and a Toyota Tacoma is capable of pulling just 3,500 pounds. If you are planning to tow a large boat or a large trailer, you would want to buy a truck with a higher towing capacity. If you are planning to tow a small trailer for an ATV or if you own a pop-up camper, a less expensive, less powerful truck would be best.
3 Engine Size and Truck Power
If you are planning to use your truck to tow, you should understand that the size of the engine and its strength is just as important as the towing capacity. For example, a 4-cylinder engine will save you money on gas; however, it might not have the power necessary to tow a large vehicle. If you are planning to tow large vehicles, you should look into trucks with a V6 or V8 engine. If you don’t choose a truck with the engine size that you need to tow your vehicle, you will have wasted your money.
4 Consider the Gas Mileage
Trucks are known for their higher gas mileage than a car. If you have your heart set on a truck and you want low gas mileage, you should know that certain trucks can get better gas mileage than others. For example, the average truck will get less than 20 miles per gallon when you are driving on the highway and in the city. The 2016 GMC Canyon, however, can get up to 22 miles per gallon in the city and 31 miles per gallon on the highway. If gas prices are something that you are worried about, you should look into lower gas mileage models.
5 Passenger Capacity
Before you buy your truck, you should think about how many people will be riding in the truck. If you are single and you are often traveling with just one other person, you can go with the single cab models. If you think that you might occasionally have a third passenger, you can purchase a truck with an extended cab. The seats are smaller in the back, but you will have the extra seating if you need it. If you have a family, you are going to need a truck with a crew cab; it is a full-size back seat with four full-size doors. Passenger capacity is quite vital so that you will have enough room for the whole family to fit comfortably.
6 Consider the Bed Size
Before choosing a pickup truck, you should take the size of the truck bed into consideration. If you are going to be lugging building materials in the truck or moving furniture often, you are going to need a long bed. If the truck bed is too small, you might end up having to drive with the tailgate down, which is illegal in certain states. If you aren’t going to be hauling large objects, you can go with a smaller bed, which will essentially save your money.
7 Two-Wheel Drive or Four-Wheel Drive?
Choosing between a two-wheel drive truck and a four-wheel drive depends on the climate that you live in. If you live in Florida or Georgia, where it never snows, you won’t need a four-wheel drive vehicle. If you live in New England where it snows often, you should consider getting a four-wheel drive truck. If you don’t have the proper traction during bad weather, your vehicle would need to stay in the driveway until the roads are clear. Since four-wheel drive trucks are more expensive than two-wheel drive trucks, you should only go with the four-wheel drive if your climate calls for it.
8 Manual Transmission or Automatic Transmission
Many people choose an automatic transmission because they don’t know how to drive a manual transmission vehicle. If you know how to drive both, there are a few other things that you should consider. First, think about how much time you spend stuck in traffic. If it is a daily occurrence, you might want to go with an automatic transmission. Manual transmissions can be very annoying while you are constantly shifting while in traffic. You should also understand that trucks with manual transmissions are often better on gas than trucks with automatic transmissions. If you are concerned about the gas prices, a manual transmission might be better. The type of transmission you choose would depend on you and your situation.
9 The Truck’s Features
Before choosing the truck that is best for you, take a look at the features that each truck has and the features that you are going to need. If you have a job or a hobby that keeps you on the road often, you are going to want a truck with a built-in navigation system and Bluetooth for hands-free calling. If you live in a cold climate, you might want to choose a truck with heated seats. You should have a list of all of the features that you will need and only purchase a truck that fulfills those needs.
10 Accessories
If you are planning to buy a truck, there are plenty of accessories available to make your truck more useful. You can purchase a camper shell or a tonneau cover to protect any items that are in the bed of the truck. If you like to camp often, you can buy a ball hitch for your truck to haul your camper. You can even purchase a tent and mattress that is designed to fit right into the back of your truck. If you are planning to purchase certain accessories, you should make sure that the truck that you choose can be outfitted with the accessories that you choose.
There is much more to choosing a pickup truck than just picking out your favorite color. If you keep the items listed above in mind when you are shopping for a pickup, you have an excellent chance of finding a truck to meet all of your needs.
