What to look for when buying pick-up truck
Budget
When shopping for a pickup truck, it is vital to identify your budget and what features you need in a vehicle that will fit your budget. Prices vary drastically depending on make and model, trim level, bed size, cabin size, powertrain options, technology packages, and more. Creating a budget will allow you to narrow down the variety of pickups that meet your needs.
It is important to remember when creating your budget that auto loans last four years or longer. The monthly loan payments must fit within what you can afford while leaving room in your overall budget for other expenses and emergency savings.
Also, remember that factors such as depreciation value may lower the truck's worth at trade-in time. And there are additional costs, such as licensing fees, taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. Determining an appropriate budget before purchasing ensures you can handle the surprises down the road.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is a vital factor to consider when buying a pickup truck. Diesel and gasoline engines differ significantly in fuel economy, with diesel typically proving more efficient than gasoline. Whether you opt for automatic or manual transmission, the size of the engine and its specific features will also affect fuel economy, as will the vehicle's weight.
As a guide, larger engines generally have less fuel-efficient ratings due to their more significant displacement and higher torque rating when compared to smaller engines.
Additionally, many diesel-powered vehicles often require higher maintenance levels, such as frequent oil changes that can add to your running costs.
As a result, it is essential to review average fuel consumption estimates before committing to any particular model to make an informed decision regarding purchasing a pickup truck.
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Towing Capacity
A pickup truck's towing capacity is crucial when purchasing a pickup truck. Towing capacity measures how much weight your vehicle can safely tow and carry. This includes both the weight of the trailer or camper you're hauling and the cargo or passengers it can take. If you plan to pull heavy loads, it's vital to ensure your pickup truck has a high enough towing capacity.
Towing capacity typically depends on two main factors: engine power and frame strength. Obviously, a more powerful engine will be able to tow more weight than a smaller one. At the same time, solid and rigid frames are better equipped for carrying heavy loads without warping or deflecting from their original shape over time. It's also important to consider any additional cargo or passengers in the vehicle in addition to what is being towed. This extra weight can reduce your vehicle's overall towing capacity.
Modern pickup trucks also come with specially designed features that improve their hauling power, such as selectable tow/haul mode that recalibrates shift points for improved transmission performance when hauling heavier equipment, as well as fuel economy modes that help reduce fuel consumption during highway driving with a trailer in tow. These features should all be taken into account when assessing a given model's capabilities.
Interior Comfort
Interior comfort is a crucial factor to consider when buying a pickup truck. Despite these vehicles' traditional utilitarian and rugged purposes, a comfortable and inviting interior can make truck ownership an even more enjoyable experience.
Before investing, it's important to explore the features offered and how they will fit your needs. Make sure you look for comfy cabin seating and consider how well they can be configured or adjusted to accommodate your chosen cargo size or weight. Additionally, check the amenities, such as power windows and locks, air conditioning, and adjustable seats.
Ease of use should also be contemplated before purchasing a pickup truck. Good visibility through the front windshield should be one of your primary concerns when test-driving any vehicle.
Additionally, creature comforts such as built-in audio systems with auxiliary inputs should not be overlooked in today's vehicles. Connecting mobile devices can keep you entertained while on the job or having fun at play.
Noise levels should also be taken into consideration to ensure comfortable cruising, especially during longer trips; over time, vibration can cause fatigue if volume levels are too high, so noise-canceling materials are increasingly becoming an integral component in quality trucks today.
Safety Features
When shopping for a pickup truck, it is important to look at the safety technology available on the model you are researching. Today's pickups have come a long way in offering advanced technologies designed to protect passengers and drivers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducts crash tests for the most popular trucks to ensure maximum safety. Pickup trucks are typically classified as light-duty models, which must pass more stringent testing than regular-size cars.
Look for standard safety features such as side airbags, airbags that deploy from above, antilock brakes, and an electronic stability system, as well as optional features like an adjustable brake pedal, blind spot monitoring systems, and rearview cameras.
In addition to NHTSA ratings, research consumer reviews for additional valuable data about how vehicles perform in different environment types or with different loads or terrains.
Knowing what makes a safe vehicle can help narrow your search and ensure you find the right pickup at the right price point.
Bed Size
When choosing the right pickup truck for you, one of the main considerations is bed size. Bed size refers to the dimensions of the cargo area of a pickup truck. Knowing what size bed is best for you requires considering not only the amount of cargo that you need to fit in it, but also the payload capacity and even driving characteristics.
For individuals who want greater capabilities for towing and hauling large loads, a full-size pickup offers more flexibility than a mid-size model.
Full-size beds commonly come in lengths from five to eight feet long with widths between 50 and 78 inches wide. For many people, these larger beds might be too big to handle a regular workload. However these vehicles often have higher payloads making them better suited for hauling bigger loads or for more rugged trips.
Mid-size trucks often come with bed sizes ranging between four feet and six and a half feet long with widths that generally range between 50 and 68 inches wide — although some models are 75 inches wide.
For those needing lighter duty but still sizeable bed capacity, mid-size trucks provide an excellent compromise between compactness and utility without sacrificing maneuverability or fuel economy too harshly.
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Technology Features
Today’s pickup trucks offer an extensive list of technology features, from infotainment and driver-assist technologies to connected services. When choosing the right truck for your needs, it’s good to know the available technology features.
Most pickup trucks have basic convenience features, including power windows, locks, and remote keyless entry. More advanced features, such as navigation systems and rear-view cameras, are also available on many models.
Some manufacturers also offer a blind spot monitor or adaptive cruise control that can automatically adjust the speed of your truck if it senses another vehicle ahead is slowing down.
In addition to safety and convenience features, many pickups today come equipped with high-tech entertainment systems, including advanced stereos with speakers in every corner of the cab and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. These systems can bring music playback, hands-free phone calls, and a library of preloaded apps into your cab.
Off-Road Capability
For those who need to traverse muddy, rutted roads and unpaved terrain, a pickup truck with off-road capability should be a top priority.
All-wheel drive pickup trucks are usually capable of tackling moderate and even extreme off-road conditions. However, these vehicles often weigh more and may have lower fuel economy when compared with rear-wheel drive models.
If off-road performance is paramount on your list of must-haves, look for a model with a transfer case. This advanced gearbox allows you to shift power from two or four wheels, depending on the terrain. This will give you maximum control in all situations. An important consideration is the ground clearance—the higher, the better, as far as rough terrain is concerned.
In addition to higher clearance, optional equipment such as tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), adjustable shock absorbers, heavy-duty skid plates, locking axles, and differential locks can improve traction and stability in rough terrain. Finally, hill descent control ensures an optimum speed when descending steep slopes for added passenger safety.
The number of passengers
There can be wide variations in passenger capacity between pickup trucks. A pickup truck may seat just two people or up to six or more individuals.
Generally, small pickup trucks like the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger seat four or five passengers. In comparison, larger trucks like the Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado 1500 can seat six or more people.
A pickup's passenger capacity can also be affected by other features, such as a center console or other storage compartments, which can occupy space that would otherwise be used for seating.