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Auto repairs can be a costly expense that can unexpectedly affect any individual. Auto service plans will help you avoid and prepare for these unexpected expenses by covering a variety of your vehicle's components.

Pickup Truck Buying Guide

Pickup Truck Buying Guide

When it comes to buying a pickup truck, many of the considerations you will have to make are similar to those when purchasing a new or used car. For example, there are many types, styles, colors, and options to choose from. Additionally, you need to consider several other important factors to help you narrow down your choices and make the selection that is best for your needs. Whether you are buying for work or personal use, the following are some basic guidelines to assist you when searching for the best pickup truck for your needs.

1. What Can You Afford to Spend on Your Pickup Truck

Your budget is typically the first thing that will dictate what type of pickup truck you will be able to buy so when buying a new or used truck, it is very important first to set your budget. If you need help setting a budget, one technique is the 20%-rule: that is to set 20% of your monthly or annual take-home pay aside for truck payment. You should also look for financing options from banks, credit unions, or other financial institutions. Car dealers will usually also offer financing plans so this can be another option when it comes to financing your purchase.

2. What Features Are Best Suited for Your Needs

Two decades ago, people primarily bought new or used pickup trucks as work trucks making their choice based on the vehicle's versatility and flexibility. Now, more vehicle owners are buying pickup trucks for everyday use. Knowing what you want to use the truck for will help in determining what features are best for you. This includes the following:

  • Payload: Previously, pickup truck payload was defined in tonnage, such as half-ton. Although tonnage is still used, trucks are now more frequently categorized as light-, medium-, or heavy-duty pickup trucks. Numbers such as 1500 or 2500 are used to identify payload capacity. With more innovative designs, even light trucks such as a Ford F-150 show remarkable towing capability.
  • 2-Wheel Drive or 4-Wheel Drive: Do you plan to use your truck as an all-terrain vehicle for driving around worksites and dirt roads or will it be just for city driving? Questions like this will help you determine whether you need a two-wheel or four-wheel drive pickup.
  • Truck Bed and Cab Size: In many cases, a longer pickup truck bed means smaller cab size and vice versa. If you are going to use the pickup truck to load construction materials regularly, then it is more practical to choose one that has a longer bed length. If the truck is for family use, then an extended four-door pickup truck with adequate legroom may be a better choice. Some more costly and larger pickup trucks also offer the best of both features with an extended cab and full-size bed.

3. Additional Fees and Regulations

Buying the Best Pickup Truck

Depending on the size of the truck, special licenses or additional fees may be charged by Department of Motor Vehicle when licensing your truck. As this will be a regular fee you must pay each year, you should check with your local DMV office to make sure that you are aware of the regulatory fees you will need to pay.

4. Fuel Consumption

With their larger size and towing capacity, many trucks have poorer fuel economy compared to cars. However, pickup truck manufacturers today are becoming more conscious of fuel consumption and are developing new hybrid truck models that are more fuel efficient than ever before. Still, fuel consumption is an important consideration when buying any new or used truck as it can be a significant daily expense. If you are looking for a high towing capacity with a reasonable fuel cost, you may want to consider searching for diesel trucks for sale as these offer better fuel economy and greater power than typical gasoline powered trucks.

5. Comfort Features

Simply because you are looking for a work pickup truck that can help you get the job done does not mean that you have to forego comfort features. The beauty of many new pickup models today is that they offer very similar features and functionalities as ordinary cars rather than being stripped down to the basics. Because these available features can vary by model year and manufacturer, the best way to go about choosing comfort features is to make a list of what is most important to you and consult this when comparing options.



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