18 Dec Planning to Buy your First Pick-Up Truck? Use the Following Tips
You might think that buying a pick-up truck is as easy as buying a new car whereby you need to choose a color, engine model and voila, you are ready to go. However, if you consider the special uses of the truck compared to that of a regular car, you will agree that you need to be a little more cautious when buying a truck. That’s not all, truck models are growing in all styles and models making it easy for you get lost in the labyrinth. However, that doesn’t have to happen as the following tips will guide you into choosing the right truck, whether it’s your first time or not.
Determine how you are going to Use the Truck
Determining what use you will put your truck into will greatly help narrow down the field of options available. This also means that you will be conversant with the kind of terrain you will be driving the truck, in which case you can choose either a two-wheel or a four-wheel drive. If you want to use the pick-up truck for house towing purposes, you might consider buying a truck with two wheels on either side “dually” to increase its stability. If your reason for buying a pick-up truck is merely driven by the passion for driving a truck, then a midsize truck such as a Honda Ridgeline or Toyota Tacoma will be just fine.
Plan your Budget
Unlike many other cars, a truck costs a fortune which means you need to have your budget set straight before walking into a showroom. If you are buying a midsize truck, ensure that the total monthly pay is not more than 15% of what you are left with after deducting all other expenses. If you are buying a working truck, seek advice from your financial advisor and come up with a payment schedule that matches the business projections. When planning on your budget, consider whether you want to buy a new or used truck. You may also compare between buying and leasing and choose the most suitable method.
Do you want a Light-Duty, Medium-Duty or a Heavy-Duty Truck?
The size of the truck you choose will be determined by the size and weight of the load you are going to tow. Failing to determine what size you want to buy may cause you issues when hauling large loads. Also, an extra-large truck hauling a small load may cause issues with fitting in parking lots and not to mention costing you a fortune when buying.
Compare the Engine with the Axle Ratio
Trucks are known to be gas guzzlers and, therefore, the need to balance between horse power and fuel economy. Fortunately, many manufacturers these days are giving this factor a consideration and coming up with fuel-efficient engines. Most heavy-duty trucks have diesel engines are most suitable for towing purposes. There are different truck axel ratios to choose from and the one you choose can have a direct impact on fuel economy as well as the towing capability of the truck. Ensure you choose a higher axel ratio so as to tow more and use less fuel.
Choose the Right Bed and Can Size
The crew-cab size directly affects the bed length. If you want a truck with a large crew cab, then you will have a smaller bed length. However, if you are more interested in a large bed length, then you should buy a truck with small crew-cab size. however, the choice you make should be determined by how you plan to use the truck.