Shopping for a truck is much different from shopping for a car. There is a lot more to consider when buying a truck including the many special uses and the large number of options and configurations available. If you are in the market for a new or used truck, here are some things you should consider.
Decide How You Will Use It
Trucks come in more varieties than most cars, so it is important to think about how you will use it before you start shopping. Do you need room for just you and a passenger, or do you need to haul the whole family? Will you use it to carry gear for fun, or is it going to be a work truck with secure lockboxes in the bed for your tools?
You’ll also need to take into consideration how much towing power you’ll need. Do you have a boat or camper that you’ll tow, or do you need the power to haul heavy loads for work?
What Size Do You Need?
Pickups come in light, medium, and heavy-duty. Once you know what you’ll use the truck for, you can decide on the size. If you won’t tow very often or just need to carry light loads, then a light-duty truck is all you need. You don’t want to pay for more than what you need. If you have a large camper or boat, you’ll want to look at a medium or heavy-duty truck that has more power.
The Bed Length
The bed of a pickup truck, whether it is new or used, is one of the most useful parts of the truck. The beds come in several different lengths depending on the cab size, and they range from 5.5 feet up to 8 feet.
If you will use the truck to carry long, bulky loads, you’ll want to look at a smaller cab size and a longer bed. Keep in mind that a truck with a longer bed is more cumbersome to drive and won’t fit in smaller parking spaces. You also need to measure the size of your garage if you choose a long bed.
Interior Options
Truck cabs come with just the basics if that’s all you want, or you can go all out and get all the bells and whistles available in a luxury vehicle. Again, think about how you will use the truck before choosing the interior features and technology.
Convenience Features
Many trucks also offer features to make your workday easier. Additions such as running boards and a large center console bin that can fit handing folders will help you turn your truck into a rolling office if you need it. Just make sure only to add features you’ll use and don’t pay for things that you won’t.
There is a lot to take into consideration when you buy a new or a used truck. Take a good look at what you need, and then from there add some things that you want.
Image by RL GNZLZ via Flickr | CC BY-SA | Cropped from original
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