Trucks are the most popular type of vehicle in America and it isn’t hard to see why. In a country as rugged and varied as the United States, they can tackle virtually any type of terrain they come across, they offer versatility, they can tow, carry tons of equipment and transport people around.
Given their popularity, its hardly surprising that trucks come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes. That makes buying a truck a particularly difficult task as there are so many options and qualities to weigh up.
In order to try and help you get started, here are five things to consider when buying a truck.
Gas or diesel?
It’s the age-old question when it comes to investing in a truck – gas or diesel? Both have pros and cons. Ultimately though, the decision comes down to what you want your truck to do. Diesel trucks like those featured on Blacksmokemedia.Com tend to offer more power which makes them a better choice if you are going to be towing heavy loads. For those intending to use their truck more for mostly minimal city mileage, a gas truck will require less maintenance and therefore work out more cost effective.
Engine size and power
We’ve already established that a diesel engine is going to offer more power – but exactly how much power do you need? A truck for everyday commuting needs only a 4-cylinder engine which can easily cope with small payloads. If you are looking to tow a boat or trailer around, then you’ll need a V6 or V8. The most important thing when it comes to considering engine size is working out how much weight you are going to be asking the truck to carry – if for example you have a trailer weighing 4,000 pounds, you’ll need to ensure that your truck has a tow capacity a little bit higher.
Passenger capacity
It’s easy to forget when you are getting hung up on power and tow capacity that you also need your truck to be able to transport people around. Most trucks come as standard two seaters with a driver’s seat and space for one passenger, but if you’re using your truck as a city get around, then chances are you’ll need room for your family as well. It’s better to have too much room in a cab than too little.
Two wheel or four wheel drive?
This largely comes down to location. If you are using your truck to get around a warm, urbanized city such as Miami, then forking out for a 4×4 will add a lot of unnecessary cost to your purchase. If you live in a more rural state which has its fair share of seasonal weather making travel more difficult, then a four wheel drive is far more justified.
Safety features
Trucks used to have a pretty poor safety record but that has undoubtedly improved in recent years. Safety features that you might want to consider when looking for your truck are electronic stability control and traction control. Just like with cars, its fairly easy to find the safety rating of a truck so always check that before you buy.
