All pickup trucks are not created equal. This means that when buying one you really need a good grasp on what you actually require from the vehicle:
1. Towing capacity
Many people will use their pickup at some point to tow something, be it a small trailer or something more substantial. You should consider midsize versus full-size pickup towing capabilities. Full-sized trucks can obviously tow far more, while mid-size pickups have less power but will likely be more economical to run. All pickups will usually have a tow weight rating so assess how much weight you’re likely to need to pull. If you have low towing expectations go for a less powerful truck, but if you are taking on heavy jobs look for a high capacity vehicle.
2. Light, medium, or heavy duty
Utility is key in choosing a pickup, what are you going to use it for? Light duty trucks are by far the most common on the road as they are great for smaller everyday tasks. This means that such trucks can be great as a small family vehicle or as a tool for a small business or light duty jobs. Medium duty trucks tend to be bigger and have higher weight ratings in cargo load and towing. Incrementally, medium duty trucks are used for harder heavy tasks such as small farms and transporting heavier objects. Heavy duty trucks are the strongest and often most rugged. These are used for really extreme tasks like pulling heavy weights, tackling tough terrain and transporting large items.
3. Choose an engine
Many top brand pickups will usually come with multiple engine choices which can be confusing. To simplify the situation, again, it all boils down to what do you need the truck to do? If you want a fuel efficient truck choose the diesel over the gas options. Diesel is usually 20% more fuel efficient on average than gasoline. If you don’t require high power and high torque opt for base engine models which are cheaper. If you need the maximum power choose the higher power options. It’s all about what you need from the vehicle.
4. Select bed and cab size
There are often options in trucks in relation to the load bed of the pickup as well as the driver’s cab. If you plan to carry a small family you can get a larger cab with rear seating. As a purely work vehicle you may want a smaller cab with just the front row of seating. Truck beds can vary in size so if you have a lot of stuff to transport you will want a bigger cargo carrying bed. This may mean a larger variety of truck or choosing an extended bed option on a smaller model.
5. Choose trim and options
Depending on what you are using the pickup for you will often find a large amount of optional extras. Those using it solely as a work vehicle and who do not see the need for fancy extras may save money by keeping it basic. However, some may want to add features that help with more diverse tasks or simply to create a more comfortable vehicle. You may want to make a cool looking, tricked out truck to be proud of and there will be options to help you do that.
