4 Factors to Consider Before Buying a Pickup Truck

Pickup trucks have evolved over the years, as their use has gone beyond the scope of “heavy cargo haulers” to recreational vehicles for many people. Unlike previous times, selecting an ideal work truck from myriad options is a tough task. While there is always a possibility of a disconnect in what you want from a pickup truck and what it delivers, a few basic checks can ensure you get the optimum value from the truck. The blog post discusses a few factors you need to consider before buying a work truck for sale.

1. Towing and Loading Requirements
The first step before buying a pickup truck is an assessment of realistic needs. If you have a fair idea about the cargo that you need to carry or tow on every day, it becomes easy to make a choice. Pick-up trucks are classified as light, medium or heavy duty depending on their towing capabilities. Compact trucks, for instance, can tow anywhere between 3000 to 8000 pounds whereas heavy-duty trucks are capable of towing as much as 30,000 pounds. Though it is not a thumb rule, selecting a work truck with a little more than 20 percent of the required towing capacity can be useful in the long run.

2. Seating
Work trucks come with different cab styles, and you need to make a choice, keeping in mind the seating needs. While manufacturers prefer fancy names for the styles, essentially there are three cab styles for pick-up trucks:

Standard
The pickup trucks have two doors and a single row seating, with limited space between the seats and no buffer for additional storage requirements.

Extended
Apart from single seating in the front, extended truck models have jump or bench seats behind the front seats. These models have room for extra storage.

Crew
Crew cab models are gaining popularity as they have four, full-sized doors and can accommodate five or six passengers.

The cab styles have a direct impact on the bed length, which is also one of the governing factors while buying a pickup truck. Standard bed sizes range from 5.5 feet up to 8 feet and opting for a large cargo space along with maximdfum bed length means you may find it tough to park it inside the garage or maneuver. So, make sure you select a pickup truck with the right cab style and bed length.

3. Axle Ratio
Many truck buyers make the rookie mistake of gauging the towing capacity of the truck just by looking at the size. A failsafe way to make a decent selection of the pickup truck is to measure the rear axle ratio that determines the amount of twisting power transferred to the rear wheels.

4. Versatility of Interior Seating and Safety features
The use of trucks is no more limited as workhorses. The pickup trucks have stylish interiors with heated or cooled leather seats and a melange of storage compartments. Moreover, many truck manufacturers now offer standard safety equipment including side airbags, stability control, and even lane departure warning systems.

The Way forward While looking for a decent pickup truck, the foremost factor that you need to consider is the hauling capacity. Once you make the choice, you may stretch your requirements to seating, interiors, safety and other assortments. When it comes to brands, Chevrolet offers a wide variety of pickup trucks to suit your specific and additional needs with the Silverado and Express being one of the most sought after pickup truck models.