In the Market for a New Truck?

In the market for a new truck? Whether it’s new or used trucks, these vehicles offer a lot of value when it comes to hauling capacity and power. The ability to transport several people, cargo, and a trailer at the same time means you can cut down on daily trips or do a long haul you wouldn’t try with a small sedan. For the right people, a truck is the only vehicle worth considering when it’s time to purchase a new means of transportation.

Don’t think you are that type of person? You might be surprised. The capabilities of a truck go far beyond mere cargo and power. Families choose trucks for their reliability. Individuals choose trucks for their flexibility. Whatever the reason, it’s definitely worth a look when exploring your options for a new vehicle. It’s easy to find something that can fit your needs in a budget that won’t leave you broke.

The trick is knowing what to look for. You should have a good idea of what you need your future vehicle to do. Will it be your daily ride? Do you need to pull a sailboat across the country? The different options available from the new and used truck market means there is something out there to fit your needs. As you start to look at different possibilities, trucks and otherwise, you will be able to gauge how well a potential vehicle hits all the check marks as well.

To help you out, here is a guide of things you should consider and look at when thinking about a new or used truck.

Different Types of Trucks

A truck is a truck, right? Not quite. The fact is, trucks come in all shapes and sizes. The only thing they have in common is a bed in back. Beyond that, you will find a large variety of sizes, engines, beds, and accessories to choose. At first, it may seem rather overwhelming. Dig a little deeper, however, and you discover certain options start to be more attractive than others.

In general, there are two types of trucks you will likely find across all different manufacturers. Large or full-sized pickups are the most common in a lot of areas of the US. When you think of a truck, this type is probably what comes to mind. They have the largest chassis, most powerful engines, and high capacity beds for extra cargo. On the flip side, they also tend to take up the most space and gas or diesel. If you truly need the power or cargo capacity, a full-sized truck might be the right choice.

On the other hand, a mid-sized truck offers a lot of the same benefits in a smaller package. With a smaller cabin, bed, and/or engine, these trucks are good for daily trips that require some extra space. While you will give up some passenger and cargo room, they are still a step above your average sedan or station wagon. More importantly, they will often give you better gas mileage while retaining the ability to park in a normal parking space.

To determine whether you should focus on mid-sized or full-sized trucks, review your list of needs first. If it seems like you need more power or room to move people or things around, the large variety of pickup may be the better choice. If you are new to pickups or don’t need the capability to pull a whole home around, the mid-sized versions may be more attractive.

Take a test drive of different mid-sized and full-sized trucks to get an idea of their handling. Even though larger trucks won’t maneuver as much, some people like the experience more for the feeling of safety and security. After all, sometimes bigger is better while on the roads. Mid-sized lovers appreciate the feeling that is similar to driving a larger car or small SUV. Either way, the best approach to know what works for you is to get behind the wheel to see for yourself.

The Cabin

Both mid-sized and full-sized trucks usually come with many different varieties and options. One of the most common and important to people is the cabin. Like a regular car, truck cabins come in different sizes. Smaller cabins mean a lighter chassis if you don’t have too many people to carry along for the ride. Larger cabins are roomier and car-like at the expense of weight and fuel.

The most basic is a regular cab which is basically the same as a two-door car: one driver, one passenger, and that is it. Regular cabs offer the most amount of space-savings by keeping things small. Don’t think it isn’t roomy, however. Many regular cabs have the same, if not more, legroom than larger cabins if you don’t mind leaving a few people behind.

Moving up, extended cabs add a small rear row behind the driver/front passenger. Coming with two doors, rear passengers have to dive behind one of the folding seats to successfully board the vehicle. Rear legroom can be a little tight, but this option might be attractive for smaller kids out of car seats or if you want a little bit of storage space in addition to the cargo bed.

Crew cabs start the four-door setup that is common on many pickup trucks. The rear space is a little larger than extended cabs, and the extra set of doors make it easy for passengers to get in and out. This type of cab is also popular for people wanting more storage space. Some rear seats even fold up so you can use the full floor space below to store small items and goodies.

For the maximum amount of passenger space, the best choice is a full-sized cabin. Offering a similar amount of legroom as the front area, passengers will enjoy the ride. Keep in mind that full-sized cabs take up the most amount of space lengthwise. If you don’t want to park something the size of a limousine, you should match a larger cabin with a smaller bed.

The Bed

Similar to the cabin, trucks come with different sized beds that will determine how much stuff you can haul. Depending on the size of the cabin, the bed length will determine how long the truck ends up being overall. Most truck brands offer at least a few different options for each model, so be sure to check out the size of the bed before making a final decision.

Small truck beds typically run around 4.5 to 5 feet in length with the tail up. The small size is enough for a large variety of things to haul such as furniture, plants, bikes, etc. Popular for personal vehicles, small beds allow you to save some space or park the truck in some larger garages, even with a full-sized cabin in the mix.

5 to 6+ feet make up the midrange of beds available from most manufacturers. Many truck affectionates choose this size as a happy medium between small and large beds. The ability to haul longer things without sacrificing too much in maneuverability and parking options is an attractive benefit.

For some people, however, nothing will work better than the longest bed available. Coming up to lengths of 8 feet, long beds will let you haul lengthy items like construction materials. The extra space will also let you double up on the amount of cargo. On the other hand, the length will make maneuvering and parking the truck more of an adventure. Unless you have your own custom-made garage with more depth, consider this option only if you are okay with your future truck living outdoors.

A Word About Engines

This is just the start of all the different options trucks have to offer. None of this even touches on engine possibilities. Speak with other truck owners and dealership staff to learn the intricate details on what makes an engine option the best choice. In short, however, here is the crash course:

Most engine options range from four, six, and eight-cylinder gasoline or diesel engines. Thankfully, engines follow pretty simple rules: more cylinders generally equals more power. Fuel efficiency tends to suffer as well. If you have a lot to haul or pull and don’t care about the price of gas, more power will be better.

Searching for Trucks for Sale

Looking at trucks for sale is a great option to potentially get a vehicle with the power and capacity you need on a daily basis. More and more manufacturers are making their trucks appeal to a wide audience. Even if you didn’t initially consider yourself a truck-type of person, do some research and take some test drives to see if the experience might not change your mind.