Some people grow up surrounded by trucks, so buying a new one isn’t a big deal. However, there are also people who didn’t grow up around trucks but are excited to buy one for the first time. If you’re someone who isn’t used to owning a truck, but you’re heading to the lot to buy one, there are definitely some things you should know first.
Owning a Truck Will Likely Be More Expensive Than Owning a Car
Owning any kind of vehicle can be expensive. From the cost of insurance to repairs and monthly payments, you can end up spending thousands of dollars on the maintenance and upkeep of your vehicle. The bad news is, trucks can be even more expensive.
For example, the F-150 pickup, “Performs very well when it comes to safety standards and safety tests,” according to Car Insurance Comparison. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you’ll save on insurance. “It ranks number four on the most stolen cars list, so comprehensive coverage tends to be just a little higher.”
Source: pixabay.com
Costs don’t end there. Trucks often cost more than cars, especially if you buy brand-new. You’ll likely spend more on repairs, simply because everything is bigger on a truck, but where you’ll spend the most is fuel. Gas in a truck, no matter what its size, will be more expensive than the majority of cars.
Trucks Come with Their Own Lingo
Visiting the dealership to buy any kind of vehicle can be a challenge because they have their own lingo. If you want to buy a truck, you’ve got even more lingo to learn.
Source: insidercarnews.com
Not only will learning truck-related terms help you when buying your vehicle, it will also help you when you’re interacting with other truck owners. Otherwise, you’ll be embarrassed not knowing what they’re talking about when they throw around terms like “payload capacity” and “AWD”!
A few terms to learn include:
- Payload capacity refers to how much the truck can carry in both the bed and the cab.
- AWD refers to a truck’s ability to automatically drive all four wheels all the time.
- Cabs come in different sizes that include a standard cab, extended cab, double cab, and crew cab.
- Heavy-duty trucks are sometimes also referred to as one-ton trucks, while light-duty vehicles are sometimes called half-ton trucks.
Parking May Be a Challenge
If you’re used to parking cars, especially if you have a small two-door car, you’re going to find parking a large vehicle quite a challenge!
It will take a lot of practice if you want to be able to parallel park your vehicle, and you’ll have to make sure you pull into every parking spot as far as you can to ensure your bed doesn’t hang out into traffic.
You should also be prepared to park farther away at popular events. When parking on the street, you probably aren’t going to find a place to park a large truck that isn’t at least a few blocks away.
The Right Truck Can Make Your Life a Lot Easier
Source: motorblock.at
Not everything about owning a truck is a costly inconvenience! It has the potential to make your life a lot better.
Of course, one of the best reasons to have a truck is to haul stuff in the bed, but that’s not all a truck bed is good for. There are many other things a truck is good for! You can camp in the back of your truck, with an oversized tarp, it can be turned into a swimming pool, and with the right hardware, you can haul boats, campers, horse trailers, and much more!
Friends and Family Are Going to Ask for Your Help
Although there are many things you can do with a truck, it remains one of the best ways to haul heavy items, which means you can expect friends and family to ask for your help moving.
It’s a good idea to have a plan for how you will respond ahead of time. You have to decide if you want to help them move or not. Don’t be afraid to say no. Just because you have a truck doesn’t mean you deserve to be everyone’s personal mover!
Want to be helpful, but don’t necessarily want to help? You can loan your truck to those you trust to drive it safely.
Buying your first truck is exciting, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with plenty of responsibilities. Make sure you’re prepared before you write that check so you don’t end up regretting your purchase.
