Getting started - Pickup truck guide

A good place to start when selecting a pickup truck is with a realistic assessment of your actual needs. If you're not planning to carry multi-ton loads or pull a very heavy trailer, then you probably don't need a full-sized heavy-duty pickup truck. A smaller, lighter-duty truck can fit the bill. If you don't need to haul cargo such as construction debris, dirt, or manure, another vehicle type, such as a minivan or SUV, could be a better choice. Remember, it costs far less to rent a truck a couple times a year when you need it for specific task than to purchase a truck that is used like a car on most days.

If you truck will serve as both a workhorse and a family car, then consider an extended-cab or crew-cab model with four doors. If you plan to drive in snow, deep mud, or more than a short distance off road, then you should choose four-wheel drive.

Pickup trucks come in endless permutations: full-sized or compact; long bed or short; regular, extended, or crew cab; two door or four; two- or four-wheel drive; standard or automatic transmission; and so on. Engines range from small four-cylinders and V6s to V8s and big diesels. Base prices range from less than $20,000 to more than $40,000.

Considering their vast sales volumes, there aren't all that many pickup truck brands to choose from. Ford and Chevrolet/GMC are the largest sellers, followed by Dodge. The Japanese brands have a smaller role, lead by Toyota and trailing with far fewer sales, Nissan and Honda.

Key things to consider

Even within the variety of basic configurations, pickups can differ a lot in price, fuel economy, comfort, performance, safety, and reliability. Some of those factors can be interlinked. The best fuel economy goes hand in hand with lighter weight, smaller size, and modest power. A heavy trailer demands a heavy truck, with an accompanying fuel-economy penalty. And the more heavy duty a truck is, the worse it tends to ride.

With pickup trucks, it is important to buy what you need, resisting the temptation to overdo it. While it may be convenient to have extra cargo and towing capacity, you'll pay for it both upfront and through compromises (such as ride and fuel economy) over time.

The open cargo bed lends itself to serious chores, such as moving large appliances, bulky furniture, tools or equipment, motorcycles, snow blowers, and outdoors-only cargo such as wood chips, manure, and trash for the dump. Those are tasks you wouldn't want to”or couldn't”do with a minivan or SUV.

Pickup trucks are also well suited to towing boat, car, utility, and travel trailers. Manufacturer specifications for the vehicle and its driveline will note maximum cargo weight and towing capacities. You can choose original-equipment (OEM) towing packages or buy them in the aftermarket. Buying OEM from the factory is probably the best choice, since installation might involve complex wiring for the trailer brakes and lights, special attachment points for the tow hitch, and accessories such as a transmission oil cooler. Further, the manufacturer-engineered packages come backed by the factory warranty.

While pickup trucks have impressive abilities, they also have inherent drawbacks. For example, they tend to guzzle gas whether they're loaded or not. For a full-sized truck such as a Chevrolet Silverado or Ford F-150, For full-sized trucks, 13 to 15 mpg overall is par for the course. For a compact truck such as a Nissan Frontier or Toyota Tacoma, figure 15 to 17 mpg. Of course, the mileage only goes down when the vehicles are carrying cargo or pulling a trailer.

Among other considerations, the open bed leaves cargo vulnerable to the weather or theft. The trucks sit up high, which can make cabin access difficult, and the side rails of full-sized trucks are so high off the ground that loading and retrieving heavy items over the side is awkward, tiresome, or inconvenient. Trucks don't tend to have the most comfortable ride, though the ride does smooth out when they are carrying cargo in the bed. If you choose the handy extended cab, you might have to put up with a short load bed, which limits what you can carry. An eight-foot bed plus an extended cab makes for a very long vehicle that's hard to park and maneuver in tight spaces.

Ultimately, the most practical strategy for selecting a pickup is to go after a truck that meets your requirements without buying more than you need. Consider starting with our lists of Recommended trucks and working your way up the line from the smallest and least costly.

What you'll spend

Pickup truck prices vary widely, from less than $20,000 for the most basic model to $40,000 or more. For trucks well equipped for family use and with four-wheel drive, figure on about $30,000 for a compact truck, mid-to-high $30s for a full-size model, and $50,000 for a heavy-duty diesel pickup truck.

See also:

GPS

Car batteries

Tires

Car seats