Getting started

A good place to start is with a realistic assessment of what you plan to do with the pickup truck. 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 or heavy-duty pickup truck. A smaller, lighter-duty truck can fit the bill, or quite possibly another vehicle type might be better suited to your daily needs.

If you plan to use the truck as a family car, then consider an extended-cab or crew-cab model with four doors. If you plan to drive in snow or 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 cab or extended cab, two door or four, two- or four-wheel drive, standard or automatic transmission, and so on. Engines range from small four-cylinders to V6s to V8s and big diesels. Base prices range from less than $20,000 to more than $40,000.

Considering their vast sales quantity, 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, followed by Nissan, with Honda and Mazda playing mostly bit parts.

Key things to consider

There are many pickup truck configurations to choose from, including size (small, large, or in between), price, fuel economy, comfort, performance, safety, and reliability. Some of those factors can be interlinked. Fuel economy goes hand in hand with light weight, small size, and modest power. A heavy trailer demands a heavy truck, with a big fuel-economy penalty. The heavier duty a truck is, the worse its ride tends to be. With pickup trucks, it is important to buy what you need, resisting the temptation to overdo it. If you do, you'll pay for it literally upfront and through compromises (such as ride and fuel economy) over time.

The main reasons to buy a pickup truck are hauling and towing. The open cargo bed lends itself to serious chores, such as hauling large appliances or furniture, tools or equipment, motorcycles or snow machines, and outdoors-only cargo such as wood chips, manure, and trash for the dump. Those might all be tasks you wouldn't want to do in a minivan.

Pickup trucks are also well suited to towing boat, 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 towing packages or buy them in the aftermarket. OEM 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 and oil cooler. Further, the manufacturer-engineered packages also 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 Ford F150 or Chevrolet Silverado, 13 or 14 mpg unloaded average is par for the course. For a compact truck such as a Ford Ranger or Nissan Frontier, figure 15 to 17 mpg.

Plus, the open bed leaves cargo vulnerable to the weather or to theft. A high step-in can make access difficult. Most trucks do not ride comfortably. If you choose the handy extended cab, you might have to put up with a short load bed. A long bed plus an extended cab makes for a very long vehicle that's hard to maneuver in tight spaces. 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.

The most practical strategy 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 to a place where you are happy and then stop there.

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 four-wheel drive, figure on about $30,000 for a compact truck, mid-to-high $30s for a full-sized model, and $50,000 for a heavy-duty diesel pickup truck.

See also:

GPS Navigation Systems

Car batteries

Car seats

Special Section:
Guide to Driving Green