Pickup Trucks - How To Choose a Pickup Truck

So how do you choose the right pickup truck? One way to get started is to take some time to analyse your wants and needs.


Do You Have a Favourite manufacturer?
If you do, and the automaker builds trucks, that's the obvious place to start.

Engine Choices
You'll find four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines in trucks, some with V8s, and diesels, but most in Europe are diesels.


Drive train Options
Most of the trucks on the market are available with either a manual or automatic transmission and your choice of 2WD or 4WD. You'll find many trucks offer limited-slip or locking differentials and electronic traction control. Safety options are becoming increasingly popular on new pickup trucks.


What Are Your Seating Needs?
There are several truck cab styles, so you should be able to find one that suits your seating needs.

•A standard cab truck has two seats--no second row seating and (usually) no substantial storage behind the seats.

•An King cab has seats in the back but very limited space and quarter sized doors.

•An double cab truck has a bench seat in back (some of these fold up and down) Be sure to sit in the back while someone else drives the vehicle so that you have a feel for its seating comfort.

•Extended cabs provide extra space for loads on the bed.

•Manufacturers use different terms to describe their cab styles.


Truck Box Configurations
A typical truck cargo box has fairly straight exterior sides, with arched areas just inside the bed to accommodate the rear wheels. There's room to tuck shorter cargo in the spaces in front of and behind each arch.

If required you can have hard tops fitted ....glazed / unglazed prices range from £650......£1800.....

Needless to say that ALL trucks lend themselves to bolt on extra's so that you can make your truck exactly to your requirements.

How Long Should the Truck Bed Be?
Pickup trucks are available in variety of bed lengths, ranging from about 5 ft. to 8 ft. long.

You'll need a long bed truck to haul building supplies or other cargo of significant length. If you haul heavy and bulky items you can get by with a shorter bed, but you'll need a truck that will handle the weight.


Do You Have Towing Needs?
Do you need a truck to tow a trailer or boat, and if you do, how much weight do you pull? Be sure to check the towing capacity of the truck you are considering to make sure it meets your needs. In general, look for a vehicle with good hp and torque and with a suitable suspension. Special towing packages are available on some trucks.


A list of Top Vehicles for Towing might help. Some of the autos are SUVs, not pickups, but you'll find tips to help you choose a good towing vehicle.

What's Your Budget?
Like cars, there's a huge variety in truck prices, with full size base models and some compacts starting well under £20,000. Luxury and performance trucks typically cost considerably more (although you'll find some deals in our current down economy).

Anything you can think of guys, i'll add

Rislar.....that's a really nice intro for people looking to get into pick ups and of course usefull....thanks.

The only think that i would add is that if required you can have hard tops fitted ....glazed / unglazed prices range from £650......£1800.....

Needless to say that ALL trucks lend themselves to bolt on extra's so that you can make your truck exactly to your requirements

Excellent Dave i will add