When you’re buying a new truck, there is a stark difference between purchasing something for your own personal use and one that you will be using for business purposes. Although there will be some obvious overlap (e.g., you want it to be robust enough to last several years), there are certain additional things to consider that will make your new vehicle perfect for whatever punishment you might put it through.
In this article, we are offering up a few valuable (if we do say so ourselves) tips that anyone in the market for a reliable work truck can use to give them the best possible chance to end up with a fantastic vehicle sans any buyers remorse that can typically come about when dropping such a substantial amount of cash!
Don’t Be Afraid Of Buying Used
When it comes to life, every penny counts…especially these days and in an increasingly uncertain world. However, it counts even more when it comes to business since every dollar you spend is a dollar of additional expense that may have been used towards something else.
To that end, if you aren’t particularly bothered about driving a brand-new vehicle off the lot (and losing an immediate 10% in the process), then you may want to take a look as the numerous used work trucks on the market that fit the bill and cost considerably less than expected.
Moreover, as long as you buy it from a respectable and highly reputed company, you will be guaranteed that it’s functioning as it ought to be. To add to this, you can usually invest in third-party warranties if you’re worried that the manufacturer one has expired (or can’t be transferred); to give you peace of mind, you might need to make the jump.
Assess Your Specific Work Needs
Regardless of whether you will end up with a nearly new model or an actually new one, one of your primary steps to take is assessing your work needs. Do you need to haul heavy machinery long distances? Are you using the truck to carry lots of expensive gear that needs to be locked away securely? Whatever your needs may be, it pays to spend a bit of time pondering this point.
You may read this tip and believe it to be redundant since you already know what work you do and what you need, but trust us, the more time spent here will result in less time kicking yourself because you bought the X version rather than the Y version and now you cannot attach the hitch you already own.
Research Truck Models Known For Their Durability
Again, this is another relatively obvious-sounding point when you look at it at face value, but it can help you narrow down your options, making a shortlist that is much easier to manage. You can find out which manufacturers and models are better suited for the rigors of professional use by searching online and reading the various reviews that are posted.
You should mix it up between professional reviews given by journalists working for motoring publications and user reviews from those who actually own and drive it on a regular basis. The idea behind looking for these two types of reviews is to get a more rounded overview.
For instance, a pro review will offer up some thoughts on things that the average motorist may never consider, while user reviews are given by those who drive the truck each and every day and have already found out the various foibles that could afflict the vehicle.
Compare Fuel Efficiency
It doesn’t matter if you live in the good old US of A or some overtaxed European nation; nobody has time to spend a fortune filling up their gas tank! By checking which models have the best fuel efficiency (among all other considerations), you should end up with a new truck that won’t drain your company coffers each time you need to visit the gas station.
No one is saying you need to choose the most fuel-efficient, but if you want to keep as much of the money you earn with your truck as possible, it’s a valuable concern to consider.
Test Drive To See If You’re Compatible
It is very likely that you are going to be sitting in your work truck for longer than you sit on the couch in your home, so it had better feel amazing! By taking it for a test drive, you can get a feel for whether it suits your driving style and has all the toys, bells, and whistles that make driving fun rather than a chore.
Choosing a new work vehicle involves a somewhat different approach than buying a new family saloon. Hopefully, these tips can help you create a list of options that suit your budget and circumstances so that you can end up with a truck that fits perfectly into your life.
