Truck Basics
A basic pick-up truck can handle doing everyday jobs around the house for you, such as taking brush and trash to the landfill; hauling larger objects like a chest freezer home from the store; or taking camping equipment to the woods for a weekend holiday. A Chevrolet Canyon or a Dodge Ram 1500 would be perfect for these tasks.
How Much Can A Pick-up Truck Haul or Tow?
For a heavier job, you need a beefier, though. One of the best ways to figure out how much weight a truck can haul or tow is to look in the owner’s manual. You need to know for sure if that truck can handle the load before you buy. An RV dealer will tell you that your truck can pull a trailer or a fifth wheel because he wants to make a sale, but be sure you check the owner’s manual first just to be safe. You don’t want to find out while driving down the highway that your truck can’t pull 6,000 pounds. It won’t just damage the transmission—it is dangerous to haul too heavy of a load.
Passenger Comfort
Pick-up trucks also vary on how many passengers they can handle. A truck with a regular cab can only accommodate two or three people at most. A Crew Cab, however, can seat six people comfortably. Then you have to decide if you need a Crew Cab with two doors or one with four doors.
Type and Size of Transmission
Other things to consider when buying a pick-up truck are what type of transmission, manual or automatic; gear ratios; whether or not you want to include four wheel drive; and whether to include a towing package. When you have completed your purchase, though, if you have taken time to consider all the different options available, you will be happy knowing your new truck can handle the job you bought it to do.