The Pros and Cons of Owning a Pickup Truck

The humble pickup truck is one of the most popular kinds of cars in the United States. There are as many reasons to buy a pickup truck as there are people who own them—but is it the right vehicle for you? There are some key tradeoffs you’ll need to make if you want to call one of these beasts your own. In this article, we’ll go through some of the pros and cons of owning a pickup truck so you can see if they’re the vehicle you’re in the market for.

Pros

Size

If you want a vehicle that’s going to give you plenty of room to spread out, a pickup truck’s your go-to. You won’t find many pickups that don’t have large cabin spaces. The size of the car also offers some extra passive protection against accidents and fender benders.

Toughness

Given its size, most pickup trucks are tougher than your average mid-sized car. Not only is this useful in the event of an accident, but it also means you can put a pickup through its paces without worrying about damaging it. This makes many pickup trucks ideal off-roading vehicles as they can stand up to scrapes and bashes against rocks and other terrains.

Cargo Hauling

Obviously, the back of the pickup truck is the real draw. The bed is a core component of the vehicle. If you regularly haul a lot of heavy things such as construction material or hunting equipment, a pickup truck gives you the space you need to work with.

Cons

Gas Mileage

The size of most pickup trucks is a tradeoff. While you may enjoy the extra room, a pickup truck requires more gas to push its extra mass forward. This makes pickup trucks have less than impressive gas mileage overall. If you’re alright with regular fill-ups, this may be less of an issue for you.

Price

There’s no getting around it—you get what you pay for with a pickup truck. A new pickup will cost you more than a new car will, given its size and the materials used to make it. If money is an issue, you may want to save buying a pickup truck for another day.

Maneuverability

Pickups drive great on long stretches of open road, but once you need to use some finesse, they become a little more unwieldy. Driving in a crowded city will be much more difficult than if you’re out in the country. Parking can also be a problem until you get used to how the truck handles.

These are just some of the pros and cons of owning a pickup truck, but they are some of the most important to consider. American Modified wants your truck to really feel like yours, which is why we supply the best modifications for Ford F-150’s and Jeep Wrangler aftermarket performance parts. When it’s time to improve that vehicle, you know who to call.