How To Make Your Pickup Last To Save Money
If you’re looking to save money as part of your regular budget, one of the things you might be skipping on is some much-needed car or truck repair. It’s not a surprising component of a monthly budget for people to skip on. In 2009, the revenue of machinery maintenance and heavy equipment repair services in the U.S. totaled around $29 billion. Keeping up with maintenance on your pickup can be expensive if you don’t do it right. However, the right components of truck maintenance and upkeep will ultimately pay for themselves by extending the life of your truck. Use these tips to keep your pickup in top shape and save money at the same time.
Keep Up With Oil Changes
While most people know that changing the oil in their vehicle is important, not everyone knows exactly when they should do this. On average, Americans drive their passenger cars and trucks just over 10,000 miles per year, and they get an oil change every 3,000 miles. While this might be fine for some, it’s usually not frequent enough. This is especially true for pickup trucks doing heavy-duty work and hauling large loads; the extra strain will mean you’ll want to change the oil sooner rather than later. If this becomes too high of a regular cost, you can learn to do it yourself as well.
Watch The Weather
Nobody likes waking up to find a dent in their truck. While some causes are unavoidable and unpredictable, like a neighbor backing into your truck, others are a bit more easy to avoid. For example, keep an eye on the weather. The National Weather Service reports that it generally takes a hailstone the size of a golf ball to damage a vehicle. If you know that the weather in your area has been a bit rough lately, park your vehicle in a garage if possible, or at least give yourself the best chance of avoiding damage by parking in as safe a location as possible.
Don’t Avoid Aftermarket Upgrades
Plenty of truck owners see aftermarket upgrades as an unnecessary expense that only exists to make your truck look cooler. It’s true that many aftermarket upgrades can be pricey – the global automotive aftermarket industry is expected to reach $722.8 billion by 2020. However, many upgrades are well worth the investment. Some upgrades do more than simply enhance your truck’s look; pick the right upgrades, and you’ll be able to improve your truck’s overall performance. Improved performance almost always leads to a longer lifespan, meaning you’ll get more years out of your truck and avoid having to buy a new vehicle.
Stick To A Schedule
Arguably the best way to save money on any vehicle is to stick to a consistent maintenance schedule. Yes, routine trips to the mechanic can seem expensive, but regular, affordable tune-ups will ultimately be far more reasonable than a major parts replacement farther down the line. The longer you go without maintenance, the more likely it is that you’ll need an expensive repair eventually. Sometimes, you’ll even find that damage caused by a lack of maintenance makes the vehicle inoperable, forcing you to buy a new one. Instead, create a calendar of your regular maintenance requirements and stick to it as closely as possible.
Regular and reliable maintenance on your truck or other vehicle can help you save money over longer periods of time. The longer you’re able to drive your truck for, the more you’ll be able to save by avoiding buying a new car altogether.