WORN DOWN WORK TRUCKS? PRACTICAL ADVICE TO KEEP THEM ALIVE LONGER

We’ve all seen the countless television advertisements with gruff-voiced men announcing the toughness of whatever truck brand they’re touting. Truth be told, even if you have work trucks doing seriously heavy lifting, you’re likely not going to be completing some of the ridiculous tasks that advertising companies subject vehicles to during their 30-second TV ad segments.

What really breaks work trucks down the most is time. The constant wear, tear, and day-to-day beating that work trucks take is enough to bring these doughty vehicles below their best value sooner than usual. Here are some easy ways to stay on top of your work trucks before they go past the point of no return (or at least an annoyingly expensive point of return).

They’re a different animal
A lot of people use their vehicles on a daily basis, but trucks are a little different. Sure you’re using it daily to get from here to there, but the demands being asked of work trucks are well beyond the demands being asked of typical cars. Remember that and make sure you’re setting a maintenance schedule that happens more often than your sedan’s once or twice annual check-ups. Accelerated depreciation impacts work trucks much more than other vehicles and must be accounted for.

Wash them often
Too many car owners think that car washes are merely aesthetic, but that’s hardly the case. Car washes are one of the best ways to increase the longevity of your vehicle. This is especially important with work trucks. They see more daily damage and turbulent conditions that eat away at vehicles when not properly cleaned. This is especially true of the underside of work trucks (and all vehicles). Mud, water, salt, anything that’s constantly bouncing around under your work truck is going to eventually cause rust. Car washes get all that gunk out and keep it from causing problems quicker than it would normally. Plus, don’t you want your truck to look great? We thought so.

Warranty and buyer awareness
Every car owner should be aware of their warranty specifications. With work trucks, you’re aware of the damage it may take, so being absolutely certain of your truck’s warranty is necessary to keep tabs on its dealership life support line. In the United States, 75% of vehicle purchases and sales involve previously owned vehicles. This can be logistically sticky, especially when dealing with warranties. Know what you’re buying and all the details before committing to a fleet of work trucks that may not last far beyond your initial investment.

Like with any vehicle, your attention to detail will keep it alive as long as you’re keeping up with maintaining it and preventing depreciation ahead of time. It’s true, work trucks get put through the ringer and there will always be freak damages that happen in the field, but that’s what trucks are built for. The best thing you can do is make sure those trucks can stay in the field as long as possible; that rests on you.