Owning a truck for the first time will be different from owning a regular car. Truck owners are generally expected to carry on much more care and expertise during their ownership journey, aspects that will go a long way in keeping your truck in the best shape. If you have recently purchased your first truck and need truck care tips, here are some to consider using.
Keep Attorney Info Handy
Emergencies can arise at any time during your drive, a factor that will require you to have professional help to ensure you get out of such a situation, whether you are at fault or free of negligence. You or someone you know may also fall victim to a trucking accident so having the contact details of a truck accident attorney will come in handy. With this in mind, having attorney information close by will guarantee that you have someone to guide you through any unforeseen circumstances. Your attorney contact number should, for instance, always be listed under the emergency contact list on your mobile phone. Additionally, you can also have your lawyer’s number written down on paper and stored in your glove box if you lose your phone. Some of the benefits of having attorney information at hand include:
Getting Timely Advice – If you get involved in an accident, a truck accident attorney will be an ideal partner in helping you navigate your current situation. Their help will come in handy when you need to file insurance claims, allowing you to get the proper compensation for fixing your truck.
Defending You – When you are faced with a lawsuit after an at-fault accident arises, an attorney will be essential in taking care of your legal trial. This means appearing before the court and representing you during negotiations. In addition to this, they can also help you sue the at-fault driver when they fail to pay for damages caused to your truck.
Treat it Like You Need to Return It
Now that you finally have the keys to your truck, you may occasionally get tempted to neglect it as the title currently falls under your name. Rather than letting it get worn out under your watch, ensure that you treat it with the utmost care. One way of doing this is keeping a proper maintenance schedule. Here are some truck care tips to use for this:
Inspect Your Engine – Engine failure can cause long-term damage to your truck, resulting in expensive repair costs down the line. If you spot signs such as excessive smoking, decreased power when driving, or loss of oil pressure, then you are likely dealing with a faulty engine. Have truck rental technicians have a look at it for compression tests. Make it a point to regularly monitor your oil pressure while ensuring that your engine coolant and exhaust temperatures are at the proper levels.
Check Your Tire Levels – While overinflated tire levels may result in blowouts, underinflated ones will cause fuel efficiency. To get the proper balance, check your truck manual to gauge the correct inflation levels. The markings around the trim of your truck’s tire can also help you with this, ensuring you avoid any of these problems.
Beware Of Brake Failure – Brake failure constitutes the largest share of truck accidents, with truck owners facing irreparable damage during such incidences. To avoid this, ensure that you regularly keep up with your brake truck care tips. This includes occasional brake checks, where your technician should, for instance, replace your truck’s brake pins, springs and bushings every time your pads are replaced.
Be Mindful of Your Truck’s Size
When it comes to operating a truck, its driving needs will differ from that of smaller vehicles. Driving a truck requires different handling, a factor that will ensure your safety and that of other motorists on the road. For starters, consider the following:
Space Cushion – Space cushion refers to the space between you and other objects on the road. An example of this includes tunnel distance from your truck’s roof. Additionally, the area around you and other vehicles will matter. By paying attention to these factors, the space cushion will be essential during driving and parking.
Stopping Distance – Due to the load that trucks often carry, stopping it will generally require more time, a factor that all drivers need to remember when out on the road. Having increased stopping distance will especially come in handy during truck transport driving at night, along with curved entrances and roads and hilly areas. In addition to this, greater stopping distance will be essential when driving on small lanes and during wet conditions.
Hazards on the Road – Objects on the road, such as crossing animals, can be easily avoided by regular vehicles but will often cause hindrances for trucks trying to navigate around them. Beware of such obstacles that could make driving difficult and watch out for other disturbances such as potholes, uneven lanes, and lane restrictions. Ensure that all your lights are functioning to allow you to spot items in your path, with your truck’s reflective strips also helping other motorists spot you well in advance.
Don’t Be Afraid to Replace Parts
Depending on the driving that your truck will be used for, some of its parts will occasionally require more replacement than others. This should not cause any concern, as it generally applies to all trucks. Some of the most common truck care tips and replacement you will encounter include:
Tires – Truck tires are designed to serve you through at least 50,000 miles, making them much more durable than other parts of your vehicle. But even with this, they will still need their share of replacement. When this happens, ensure that you source your new wheels from trusted auto dealers. Have your truck specifications in mind when purchasing them to avoid any misalignment during their fitting.
The Drive Belt – Replacing the drive belt also falls under our truck care tips that you need to follow up with. If you hear some cracks from your hood, your drive belt will likely be the cause. Additionally, if you spot any looseness in your drive belt, ensure you replace it before going on your next drive.
Brake Pads – Brake pads take on a significant amount of power during truck stops, being another commonly replaced truck part due to wear and tear. Faulty brake pads will often manifest themselves in the form of high-pitched squeals that are audible during high-speed drives and when your truck windows are rolled up. When you also experience frequent shaking in the frame of your truck, your brake pads need to be fixed. During replacement, ensure that you stay away from used truck parts, which will only lead to future truck emergencies.
Keep a Spare Key Around
Lockout situations are never easy and will not get any better when you own a truck. If you are looking for ways to avoid this, the solution lies in keeping a spare key around. For help with this, here are some hiding spots to consider adding to your truck care tips:
In Your Wallet – Your wallet is one of the go-to places that you can keep your spare key, as it will generally be in your pocket at all times. Have a key expert duplicate your key and have the extra hidden in your wallet when walking or even driving around.
Behind Your License Plate – Your license plate also serves as another hiding spot when looking to avoid any lockout scenarios. Based on your preference, you can use the front license plate or the back, with most truck owners preferring the front since it is always in view whenever you step away from your vehicle. You can also make use of a license plate hiding container that ensures you eliminate time spent fumbling around when tracing your spare key in your plate.
Inside Your Bumper – Hiding your spare key inside your bumper is another common hiding spot known to vehicle owners. Due to its ease of access, it will ensure that you always have your spare close by. Due to security purposes, however, ensure that your replacement car key can only open your truck door and not the ignition.
Don’t Ignore Dents
Dents may not impact your driving capability but will be detrimental when you need to sell your truck because of poor appearance. To avoid this, consider fixing dents as another of our essential truck care tips, as failure to do so could result in the following:
Paint Chipping – When dents occur, the paint sealant on your truck also gets damaged. Due to the absence of a protective coat on the dented areas, increased paint chipping will occur, exposing other areas of your vehicle to corrosion.
Increased Fading – Dents often expose underlying vehicle materials to weather elements such as heat and sunshine, conditions that result in increased truck deterioration. These will lead to more fading on surfaces exposed to the elements, creating unattractive spots around your truck.
Dent Removal Techniques – One easy dent repair method that you can use to avoid the above includes utilizing a plunger to suction out minor dents. If, however, you have larger dents, consult your auto repairs specialists to ensure you do not accelerate the existing damage.
Invest in Good Insurance
Signing up for a good insurance policy will be another essential item to consider for your truck care tips. The benefit of investing in an excellent automotive insurance plan will be the reduced liability and expenses you get during accidents and weather-related damages that are out of your control. With the right cover, you can minimize your financial losses, with insurance providers often paying for damages caused during your truck ownership journey. This means you can always have your track replaced or repaired depending on the situation at hand, helping you keep up with unforeseen maintenance costs year-round.
Make Sure You Fit in the Garage
Numerous truck drivers have had to endure curb-side parking after realizing that their new truck cannot fit into their garage, a mistake that you may, unfortunately, fall prey to. Before purchasing your new ride, make it a point first to measure the length and height of your garage. With these measurements in mind, you can then scale up or down your truck size requirements, eliminating any need for outside parking. If, however, you have already purchased your truck and cannot get it to fit into your garage, a garage installation expert will come in handy for this. Professionals in this area will help you remodel your garage for your truck, with the possibility of adjusting your garage door openers or incorporating a bump out to your garage.
Wash Your Truck Bed After Transporting Materials
Whether you use your truck to take off the road drives or transport work materials, you will likely collect all manner of debris during your journey. Material such as topsoil will be one of the most frequent components that you are likely to deal with that often calls for a thorough cleaning when looking to avoid long-term damage.
For starters, sweep out any debris on the truck bed. A broom can help eliminate material such as rock and movable items, but a shovel will come in handy in removing components such as snow and soil. Next, spray your bed with a high-pressure washer. Aim for the corners that often trap accumulated debris. Leave your tailgate open while doing this to allow the dirt and water to flow out. After you are done with this, apply car washing soap and scrub off the remaining dirt. Ensure that you use the suitable soap as strong detergents will result in a faded truck bed.
The next step of your truck care tips will be rinsing and drying. Clean off the bed with a pressure washer, remembering to inspect all corners and cracks. You can then dry your truck with a dry cloth or leave it out in the open to dry in the sun.
Owning a truck for the first time comes with a different set of responsibilities and will likely leave you grappling with some everyday routine practices. If you need help with maintenance tips, spare key hideout spots, or cleaning, the above truck care tips will be an essential part of your truck journey. Consider paying attention to each tip for help with your truck operations.
