Pickup Truck Maintenance Checklist

It’s always best to take time and consider your requirements when choosing a used pickup truck, such as what size you need, your fuel economy or performance goals, and the cab and bed styles. Once you’ve got a great truck, you’ll enjoy fewer maintenance visits and save money by taking good care of it. Let’s take a look at our truck maintenance checklist below. We’ll also recommend some of the most reliable trucks for sale in 2023. Check out all the information below, and browse our inventory at our AutoCenters in Herculaneum or contact our team at your convenience.

Pickup Truck Maintenance

Keeping your pre-owned truck in good condition is crucial, whether you drive for work or play. Use this checklist to save money on big repairs and keep everything running perfectly.

Oil Changes and Filters

It’s no surprise that getting oil changes on time and using quality products will pay off, keeping your engine well lubricated. Changing your filter at the same time as an oil change is generally best.

Tires and Wheels

A heavy- or light-duty truck will need its tires and wheels looked at, including tire replacements and rotations, as well as an eventual wheel alignment. The latter helps ensure your truck’s tires wear down evenly.

Brakes and Brake Fluid

With pickup trucks, it’s a good idea to check the brake fluid and potentially replace it at least once a year. Brake pads are easy to inspect, and a service center can install new ones when they’ve gotten too thin. Depending on how often the system undergoes stressful or heavy-duty driving, your truck may eventually need new suspension components.

Check Your Truck Battery

Excluding all-electric trucks, your truck battery is easy to examine by lifting the hood. Excessive corrosion, cracks, or other signs of a battery issue will need to be diagnosed and fixed. Of course, another common sign worth looking for is an unusually low or high voltage level on your dashboard.

Log Services and Fluid Changes

You should also check on the coolant in your truck, as leaks that go unnoticed could put the engine at risk of overheating. You should also look at the brake fluid, although that usually doesn’t need changing for many years, and the same is even more true of transmission fluid. Overall, keeping track of the dates when services were performed on your truck pays off, reducing the chance of missing anything.

Picking the right used truck is another wise investment toward lower ownership costs. Here are some of our recommendations for reliable pre-owned pickup trucks to help you decide on your next vehicle.

2019 Ford F-150

The 2019 Ford F-150 is one of our top recommendations because it offers cutting-edge technology, exceptional performance, reliability, and low ownership costs. One of the biggest highlights may be the 3-liter diesel engine with 440 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The variety of off-roading and luxury options also add to its appeal.

The 2019 edition is available in seven trim levels and three cab designs, with the SuperCrew cab being one of the roomiest. Whatever cab you decide on, this Ford provides a pleasant ride, even on uneven ground, and its maximum towing capability of 9,100 lbs outperforms most other trucks.

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

You should consider the 2019 Chevy Silverado if you’re looking for a full-size pickup truck that handles well and is comfortable to drive. Each engine, ranging from a nimble 285-horsepower V-6 to a 420-horsepower V-8, can tow a trailer and a little weight in the cargo bed. The interior is particularly spacious in Crew Cab variants, and the touch-screen infotainment system is easy to operate. The Silverado scores well for dependability and offers a variety of active safety features.

2022 GMC Sierra 1500

One of the more recent GMC Sierra models, the 2022 Sierra 1500, is a phenomenal deal if it’s within your budget. It combines comfort, functionality, and capability to provide a great all-around pickup. The optional turbo diesel has respectable fuel efficiency ratings of 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, not to mention 9,600 lbs of maximum towing capacity on particular trims. The brand-new Denali and off-road-focused AT4 grades are popular with affluent and daring drivers. An updated infotainment system and familiar safety aids are also new for the 2022 model.

2021 Ram 1500

The 2021 Ram 1500 has an excellent interior and a comfortable ride, and the power ratings can go exceptionally high. A new high-performance TRX model debuted in 2021. Many praise the Ram truck for its cabin and composed riding style, soft-touch materials throughout, and one of the most user-friendly infotainment systems available.

2016 Toyota Tacoma

With excellent reliability and safety ratings, the 2016 Toyota Tacoma is among the best in its class. Additionally, it offers a strong V-6 engine and a quiet, premium interior. The 2016 Tacoma underwent a complete redesign while maintaining excellent safety and dependability ratings in addition to its solid all-around performance. Versions with the V-6 engine feature brisk acceleration, good fuel economy, and steady handling. Any used truck shopper would be wise to give the 2016 Tacoma a chance, especially if you’d like to carry friends or cargo in the rear seat.

Buy a Used Truck in St Louis, Missouri

Adhering to a suitable maintenance schedule and being proactive about repairs may seem like a lot, but it doesn’t have to cost much or take more than a few visits to a qualified repair shop annually. At AutoCenters Herculaneum, you can find the best collection of pre-owned trucks in St Louis. While new trucks have their appeal, you can find very similar feature sets on pre-owned trucks, many in or near like-new condition.

Along with dependable used pickup trucks and instructions on maintaining them, we can help you find anything else you’ll ever need for a previously loved vehicle. Get in touch with AutoCenters Herculaneum for answers or assistance, or browse our huge selection of Ram, GMC, Chevy, Jeep, and other trucks.

Image by Kenny Eliason is licensed with Unsplash License