Steep Discounts Await Pickup Truck Buyers

Saving money on a truck is getting easier to do.

If you are in the market for a new vehicle, especially if that buy involves the purchase of a full sized pickup truck, you stand to save thousands of dollars off of the sticker price. Pickup truck discounting has always been the rule, but customers looking for a buy can expect to save even more this year and next. The reason? Fat inventories which must be pared before the next model year, which means the steep discounts are there for the taking.

Fat Inventories

High gas prices have not hurt the demand for pickup trucks, as GM, Ford and Chrysler report sales are up in 2011 over 2010. What most manufacturers haven't done is to adjust production for the months ahead as a tepid economic recovery means that fewer passenger vehicles are being purchased, a fact that is becoming evident as unemployment continues to rise or stay persistently high.

As of this publication, inventories of the Toyota Tundra, Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Nissan Titan, Dodge Ram 1500 and GMC Sierra are high. Through the first six months of 2011, full size truck sales were up, but that's because deep discounting brought customers in. Further discounting is expected, with GM likely to reduce many of its trucks by at least $5,000 or more.

In July 2011, TrueCar.com reported the following discounts among truck models surveyed: $5,350 per sale for the GMC Sierra, $4,880 for the Chevrolet Silverado, $4,450 for Ram 1500, $3,750 for Ford's F-Series and $2,654 for the Toyota Tundra. Information about the Nissan Titan was not available.

Year-End Sales

Customers not in an urgent need for a new truck may want to wait until the end of 2011 to make their purchase, especially if the economy remains weak and inventories elevated. Through summer 2011, GM had the highest inventories with supplies 50 percent above normal levels. Ram and Toyota are up by about 15 percent while Ford's inventory levels are in line with averages. Therefore, if you hope to find an excellent buy, GMC and Chevrolet may have the best deals for you.

With discounting already above $5,000 for some models, what can you expect at year end? Two things are likely: fully loaded trucks with all amenities and costing as much as $50,000 should carry deep discounts, perhaps knocking 20 percent off of the sticker price. But, even base models should carry discounts, particularly those featuring an unpopular color, limited amenities and seating for three.

Just be prepared to bargain as the discounts are there for the taking.

Matthew C. Keegan is editor and publisher of "Auto Trends Magazine." Matt is also a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport and affiliated websites, an aftermarket supplier of quality auto parts including Mazda3 fenders and wings.

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Top 2011 Trucks For Sale Recommended For Buyers

One factor that is currently limiting buyers in going for the full-size trucks is the fuel economy. But nevertheless, the new designs, features and power that are incorporated in the manufacture of the current models make it hard for many buyers to resist them despite their cost and fuel consumption. Many manufactures are also keen on the fuel economy of their products, and this goes a long way in providing relief to the buyers. This article will look at the available best trucks for sale for the year 2011 so that you the buyer can know where best to invest your money.

The large truck options

As the name suggests, these trucks come with everything big, including the engines, the towing capacity, the torque, just to name but a few. There are many options of high quality in the market, with the difference being in the details. Many of the current track sales feature the Dodge Ram 1500 and you might wonder why. Well, wonder no more because here are the reasons. The leaf-spring design is a thing of the past in this truck, and in its place are the coil springs which are meant to offer an improved smoothness in the ride.

Going into the finer details, the Hemi V8 of the Dodge Ram 1500 has a torque of 407 pound-feet and a horsepower of 390. Its towing capacity stands at 10,250 pounds. All these are in addition to its big storage capacity of the cabin and beautiful interior design.

The Ford F-Series rallies closely behind the Ram as a favorite large truck alternative. The Ford Sync is one of the particularly unique features for these trucks. The V8 model for 2011 has come in handy to counter the criticisms leveled against the previous-year model, F-150 for its lack of power. One can also opt for the V6 which quiet efficient on fuel, or the twin-turbo V6 which combines both power and fuel efficiency.

Last but not the least of the large trucks is the Toyota Tundra. It has a towing capacity of 10,800 pounds with an axle ratio that is single and standard. The Turbo is much easier to drive when not loaded.

The Compact Truck Options

Under this category, Japanese models rule with the Toyota and Nissan brands. The Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado and Dodge Dakota of America are no longer the face of compact trucks for sale, and many have neglected them due to the fact that they are quite old.

The Nissan Frontier is a particular favorite among many buyers. The models range from the four-cylinder Frontier to the V6 models, with the latter providing the best options due to their horsepower as well as ample torque. Their towing capacity stands at 3 tons.

Toyota's only formidable representative is the Toyota Tacoma. Variations include four to six-cylinder engines. Tacoma comes in three body styles to choose from.

All the above models come with various variations to suit different budgets. When spoilt of choice about which truck to go for, it is advisable to compare various truck sales before coming to a conclusion.

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Must-Read for First Time Bucket Truck Buyers!

Many aerial jobs require a bucket truck. Unlike methods used in the past, such as using a rope and pulley system or a ladder, these vehicles provide a safer platform for performing needed repairs or maintenance. By using these vehicles, the work can be performed with relative ease. Because of its importance for use on aerial jobs, it is no surprise that many companies invest in bucket trucks. For someone who has never attempted to buy such a vehicle, it is important to have a good process to serve as a guide along the bucket truck purchasing path.

Determine Aerial Needs

The first and most important thing that anyone considering the purchase of a bucket truck should do is determine the aerial needs of their company. The exact type of vehicle that is needed to purchase depends on the type of work being performed. Although by name it would appear to be a vehicle used for lifting workers, there are many different configurations of these vehicles designed to meet specific work requirements.

One of the obvious differences is the working height and the capacity of the lift. Small models have a working height of 30 to 40 feet, while the tallest can have a working height of up to 160 feet. The working height is a huge factor when choosing the vehicle to be purchased as it must have the necessary working height requirements for the aerial jobs to be accomplished.

Any first time buyer might be thinking "Why not buy the tallest equipment possible to make sure that it meets any aerial height requirement?" Although this certainly can be done, it is important to remember that the higher the working height of the bucket, the higher the price tag will be on that vehicle. In addition, the cost to operate and maintain a large bucket truck in comparison to a smaller-sized one makes a huge difference.

The size of the vehicle in relation to the normal work location is also important. A tight construction area may not allow enough space to accommodate a larger vehicle, leaving it useless for that particular application.

Determine Needed Lifting Weight Capacity

The weight capacity of the lift also needs to be considered when choosing a bucket truck. The capacity of the lift must surpass the requirements of the planned aerial job. A basic vehicle is rated to lift the weight of one person carrying all necessary tools and equipment up to 400 lbs. There are bucket trucks that are rated to carry two people at a time. A good option if larger weight loads are needed is a type of lift called a "material handler." It has a tremendous amount of lift capacity due to a jib located next to the bucket that can be used for hauling material and equipment to the same height as the bucket.

Determine Boom Variations

Aside from the height and capacity variations, there are also two other major variations available on a bucket truck.

Telescopic Boom - The most common type of lifting arm is known as a telescopic boom. As the name implies, it is equipped with a telescopic boom that extends or retracts. This type of vehicle is easy to maintain and inexpensive. Its one drawback is that it only has a single joint that makes it difficult to maneuver in tight locations or in areas with overhead obstructions.Articulating Boom - Another variation of bucket truck design is the articulating boom. The unique feature of this type of boom is that is has three articulated joints. These joints allow the boom to fold or open to adjust the length. Because it has several pivot points, it is easier for the boom to be adjusted and positioned.

Find a Dealer

Bucket truck dealers are not commonly found in vehicle lots around town. When it comes to finding a dealer that offers many options, one of the best places to look is the internet. When purchasing this particular type of commercial vehicle with so many available specifications, it is important to choose a vehicle matched to the specifications of the business. The internet is a good place to begin searching for a used bucket truck. With all of these commercial dealers from which to choose, it should not be difficult to find a used bucket truck with the exact specifications that are needed. The internet also allows for great price comparisons of potential bucket trucks listed with various dealers.

Carefully review the credentials and background of any internet dealer to make sure they have a good reputation in this area. The number of years they have been in business goes a long way in showing how well they take care of their clients.

Purchasing a bucket truck for the first time can be a little tedious and intimidating. Hopefully the above advice and information has made this task appear to be a little less daunting. Do the above steps and the experience of purchasing a bucket truck for the first time may be enjoyable enough to lead to many other such purchases!

Christopher M. Hunter is an expert in commercial specialty trucks. Click here to find out more about Used Bucket Trucks.

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