The first car I ever bought on my own actually wasn’t a car at all it was a pickup. I walked right into the Chevy Dealership, I was eighteen years old, and basically said - I want that one.
I loved those little Chevy S-10s. The one I wanted was a stick shift; of course I didn’t know how to drive a 5-speed. That problem was solved when Rich Crawford (I’ll never forget his name) the salesman took me out over his lunch break and taught me how to drive it in the neighboring church parking lot.
Pulling out of the lot knowing it was all mine over rid the fear that I was pulling out on to a huge highway, and if I couldn’t get into 1st I was a goner. But it worked out. I got it in gear and just kept going.
Maybe like myself you have always loved pickups, or you just need one out of necessity. Either way here are some helpful tips from truck expert Dale Wickell to help you find out which truck will work best for you.
Dale suggests while looking for a truck to think in terms of the following needs:
1) Favorite automaker
2) Compact truck or full-size truck
3) Engine size
4) Drive train options
5) Seating needs
6) Cab configuration
7) Budget 
Length of bed
9) Towing needs
Compact Truck or Full Size Truck?
Compact trucks are smaller in scale than full size trucks. They can usually tow up to 3,000 pounds, a weight that accommodates many trailer and boat towing tasks. If you have heavier towing needs, move up to a full size truck.
Automakers call some models, such as the Chevy Colorado, mid-size trucks, but most of the pickups in that group are closer in size to a compact than they are to a full size vehicle. Looking at trucks on dealer lots is the best way to understand how they compare to each other in size.
Compact trucks usually get better gas mileage than their full size counterparts, but check EPA Fuel Economy Ratings to confirm average mileage stats.
Make sure the interior space in a compact truck is spacious enough to suit your needs.
Engine Choices
You’ll find four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines in compact trucks. Full-size trucks offer more variety, with six-cylinders, V8s, V10s and diesels.
Drivetrain Options
Most of the trucks on the market are available with either a manual or automatic transmission and your choice of 2WD or 4WD. You’ll find many trucks offer limited-slip or locking differentials and electronic traction control.
What Are Your Seating Needs?
There are several truck cab styles, so you should be able to find one that suits your seating needs.
A standard cab truck has one bench or two-bucket seats–no second row seating and no substantial storage behind the seats.
An extended cab truck has jump seats or a bench seat in back. Be sure to sit in the back while someone else drives the vehicle so that you have a feel for its seating comfort.
Extended cabs provide extra space to carry groceries or other packages behind the first row–out of the weather and locked up for security.
A crew cab truck has full second row seating, with 4-doors that swing open towards the front. Crew cabs are gaining in popularity as more and more people use pickup trucks as their primary vehicle.
This list of Top Crew Cab Pickup Trucks gives you a close up look at several popular trucks.
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