Mistakes We Are All Making With Our Pick-up Trucks

1. Overloading them!

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When you overload your pickup truck you are actually damaging your vehicle. It will have an impact on the longevity of the mechanism as it bears huge loads and strains the internals of the car. Plus, overloading means that steering the vehicle can be less accurate which is dangerous!

2. Running on empty

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Running on empty not only is extremely hit-and-miss - nobody wants to get stranded, but it's also not good for the motor. If this is something that you do often, you are actually unknowingly damaging your motor which will start to be affected by having to run with too little gas.

3. Not having regular maintenance checks

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Maintenance checks are in place for a reason. Yes, they may affect your pocket as you have to spend a few bucks. But at the end of the day, looking after your pickup truck that drives you around is essentially protecting yourself too! So get it checked and don't skip them!

4. Neglecting road etiquette

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Just because you are driving a pickup truck and may be one of the larger vehicles on the road, doesn't mean that you can forget the etiquette and rules of the road. In fact, it's even more important because you ARE larger, so you have more of an effect on those around you.

5. Feeling as though other people will notice you, rather than you having to notice them

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This ties into the common mistake that drivers make in their pickup trucks. Because they feel as though they stand out on the road, they often feel that because other people can see them they do not have to follow all of the precautions as someone in a smaller car might. But you still have to check your mirrors just as regularly!

6. Not using proper tow mirrors

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Tow mirrors allow you to properly see the behind of your vehicle when you are towing something. People driving pickups often ignore their tow mirrors but they are SUPER important. If you are towing something, you have to be constantly aware in case something happens that could cause a hazard on the road.

7. Not cleaning regularly or properly

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Cleaning your vehicle isn't just about emptying the side pockets of your drive-thru trash. It's about cleaning the internals of your car to make sure that they keep running as smoothly as possible. If not, the mechanics could fail prematurely due to the lack of cleanliness and care.

8. Leaving valuables inside

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Another mistake often made by people with pick-up trucks is leaving valuables inside. They are actually more of a target to thieves who realize that pick-ups are often used in carrying things, therefore they believe they have more goods worth stealing. So don't leave your valuables inside.

9. Not having emergency equipment inside

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People in pick-up trucks often drive long distances or drive more treacherous journeys than people with ordinary cars. So it's a big mistake not to have any emergency equipment. Imagine going off-road or deep into the country with nobody around - you may need a first aid kit!

10. Forgetting to check your blind spot

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In a pick-up truck, you HAVE to look at your blind spot. Although you're not as huge as some vehicles on the road, you are one of the larger vehicles. It's your responsibility to check your blind spot as somebody on a motorbike could be unknowingly right at the side of you.

11. Not checking that you have the right tire pressure for the road

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Tore pressure is more important than many people think. And often in a pick-up truck, people tend to think that the tires are suitable for any ground. But if you are going over rocky surfaces, for example, you should let some pressure out slightly so that you don't get a puncture.

12. Skipping check-ups

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'I don't need to get the car checked it's running fine, I'll do it another day when I have time'. We all know how easy it is to tell ourselves that we can skip this car check. But you shouldn't because the car may seem to be running fine but you never know what's truly going on inside the car or what could occur if it isn't checked.

13. Not following the towing guidelines carefully enough

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When you're towing something it's essential to follow the guidelines because if it is not properly secure it could be extremely dangerous, not only for you but for other people on the road. You need to know that your tow load won't tip, or break free, or come loose in any capacity.

14. Ignoring fluid levels

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Brake fluid, engine fluid, transmission oil...there are so many fluid levels that are so important to know in your pickup truck. Knowing what level they should be at is crucial so that you can check your current levels, and see whether they are at a safe level to drive.

15. Neglecting your brakes

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There are not many things more essential than your breaks in any car. But in pickup trucks carrying heavy loads, breaks have to be checked even more frequently as stopping time is affected by the weight of the vehicle. So avoid this mistake and never neglect to check your brakes.

16. Neglecting insurance coverage

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Insurance is crucial no matter what vehicle you have. But statistically, people with pick-up trucks are more likely to not get insurance or not get it on time. But it's very unsafe and of course, illegal to drive your pick-up truck without having any insurance!

17. Driving aggressively

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It's also found to be more common for drivers of pick-up trucks to drive more aggressively. It is thought to be perhaps because a pickup truck is larger than an average car on the road. But driving aggressively is much more likely to end up badly than driving calmly.

18. Using WD40 as you think it should be applied

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It's often a temptation for people with pick-up trucks to try and solve the problems of the car with a can of WD40. It's rusty, it's squeaking, and it's looking a little bit old. But actually, it may not be the right thing to do. Sometimes you may be loosening the wrong thing, or not solving the real issue at all.

19. Not hitching correctly

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If you do not hitch correctly the consequences could be terrible. If whatever you are towing came loose because you had not hitched your vehicle properly, you could be responsible for terrible accidents on the road which could involve you and several other people!

20. Using the wrong fuel

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Check what fuel is right for your car, as some are better than others in maintaining the health of the engine. And, you cannot put any fuel into any motor system without causing major problems for your car. If you want to keep it healthy for longer, check it's the right fuel.

21. Parking carelessly

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You may feel like you can park wherever you like because you are in a pickup truck and you have a big vehicle that people will try and avoid. But that's not the case, just because you have a larger and heavier vehicle does not give you the right to park where you like!

22. Ignoring recalls

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If your pickup has been recalled - you NEED to give the car back. A recall means that something is wrong, whether it was in the process of making the car or whether a fault has occurred within the function and safety of the car. No matter how small, recalls are important to follow.

23. Not properly securing the cargo

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Many people with a pickup who live near a lot of land often dump a load of cargo into the back of their cargo, without properly securing it. They may think that they will not meet any other traffic or that they're only driving a short distance but it's still important to secure it! You could cause somebody or somebody's land a lot of damage.

24. Neglecting off-road etiquette

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Just because you are driving off-road doesn't mean you can neglect any kind of road etiquette - which many people think you can. Although pick-ups are perfect for these off-road occasions, drivers still need to take take and consideration when they are driving on natural land!

25. Ignoring rust in your truck

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A rusty old pickup truck seems to fit into the charming well-used, country pickup image and so many people ignore it. But rust isn't just something that affects the exterior, if you let the rust set in it will end up damaging the internal of the car and could leave it unusable.

26. Adjusting to the weather

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Another common mistake that often happens with drivers who own a pickup is that they feel as though it's suitable for any weather. But, they do this without making any adjustments. You may have to change your tires, tire pressure, and other elements before your car is prepared for different weather.

27. Storing your truck somewhere inappropriate

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There's something about owning a pickup that makes you feel like you can park it anywhere, especially when you're near country land. It's a common mistake all pickup drivers make, because not only could you be inconveniencing somebody else you could also face a fine.

28. Overlooking worn tires

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Look, we know that when you have a pickup truck you're probably going off-road, running errands, and using your car for daily life so you may look at your tires and just think they look a little bit 'worn'. And while we all want to avoid paying out for new ones, it really is inevitable because worn tires can actually cause accidents.

29. Removing your tailgate

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Your tailgate is there for a reason as it provides stability, so you shouldn't remove it, even though many drivers with pickups do. If it's there for a reason, it's necessary and much safer to keep it on. Next time you think about removing it, think again.

30. Ignoring recurring issues

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That rumbling in the engine sound that you've been ignoring for months or the way your car takes slightly longer to break than it used to...these aren't things to ignore. Especially when you own a larger vehicle like a pickup truck. Get them checked and sorted out before they get worse or completely fail!