Best Ways to Compare Gas Mileage in Pickup Trucks

You are ready to buy a new or used truck. You know trucks have higher gas mileage than cars. You want to make sure you get a truck that gets the best gas mileage. How can you compare? Here are the best ways to compare gas mileage in pickup trucks.

Size

Usually when a truck is bigger, it gets less gas mileage. Putting larger tires or a lift kit will also decrease the gas mileage. Bigger means heavier and heavier items take more gas to move.

Weight

Trucks have different sized weights. Some are light weight and get good gas mileage – almost as good as some vehicles. Trucks are measured and named by their weight. For instance, Dodge sells 1500, 2500 and even 3500 trucks. This number indicates the amount of weight the truck can handle. Ford’s products are similar with trucks titled F-150, F-250 and F-350. If your truck can hold more weight, it will be heavier and the mileage will be higher.

Power

What powers the engine makes a difference in gas mileage. If your truck has a 4 speed engine and runs on regular gas, it will get better gas mileage than a truck that is a V6 or V8 and runs on regular gas. A vehicle that can run on diesel gasoline will get better mileage than a truck with regular gas. Large tracker trailers have high engine power and run on diesel fuel, allowing them to get better gas mileage for over the road trucking.

Efficiency

Trucks are designed to work for you. Choose the truck that you need. If you are only driving around town and just need a light weight truck, then something similar to a Chevy S10 will work for you. The gas mileage will be less. If you know you will be using your truck for heavy loads or construction, then you should get a bigger, stronger, more powerful truck. Even though you may pay more for gas mileage, you will have truck that will do the work you need done.