I've talked with hundreds of truck owners over the years, enough to have a pretty good feel for what they did and did not check out before they bought a used truck. They nearly all checked the electricals to make sure that lights, the radio, the A/C and other features were working as they should. They checked fluids to determine if the levels were okay (and clean). Nearly everyone inspected the interior for rips and tears and most looked at a truck's important components -- like the brakes and tires. But there are a few system checks and pre-shopping must-do tasks that are often overlooked, leading to buyer's remorse -- a purchase that the new owner regrets.

Used Truck Shopping Advice

The Ford Explorer was named Truck of the Year yesterday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. It's surprising that, with all of the updates to 2011 pickups, voters chose a vehicle that's no longer truly a truck. The NAIAS award is only one of dozens of we hear about each year, and at least most of the others try to slot vehicles into specific categories.

Ford announced it will hire about 7,000 workers this year, a sign that production is on an upswing (even though the number represents only a small fraction of the company's layoffs in recent years).

About the North American International Auto Show

I'm from the snowy Midwestern United States, so driving on wintry roads isn't something that bothers me, but the snow-and-ice-mindset is completely different where I live now, in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

It's a given that it's easier to stop on snow-packed roads when you're driving through the plains of Illinois than it is on steep and curvy topography, but that sure doesn't mean any of us should enter the winter without a thorough inspection of our trucks, especially our tires and brakes, the two systems we depend on to push us through the the snow and to slow us down when we need to stop. Winter adjustments vary depending on where you live and what type of truck you're driving, but it's a good idea for everyone who encounters snow or ice to take a few steps to stay safe on the highways.

It comes with a hefty price tag ($45,865 base, $61,189 as tested), but the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD truck is a good candidate for your shopping list if power and luxury are must-have features for your next pickup. Sierra Denalis are all 2500 Crew Cab trucks, with rear seating that folds up or down depending on who (or what) you're carrying. In the front, (heated) leather seats are equipped with 12-way power and 2-position driver seat memory. A Duramax 6.6-liter V8 turbo diesel adds about $7,200 to the base price, but delivers a whopping 397 hp and 765 lb-ft of torque. Jason Fogelson drove the truck for us, and came away from the drive with more positive impressions than negatives. | Read the Review

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Sierra Denali HD Pictures
Quick Look: Sierra Denali HD Highlights