Australian truck drivers are pushing their trucks harder than ever, with statistics showing
that average kilometres travelled per vehicle is rising and trucks are experiencing more wear and tear every year.
Of course, every extra kilometre travelled means more stress on your vehicle.
If your truck isn't performing as it should, it may be time to get it repaired.
Being proactive and speaking to a mechanic as soon as your truck is showing signs of overuse is the best way to increase the lifespan of your truck.
In the long term, this may also reduce annual running costs too.
Whether your truck is an older vehicle or a newer model might also have an effect on how you go about getting your truck repaired. Here are a few factors to bear in mind when organising truck repairs in the Illawarra.
Older trucks
If your truck is an older model, you'll need to think about a few things before getting it repaired.
Repair vs replace
Your first consideration whenever anything goes wrong with an older vehicle should be whether it's time to replace your truck.
If your older truck is generally running fine and the repairs aren't very complicated, usually it makes sense to have it repaired.
But if your truck is in and out of the garage on a regular basis with costly fixes, it may be time to think about upgrading to a newer model.
Find a mechanic who knows your model
If your truck is an older model, it might be a little harder to find a mechanic who has worked with your model of truck before.
Try and find someone with experience working on older trucks to ensure they know what they're doing and won't charge you the earth for repairs just because it's an older vehicle.
Sticking with the same mechanic who has been repairing your older truck for years is often your best bet.
How expensive are the parts?
Older truck parts can become astronomically expensive, particularly once they're no longer being manufactured.
Check out the price of parts before your truck is repaired, and make sure it's worth it.
Newer trucks
In some ways, newer trucks are an easier to deal with.
Parts are easier to source, and replacing a relatively new truck is usually out of the question. But there are still some added considerations for newer trucks, too.
Dealership repairs vs mechanics
For newer models, you will usually have the option of having your truck repaired at the dealership you bought it from or taking it to an independent mechanic.
Repairing your truck at the dealership could be quicker, but it might also end up being more expensive.
Shop around
Even on newer models, the prices you can be quoted from one dealership or mechanic to the next can be hugely different.
It's always worth shopping around to find a mechanic that you can trust will get you the best deals on spare parts without cutting corners on your repairs.
We are a Freightliner, Mercedes Benz and Detroit dealership in the Illawarra specialising in repairs, servicing, and spare parts of older and newer models of trucks.