Preparing Your Teen For Their First Truck Or Jeep

Preparing Your Teen For Their First Truck Or Jeep

As a parent, you will often get front-row seats to many ‘firsts’. These firsts, often exciting like watching your baby take their first steps, can quickly become nostalgic when you have to give your young adult their first wheels.

While there are many firsts, preparing your newly 16-year-old child for their very first car is no doubt a terrifying process for many parents. Not only do you have to trust your child with a vehicle that doesn’t come with training wheels as their first bicycle did, but you also have to deal with the constant fear of road hazards that come with it. As a result, when it comes to choosing the first vehicle for their child, many parents often choose to go down the careful path and choose a vehicle that is comfortable, reliable, and most importantly, safe. In many instances, this option is a good old truck or Jeep instead of the nifty and fast sports cars any teen would prefer.

Are you a nervous parent preparing to gift your teenager who just got their driver's license their first truck? While trucks are a great option for first-time car owners, it is important to prepare the truck for your teenager and vice versa. In this guide, we provide all you need to know about preparing your teen for their first truck or Jeep.

Inspection Is Key: Getting The Truck Ready

Before you hand over the keys to the truck in the garage to your kid, it is important to first perform maintenance inspection routines on all truck parts. Some important things to include in your routine include:

1. Check The Tires:

Inspecting the tires goes beyond simply kicking each tire to confirm it is sturdy enough. You also need to check the threads, age, and depth.

• Check for ripped tire threads or smooth patches on tires
• Measure the tire thread
• Check for under-inflation or overinflation of the tires.
• Ensure the tires are the right fit for the truck
• Provide an extra tire of great quality

2. Inspect The Brakes

Brakes are an integral part of truck safety. If you’re gifting your child an old truck, inspect the brakes to ensure the absence of wear and tear. Measure the brake pads and check for excessive grooving, cracks, and heat marks. These truck parts are a first priority.

3. Refill All Fluids

Before introducing your kid to their truck, ensure you

• Inspect the vehicle and provide coolant if necessary to maintain the truck’s ideal temperature
• Refill engine oil to provide lubrication necessary to prevent friction and eventual wear and tear of the engine
• Top up the transmission fluid
• Refill differential oil if necessary
• Refill washer fluid for the windshield

4. Test Lighting

Speaking of visibility, it is vital to ensure your teen’s truck has all the correct truck parts lighting it needs. This includes all lighting as toi headlights, fog lights, front and rear turn signals, brake lights, tail lights, and even market lights. Run a test of all light modes and replace blown bulbs if necessary.

5. Test The Security System

A great security system should prevent break-ins and protect your teenager when necessary. Since many modern trucks come with ‘panic modes’ on their key remotes, simply press the panic button to ensure the alarm sounds are functional. You can also provide additional security like a steering lock to bolster protection.

6. Accessorize

Although your teen will most likely accessorize their new truck to suit their taste, you can still provide necessary accessories to protect your child and their new truck. Some essentials truck parts you can invest in include:

• Truck bumpers
• Rocker panels and body side molding
• A tool kit
• Emergency supplies
• Floor mats and foootmat liners

Before You Go

Preparing your teen for their first truck or Jeep can be a nerve-wracking ordeal, especially if the teen is fresh behind the wheel. However, preparing the truck with the tops above will offer reassurance of your child’s protection and comfort in their four-wheeler.

While all tips are practical, it is most practical to ensure you choose the right Jeep or truck for your teen. Compare truck pros & cons and consider your budget. After all, deciding on your child’s ride is a crucial decision that will determine how they navigate life on their own. Need a full check up on your new or preowned purchase or new truck accessories just give us a call at Tuff Truck Parts.