What is one maintenance habit that has helped your truck last longer?

[lucasjames]

I’m curious what other truck owners do to keep their trucks running well for the long term. Do you stick closely to the maintenance schedule, change fluids early, inspect things yourself, or have another habit that has made a difference?

What maintenance practice would you recommend to someone who wants to keep their truck reliable for many years?

 

[EvanGrande]

Good question. The one habit that's kept my Tundra out of the shop isn't glamorous, it's greasing the driveshaft U joints and zerk fittings on a schedule instead of waiting for the squeak. Once those dry out you're buying a whole driveshaft, and the part is cheap but the labor is not.

The other one is I re torque my lug nuts with a real torque wrench after any shop touches the wheels. Those guys love the impact gun and you'll crack a stud or warp a rotor before you feel it. Ten quiet minutes with a torque wrench beats a roadside surprise.

What do you drive, and are you a by the book interval person or a check it when it sounds wrong person?