Repairing and modifying the truck | Driving your truck across the States American Truck Simulator Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Car repair shop
Your vehicle needs attention and care. Its parts are not everlasting and sometimes you need to visit a car repair shop to fix them. In case of accident the damage may be more serious and repairs more expensive.
In a car repair shop you may check the truck customization tool to modify settings of a cabin, chassis, accessories or an engine. The same customization tool is available when you buy a new truck from a truck dealer. Available options depend on the current driver level as well as on the truck make.
Each city has a car repair shop (marked with a violet icon). Get there, park on a green icon and check available options.
You can check the vehicle condition and repair it if necessary. You may also check the truck configuration tool to modify your truck with new parts. You can also paint your truck to any color or pattern you want.
The car repair shop displays on the right the truck condition and repair costs of each element. Even if you drive carefully parts will have to be changed or repaired. Remember that the more expensive parts you buy, the more expensive will repairing it be. To repair everything click on "repair" located in the lower right corner of the screen.
Here you will also find the coinsurance. It is a form of insurance that will always pay part of the expenses.
The situation is more serious when you have an accident and damage is serious. A truck may suddenly stop, the engine may go down and do not start. When you call the emergency road service which takes you to the car repair shop, you have to be ready for higher repair costs.
Upgrades
Cabin
This upgrade does not influence driving features. It is only about the appearance. Each truck offers different options as each make has different parts.
Chassis
The chassis is a crucial element which controls the stability and turning. There are two versions of the chassis - short and long which offer the ability to install different cabins. In addition to that, you can select a chassis with increased gas tank (up to 300 gallons). Most of the trucks in USA has a 6x4 chassis.
Engine
Available engines depend on a selected truck make. However, the power is the king! The more HP the better. Pay attention to torque as well. It is expressed in Nm and RPM - the bigger Nm and smaller the RPM, the better.
Gearbox
The gearbox depends on the engine you have chosen. The more expensive, the better. A better gearbox reacts quicker to gear change. Additionally, there are gearbox with different number of gears (usually 6, 13 or 18). If you have a G25/27/29 steering wheel, you should select a gearbox with 18 gears (this will give you better control of the vehicle). If you play on keyboard, pick 6-gear gearbox. Of course you can test each type.
Interior
Each vehicle looks different inside. Few interiors are available and they only affect the aesthetics of truck's insides.
Basic color and point shop
The truck customization tool offers only colors and patterns created for that model by its producer. There are more than a dozen of paintings to choose from.
Accessories
The last tab is outside accessories. The choice is massive: other bumpers, additional mirrors, different wheels and many other things. Each wheel on the truck offers some modifications.