Progression SLOW. Or I am not playing the game "right".

[Consuela]

I can't get tires for those old trucks I am finding in Michigan, so I can't use them for achieving anything. I can't get trucks out of the water because I have no trucks with mud tires. I can't get tires because I am level 4. I have been playing for 20 hours. I've done a bunch of tasks and missions. I've been using the Scout 800 to lug around cargo across the map. ♥♥♥♥ am I doing wrong?

I have DLC heavy trucks in my garage but I refuse to use them. I didn't earn them. If I didn't spend money on their DLC I wouldn't have those trucks, and what would I do then? How do I play the game properly? Not a single vehicle in this mud ridden landscape comes with mud tires.

What do I do?

[ToreDL87]

You need higher level to buy the tires, usually level 6-7 should net you good enough offroad tires that you dont instantly get stuck.
Transmissions and locked axles aren't modeled even closely to real life in this game, so use trees to winch a lot, stay to one side of the muddy roads where you get more grip at least on one side and can use trees for winch points.

[Wizard]

I get what you're saying about using the DLC trucks, but either way, you're still looking at hundreds of hours of game, if you stick with it. And, those DLC trucks are going to get stuck too.

If I remember correctly, you unlock mud tires at level 12, and that's when the game really opens up.

[Consuela]

So, is it supposed to take this long to level up, to be able to buy tires? Because if so, I better go play the game.

i'm just gonna google how to level up efficiently. Then I can have tires. I just want tires.

[Ultum]

Been there, and feel your pain.

If you find the upgrade for any raised suspensions, especially for the Fleestar, you can put larger tires that make a surprising difference.

Next…not sure if any of these are spoilers…but you could try and recover the Tyaga. I won’t give away the location, but it will help move you past where you are stuck. There’s also running the food delivery mission on the very first map with the Fleetstar until you level, although I admit, that’s a bit grindy.

Also, the Loadstar is available for purchase in the shop and is a worthy scout.

[v1per]

Yes it is slow, is like a RPG in that regard. My recomemdation is to get as soon as posible the P16 and equip your fleetstar with a raised suspention kit and 43' highway wheels.
With that you can clear black river very easily and get to level 8 and buy better tires.

[ToreDL87]

Alternatively get the P16, sell it for the P12 (which has more equipment AND all wheel drive)

[Eagle Eye]

I usually do missions across all 3 of the original regions when I first start a new game.

I will always by the Azov from the Taymyr region as soon as I raise the 90,000 odd dollars it takes to buy it, as it comes with all terrain tyres.

Sell off those DLC trucks and use the money for this truck if you want too.

Do all the easier missions across all the regions to build up your level.

Hunt out the upgrades, there are maps available to help if you need hints..

https://www.maprunner.info/

There are a heap of youtube videos for beginners to watch, including some I have posted..

Good luck..

[Holyvision]

If you are playing the career-mode/actual-game-mode/hard-mode then yes it's slow going but rewarding, the start is the hardest part.

If you are playing the arcade/sandbox/easy mode, then you get free and instant access to the DLC trucks and Mod trucks you may install, so it's extremely easy right from the start. Even if you restrict to non-DLC stuff, you get free recovery, fuel, repairs, loading of cargo, and can sell excess trailers for upgrade money (also get to sell stuff at 100% value and not 50%), and if you sell the DLC stuff it's like starting with a huge boost from the start. Once you hit level ~8-10 the sandbox feeling kicks in for sure.

I normally recommend just playing the tutorial on easy-mode (up until garage is unlocked) then restart on hard mode if you want the real game experience. Especially if you like the running-a-company feel of Farming Simulators and Truck Simulators.

[SaxonRaider]

i'll give you a tip, use your fleetstar, at the farm on the first map, theres a box giving a timed challenge to deliver consumables to the drilling site. first you'll need 2 wood planks to build the bridge across, after that, do the timed challenge, load the consumables before you start the task, you can cut a few corners in this challenge and avoid the mud puddles quite easily, it will net you nearly enough xp to level up on hard mode, but on easy mode which is what you are playing because you were given the DLC trucks, you can do it more than 3 times (the limit of attempts is hard mode only) you can basically get to level 25+ just doing this 1 run over and over. and its doable with road tyres and standard gearbox right from the start.

[Consuela]

Ok. Alright. If that's the way it is, then I'm restarting into hard mode. I didn't even realise I was in easy mode. I played hard mode in Spintires and Mud Runner. I love these games. This sounds even harder than them because of the money management. So be it. I took people's advice here and used the Fleetstar and, sure enough, with raised suspension and bigger road tires was able to haul 1 load of metal beams in the truck and 2 loads of bricks in a trailer I was hauling. And it was so much faster than the scouts while doing it. So, good. Took me 25 hours to try it but I am glad I found out that the Fleetstar is useful, and that I should be more open minded and give these things a chance before dismissing them. Again, I love these games. Let's see how Hard mode is.

[Consuela]

Wow. They are not messing around with hard mode. This is going to be brutalising financially.

[Bill]

There's an International Fleetstar F2070A near the garage that's broken down. Fix it up enough to get it to the garage it's right next to and you got yourself an actual truck that can do work that has a locking dif and AWD.

[Consuela]

Originally posted by Bill:

There's an International Fleetstar F2070A near the garage that's broken down. Fix it up enough to get it to the garage it's right next to and you got yourself an actual truck that can do work that has a locking dif and AWD.

Oy, I didn't think of that. I can just pull it into place! When I first started in hard mode, I got into the Fleetstar and hit the recover button, and panicked at the price. I guess all the broken down ones can be pulled to the garage. More fun even! Thanks guys.

But repair is $5000 for the Fleetstar. Should I do that immediately? I feel like I should because it will be money well spent on a vehicle that can be a primary workhorse for now. Again, I've been using scouts on all these missions for 20 hours. SLOW

I do notice I am playing way more carefully now though, as to not crash and damage and tip over. I've set up some vehicles in strategic locations for rescue purposes. And I'm looking into finding and positioning fuel trucks or fuel trailers. I love this game so ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ much.

[Rickenbacker]

Originally posted by KrYsis:

But repair is $5000 for the Fleetstar. Should I do that immediately? I feel like I should because it will be money well spent on a vehicle that can be a primary workhorse for now. Again, I've been using scouts on all these missions for 20 hours. SLOW

I do notice I am playing way more carefully now though, as to not crash and damage and tip over. I've set up some vehicles in strategic locations for rescue purposes. And I'm looking into finding and positioning fuel trucks or fuel trailers. I love this game so ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ much.

Find a repair trailer, there's one by the garage on the first Michigan map. With that you can repair only the broken stuff, which is much cheaper. Unfortunately that won't fix the visual appearance, though. :/

In Hard mode, some maps have repair point refill stations - in Michigan I think only Smithville Dam has one, right next to the middle warehouse. Use that to refill your repair trailers/attachments.

[Consuela]

Originally posted by Rickenbacker:

Originally posted by KrYsis:

Find a repair trailer, there's one by the garage on the first Michigan map. With that you can repair only the broken stuff, which is much cheaper. Unfortunately that won't fix the visual appearance, though. :/

In Hard mode, some maps have repair point refill stations - in Michigan I think only Smithville Dam has one, right next to the middle warehouse. Use that to refill your repair trailers/attachments.

This is really good to know, thanks.

For anyone still reading this thread, What should I do with the Chevrolet Kodiak C70 and the GMC MH9500?