How to Buy Used Trucks – The Six Tips That Will Get You the Right Vehicle

Use these tips to figure out what you need to check before you spend your cash on a used truck.

Buying a used truck comes with so many more complications than buying one that’s brand new.

The vehicle’s already been on the road, perhaps for several years by the time you see it. That means it’s undergone a bunch of wear and tear that you have to watch out for.

Failure the spot this stuff could lead to you overpaying on a used truck or vehicle.

That’s what happened to this forum participant’s unfortunate sister…

The buyer wanted to get her hands on a used Jeep. She went to a dealer because she assumed she could trust a truck from an official source. She even had a mechanic give the vehicle a quick once over and it came back with a clean bill of health.

Nearly $12,000 changed hands…

And within two weeks, the vehicle started presenting problems. The oil pressure seemed low and the engine started having trouble.

A trip to a different mechanic resulted in the verdict that the engine was basically shot.

Now, the buyer needs to spend thousands of dollars to repair and replace the engine.

The key thing to remember when you buy used trucks is that it’s a buyer-beware situation. The onus is on you to check everything about the item you are attempting to buy.

That’s where these tips come in.

These are the things you need to keep in mind when you’re attempting to add a used truck to your garage.

Tip #1 – Review the Maintenance History

You’ve got your eye on a truck and it’s drawing you in. The cab chassis is in great condition and it’s even a turbo-diesel model. You can already see yourself driving it away from the dealer and spending hours on the road with it.

But you need to take all of that emotion out of the equation. You have to be clinical when you’re buying used trucks if you want to avoid the situation that our buyer from earlier experienced.

First of all, you should always review the truck’s maintenance history. You want to see that the previous owners maintained it to the correct standard and that it’s had no major problems.

If you do see signs of a major issue, you have to quiz the seller to find out what it was and what they did to fix it. In an ideal situation, the truck will still be under its factory warranty.

Tip #2 – Find Out Why it’s Getting Sold

The seller’s motivation is a key piece of information when you’re buying used trucks. You need to find out why they’re selling before you think about handing over any money.

In most cases, the seller probably just wants to buy an upgrade. For example, they may want to go from medium duty models to heavy-duty ones. This usually means that the vehicle won’t have any issues.

However, you have a reason to feel concerned if the seller won’t tell you why they’re selling. This is a red flag because it suggests that there’s a problem with the truck that they don’t want to tell you about.

Tip #3 – Check for Signs of Rust

This is a pretty basic tip, but it’s also one that many buyers don’t carry out fully. Or, you may not know what rust looks like when it hasn’t yet broken through the paint.

Look for any raised or knobbly areas of paint on the vehicle. It’s possible that there’s rust growing underneath the paint that’ll be costly to take care of later on.

Check the whole exterior, paying particular attention to wheel arches and other hard-to-reach areas.

Tip #4 – Find a Reliable Parts Supplier

This is a particularly important tip if you’re buying an older used truck.

It’s possible that the parts you might need for repairs aren’t on the market anymore. If the model’s gone through several upgrades, you might find it tough to get working parts.

That’s why you need to find a reliable parts supplier before you buy.

You don’t want to be in a situation where the truck starts experiencing issues and you can’t find what you need to repair it.

Tip #5 – Always Look Underneath the Truck

Great bodywork may hide the absolute horror show that’s happening on the truck’s undercarriage. That means it’s crucial that you get underneath the truck to check for signs of wear or damage.

There are a few things to look out for here:

• Again, you’re looking for signs of rust on everything from the axles and springs through to the frame. As a general rule of thumb, any rust that you can poke your finger through is enough rust to tell you not to buy the truck.
• Conduct checks on all of the steering components and the brakes. Any signs of wear should drive the price down.
• Look for signs of leaks. If you can see anything pooling on the floor beneath the truck, there’s likely a problem that needs dealing with.

Tip #6 – Start the Engine

Never buy used trucks without starting them up first. Ideally, you’ll be able to take the truck on a test drive before you buy.

Obviously, you want to check for the smoothness of the ride and the quality of the suspension as you drive. However, it’s also important that you listen to the engine. You’re listening for any knocks or thuds, as these indicate problems with the connecting-rod bearing or the crankshaft.

Also, allow the vehicle to sit idle for a while with the engine started. Most trucks have a high idle setting so a lower setting indicates that there’s a problem with the engine.

Protect Yourself When You Buy Used Trucks

Always remember that the onus is on you to make sure you’re getting a good deal when you buy used trucks. That means you have to conduct extensive checks, especially when buying from an individual seller. In these situations, you often can’t return the truck after you’ve committed to the purchase.

Buying from a reliable seller is your paramount concern.

Head to our website today to check out our range of used trucks. And if you have any questions, just get in touch with the team to find the answers.