If you’ve ever looked for a decent used truck, you’ve undoubtedly been frustrated by how difficult they are to come by. Why is it so difficult to find a nice used truck? What should you check for when buying a used truck if you want to make a go of it?
Limited supply of used trucks
It’s true that locating and purchasing a used pickup truck is far more difficult than finding and purchasing a used vehicle. SUVs, vans, and minivans all use the same amount of gas as a standard pickup truck. They have a payload capability of 1,500-3,000 pounds and a towing capacity of around 12,000 pounds. Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, RAM 1500, Nissan Titan, and Toyota Tundra are examples of light trucks.
More wear and tear on used trucks
People like to choose pickup trucks because of what they can do—hauling and towing goods when needed—despite the poor gas mileage they receive. This dragging and pulling (or, in the case of snowplows, pushing) takes its toll on a truck’s engine, transmission, and frame. When individuals use it for work, the wear and tear might be significant.
Used trucks from rental fleets
Rental fleets bring a lot of used pickup trucks to the market. Except for the proviso of how the truck was utilized, this may or may not matter. Why would anyone want to hire a pickup truck for anything other than carrying and towing? And if that’s how it was utilized the most of the time it was rented, you’ll want to be mindful of excessive wear and strain on the engine, transmission, and frame once again. When fleets start having problems, they often offload pickup trucks onto the secondhand market, and you don’t want to inherit those problems!
When purchasing a used truck, there are a few things to keep in mind
If you want to buy a decent used pickup truck, you’ll have to work a little more than other automobile buyers because of the restricted supply and the possibility of quality concerns depending on how the truck was used. Keep in mind the following:
Towing and hauling: As previously said, a vehicle that has done a lot of towing and carrying may not be in the ideal condition, even if it appears great on the outside. You may always question the person selling the truck, but there are two drawbacks to doing so. Are they giving you the truth if it’s the vehicle’s owner? Do they even know whether it’s a dealership? Do you believe their response? This question may not have an easy solution. One thing you can do is examine a few telltale signs for yourself. You could notice a well-worn tow hitch, a license plate that appears to have been severely deformed, or wire for connecting a trailer’s brake lights into the truck’s system if the car has done a lot of towing.
Off-road use: Some trucks are frequently utilized in off-road situations. Pickup trucks often off-road into fields and other landscapes on farms and ranches. Excessive off-roading can cause the truck’s suspension, chassis, and other bottom-side components to deteriorate. This is why looking beneath the hood of a secondhand truck may be really beneficial. If you notice several dents and scratches, as well as items that appear to have been bent, you should get a second assessment of the truck’s genuine condition.
Commercial use: As previously said, many used pickup trucks reach the secondhand market after being part of a rental fleet or being acquired and employed by a variety of enterprises that require vehicles to move and tow goods around. Again, depending on how extensively or intensively the truck was used for this type of hard job, you need to pay even more attention to the truck’s condition. You’ll want as much evidence as possible from maintenance and repair records for trucks because some businesses are substantially less diligent with vehicle servicing and maintenance than private owners. Drive Off Auto Sales can help you find a good used truck for the best price.