Is buying a used but rebuilt semi truck a good deal?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Regional, Apr 21, 2020.

  1. Regional

    Regional Light Load Member

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    I have always seen people say buying a new truck is the best way to go. But is buying a used truck with a rebuilt engine good as well that after the overhaul has around 200,000 miles?
     
  2. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    could be a great deal. you would want ALL paperwork, outlining the work done, any warranty, parts replaced, how many owners, any salvage titled, etc..

    someone just pressure washing the engine and painting it, is not a rebuild
     
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  3. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    Frankly I don’t know why anyone would want to start off with a new truck, 2000 and down with an n14 or even a Detroit that you can pay cash for, which will actually run
     
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  4. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    You're looking at dump trucks, right?

    200,000 miles is A LOT of use on a dump truck. Bet there's close to 8,000 hours on the rebuild.
     
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  5. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Yeah dirt trucks get a lot of off road abuse with dust etc. A truck with 200k on a rebuild means it probably had close to a million when they did the rebuild. You need to know just what was done on the rebuild exactly. There's a difference between a new crank shaft and "turning" the old one as an example.
     
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  6. lovesthedrive

    lovesthedrive R.I.P.

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    Do a internet search onn the vin#. If the company had it rebuilt at a regular shop, the history can be viewed in the search.
     
  7. REO6205

    REO6205 Road Train Member

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    Looking at engine hours on a local or off road truck is a much better way to determine usage.
    Our shop determines maintenance intervals and fuel consumed on hours instead of miles.
    It wouldn't work for everybody but it's better for us. The off road trucks might work a fourteen hour day and travel less than two hundred miles.
     
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  8. spindrift

    spindrift Road Train Member

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    Pull the ECM data.
     
  9. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Exactly why I NEVER use miles for anything engine related. Drivetrain for sure but it makes no sense to use it for engine. Even for OTR trucks. One truck might run 500 miles in a 12 hour day and get shut down for the night. Another might cover the same miles over 12 hours but then idle for 10 hours. Can't tell me those 10 hours of idle time every night don't contribute to wear.
     
  10. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    Used trucks that can work in California are a unicorn.......

    Good luck finding one.