Must do's when buying used trucks.

I do agree with your general assessment.
I do not agree by not doing these things makes the mechanic any less passionate or prideful. It could be a cheap or broke owner can't afford these items or a dealer trying to make a quick flip.
Like you explained, not all overhauls are the same.

Keep the purchase price below $20,000. So if the motor or other major mechanical problems arise. Your not losing on the deal.

I prefer to purchase trucks from others that are selling due to reasons other than losing financially. If one is selling truck because of lack of money. Most likely the maintenance was a bit lacking.

If someone is selling a truck because they got a sudden medical problem or divorce or dui.
All three scenarios I have purchased excellent trucks. Well kept and in good condition because those O/O's planned on being in business for along time and did not skimp on truck repairs or preventive maintenance.

Good luck shopping.

 

Now what does one do in the event that the driver overhauled the engine themselves? Ask for copies of parts invoices?

 

Yes the reply I usually get when asking a mechanic (not the shop supervisor) about repairs.
option 1. To save money you can do this, that and the other thing.
Option 2 mechanic says if it was my truck, I would do this that and the other thing.
Usually not the same answer.
Good mechanics know what to spend money on and the things that will last and replacing parts that aren't necessary, when a gasket or o-ring might do.

 

Yes, I would.

 

Definitely don't forget to kick the tires!

 

when i bought my truck it came with a 4-5 page invoice on the inframe that was done on it. i retained this copy for my records. it also came with a copy of the complete service records for the time the previous owner had it.

can't tell you how many people selling trucks that claimed to have in frame done but when you ask for a copy of the invoice, they claim to not have them available. i call bs seems everyone that has a high millage truck that still runs good trys to pass it off as having been rebuilt

the only thing that wasn't done on the in frame on my truck was they didn't do the cam, had it been me i would have done that. but then again the invoice on the inframe that had been done about 100k miles before i bought the truck totaled over 2/3rds of what i paid for the entire truck so im not really complaining.

on in frames done by dealers to fix a truck in order to sell it. you have to cut corners only do the bear minimum to make it run right. in order to have any shot of making a profit. and even then your probably still going to be sitting on it for months i have spent some time in the used car business its real easy to end up with more in a car than you can even ask for it and then after all that someone is going to offer you even less than that. so you have to take that into consideration.

i would pay more for a truck like i bought with full documentation quality in frame done by a reputable shop. than i would for a dealer repair "rebiuld" and i would pay more for that than i would a million mile truck that had never been touched. but really when you compare the three your probably only looking at a spread of 5-6k in asking price all else being equal. and if your buying from a privet seller you may even get that good in-frame truck cheaper than you would the truck with the flip rebuild from a dealer.

so my advice when looking for a used truck is take your time and buy the right truck rather than the right now truck.

 

Oh,Boy where do I begin,well for starters,i believe in "If you show me a little,then that tells me a whole lot"

PAPERWORK DOESNT MEAN #### to me you want PAPERWORK,Sure tell me What you want it to say and I'll have my Secretary Type it and Print it up,What else you need? Should I say more?..lmao

I check everything from A-Z,all fluids,rear end,brakes drums,steering linkage,power steering ,run a dyno,Oil sample,bring it to my guy n get him to drop the oil pan,pull the bearings,i get EXACT % of how much bearing life yet,chances are if there good at the bottom,there good at the top end,& I dont mean just HEAD and valves,then chances are the camshaft & crank bearings are good to unless it's been unframed & I'm like the op,I assume it hasn't been done until I have it done.

my mechanic lives close by & we have a GREAT UNDERSTANDING,& money is not a issue when it comes down to my business,he knows it,

i check for blowby ,idle sound,stacks blowing out black,white or grey smoke,they all mean different things,im listening for air to kick off after 120psi,im looking to see if it's been greased or not,cab airbags,rear end airbags,hoses and lines on rear end heading up to 5th wheel,Spring bushings,Dogbone bushings,checking under cab,exhaust leaks,what color is the diesel how do it smell,is it normal?Clutch fan does it stay on after x amount of time and kicks off,does the fan lock up after proper psi is built up?

belts,hoses,ac heater,top bunk bottom, does the fans come on,windows for leaks round the gasket,test drive it,how do it shift how do it sound,what the gauges look like after up to normal operating temps,oil pressure,battery voltage,plug up my electrical device to the cpu,check the HOS on the entire system,hell I can even cut each injector off 1 by 1,in this business you better have the proper tools,

are there windshield cracks,the odor of the truck is it kept well inside,do all wipers and all electric components work properly,do the cabinets lock,how does under the bed look,is it wet or dry under Neath,its possible there could be a leak somewhere when it rains that I don't kno about? Is the turbo leaking oil,any rust spots around radiator or condenser?

I do a 1000 point FULL INSPECTION.PERIOD

LISTEN I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE MAY SAY,OK U GOING A BIT OVER BOARD,& YOU WILL PROBABLY BE WITH THE PERCENTAGE THAT EITHER A.NEVER OWNED A TRUCK B.WANT TO BUY A TRUCK AND DONT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT A TRUCK or C.FIGURE IT AINT MINES SO WHY THE HELL SHOULD I EVEN BOTHER WITH ALL THAT CRAP...BUT..BUT..AND THATS A BIG BUT..IF YOU EVER BOUGHT A TRUCK,OR PAID YOUR HARD EARNED CASH FOR A TRUCK,JUST TO DRIVE THE MOTHRFORYA! OFF THE LOT AND WEEKS LATER EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE,$1000s of DOLLARS

,THEN YOULL WILL THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND MY POINT..

ONCE you sign that paperwork,i don't care if it has a Warranty,or not and specially you L/P GUYS,yall get it the worst,,IF IT AINT FIXED RIGHT BEFORE I SIGN,,THEN I DONT sign Jack until it's the way I want it,you know why?

BECAUSE ITS MY MONEY, have you ever PAID someone before they did the work for you for anything? Truck related or not? It's hard getting them to go back and redo any thing,& the 1 st thing they'll say is well,we booked it's gonna be next week before we can get to you,or "WELL WHY DID U SIGN FOR SOMETHING"if it wasn't to your liking...I'm speaking from EXPERIENCE,&

all ima say is "BEEN THERE DONE THAT" & whoever dont like you to check All that stuff out,MUST HAVE A REASON ON WHY THEY WANT YOU TOO...LISTEN TO ME,IM SPEAKING FRoM EXPERIENCE

So Op I Totally understand where your coming from!

Stay safe out there!