mechanic to check used truck out

If that was the ONLY truck you're considering, jump in your car and check it out. Take it to a mechanic or dealer yourself. If I was going to buy a truck, I'd be sure to check it out myself 1st. In fact, that's exactly what I did when I bought my Pete. Made the 395 mile drive from the Omaha NE area up to Rogers MN.

 

Consider this when hiring a "mobile mechanic" or someone outside your co to inspect a truck for you. Can you guarantee he isn't being paid a little "gift" by the seller to "overlook" a few items? Can you guarantee he even knows what to look for beyond the obvious?

It is dang near impossible to thoroughly inspect a used truck that's sitting on the seller's property and they're dang sure not gonna give you bay space. That's why I tell you go yourself and pay a competing brand shop to do inspection for you. It's in their best interest to find every little thing.

 

That works if you are buying an airplane, A&P guys are militant about their integrity. But ASE guys are not as worried, cause if something breaks in the truck you can just pull over. Not that easy in a Cessna at 6500ft.

 

Its only a tank of gas there and a tank of gas back, go look at it. Thats much cheaper than a $15K rebuild down the road.

 

I dont think anyone is going to do it for a $100 you best bet is to go to it and check it out for yourself. But if you really just want to throw away $100 give it to me and I will make up something to tell you. Just tell me where it is and I'll give them a call and ask what kind of condiction its in and I'll tell you the same thing they tell me. If you do find a small local shop chances are that the mechanic knows the guy get slipped a $100 to tell you its in great shape now he has made $200. And still you know no more than you know now. Spend a little gas money when you get there take it to a dealer have them check it out it could be well worth the investment and you can right it off

 

Where is the truck at?

 

I am real but it's sounding more and more like you have no idea what you're doing. Sooo, my considered advice to you is to forget whatever it is you're planning. You're quite probably gonna fail because you don't have the basic skills and knowledge.

For anyone out there who, is serious about this; my advice stands. If some "dealer" objects to your taking the proposed sale to an independant inspector of your choice..... walk away.

This is not buying a used car or some other incidental purchase. You are laying out a large piece of money for a piece of equipment that is going to be your livelihood. You need to be as careful in it's purchase as you would buying a house.

Realize that the "dealer" has far better skills than you do in making this sale; it's what he does for a living. You have to be real sharp in your dealings to negate his advantages. That's why you never just look at one truck and one dealer. You gotta play one against the other. Take your time; don't lock yourself into the "it's gotta be done today" mode.

Because, ultimately, you just have one big advantage in this process that he can't counter.... the ability to say "Sorry...NO THANKS".

Wish I'd had someone to teach me this before I bought the "great looking truck with a total rebuilt engine" that cost me everything.

 

This is great advice, shouldn't even have to be said. The same should go for even buying a car. But a truck? By all means, you should have the ability to take it to another dealer, independent mechanic or your Uncle Charlie. If you're not allowed to, run, don't walk away from this situation. To me it's obvious the seller has something to hide.

 

I found my truck in Dakota MN. Thats about 4hrs from here. Made the trip back/forth 4 times before I bought the rig. He didnt clean the engine (which is good) so I could see what I was looking at....I had no one to hire in that area and as most of you know, I dont know an independent diesel tech. (I worked at Ford for 2yrs as a line mechanic but didn't work on diesels).

So, you go with your gut I guess. I looked over the rig, asked for receipts for work done and generally "studied" the seller. It was posted on Craigslist by the way.
Typically, you can tell if someone is telling the truth or not. When we took it for a test drive, the 1st time out, I had HIM drive it, so I could listen and study the rig w/o being concerned about driving. We took it over 100MPH and she was rock solid. No wind or driveline noise at all.....

That's about all I can offer here..but I know what it's like in your situation. This is a risk buying further away than home, but that doesn't mean you cant win.

I looked at a W9 out in Las Vegas (over the internet) and we chatted a good deal. I called all of the shops in the area. No one would go out and look at it for me. I planned a trip out there but he sold the rig before I could visit - no hard feelings as I wasnt going to put a deposit on something sight unseen.

Follow your gut but dont let your emotions get in the way.....It can be the prettiest rig and toss you right into bankruptcy with work...
(I have spent 100% more on rig repairs than I paid for it..but I got it for such a good deal, it didn't matter...)