pre purchase inspection list

This sounds like a very bad idea to me, and I've bought three trailers based on photos in the past, so I'm no stranger to it. A truck is a different animal though. Too much to go wrong being inspected by someone who has no financial stake in it, much less asking YOU for a checklist. Good Luck.

 

I would never buy a truck without personally checking it out...hope it works out for ya.

 

This is kinda like getting a mail ordered bride. Good Luck!

 

I've been struggling with this over a sight-unseen trailer purchase. A couple of recent examples with truck shopping is why I wouldn't do this on a truck. It comes down to how well you trust that 3rd party to provide the same quality input you would get with your own eyes on the equipment and butt in the seat. When it's not your money, things are easier to overlook.

My advice if you choose to do this, would be to create your own checklist based on documenting your inspection and test drive on another truck. Start with one of the many pre-trip checklists and be sure to add those subjective things (how does it feel versus is it broken or not) and use cases that might be unique to your operation, or the type of truck you are looking at buying.

I know you said this isn't your first time buying. On the other hand there's stuff you look for that aren't crisp enough for a checklist, or maybe a minor thing that leads to something else. It would make for another long post, but something like a suspicious looking airbag drawing my attention to one thing after another and finding a major brake problem. Here's what I've been through the past month and why I wouldn't depend on a 3rd party inspection:

Last week I test drove two trucks, identically spec'd FL Centuries. Both detailed out nice and pass a thorough pre-trip inspection.

Truck #1 had slightly lower miles. On the test drive it had (in my opinion) extraordinary vibration under load. Someone else might not think so and chalk it up to "they all do that." After fiddling with it on the road, I'm guessing either loose main bearings or transmission input shaft/bearings. I passed. Let someone else suffer that one.

Truck #2 had a couple of "checklist" items after the test drive, but ran out good otherwise. Jakes and cruise inop - simple dealer fixes. Probably a clutch or brake switch causing both. However, back in the parking lot, I looked it over again. Some oil was spitting on the right side rear of the engine compartment. Valve cover gasket? Loose oil line? I liked this one otherwise and made an offer contingent on noted faults, stuffing a PM and overhead into the deal. Dealer checked it out and we're now negotiating a new turbo into the deal. If they pick up half I'll still buy it and have peace of mind with a brand new turbo hanging in there. Otherwise I'll walk away on principle and let someone else pay full price for the additional repair. Would the 3rd party have thought to take the second look? Would the oil spatter have appeared on a dyno run versus a 70 mph trip down the freeway?

A month ago I came this --><-- close to making an offer at a different dealer. It was a low mile Pete 387 that was a little rough. On the test drive something in the left front was rattling pretty bad on bumps. Without further inspection, it could have been as simple as a misaligned hood or major steering/suspension issues. Since it would have been at my budget limit with brakes/tires it already needed, I decided to pass and avoid an unknown further budget hit on the front end stuff. I have the money to overhaul the whole front end, but that is not in my business plan. I have enough unscheduled expenses without adding new ones. Once again, that rattle may be perceived differently by someone else.