Truck buying experience at Ritchie Bros. good/bad?

Not usually, they are.

But some states have stimulus incentives, and you can avoid sales tax as well.

 

I to have drove penske trucks and I guess it could depend on the location but I wouldn’t buy one from them. I couldn’t get anything fixed without a hassle and then it would be half done. Yea they might have some service records but if it’s not serviced correctly what good are the records. I couldn’t even get a windshield wiper replaced.

 

I found a couple of decent trucks from RB. You have to do your homework - do an in person inspection and I would focus on trucks that have maintenance records. You can preview the trucks before the auction. They will let you start it but I think you are only supposed to drive it back and forth a few feet. When I visited the lot I was the only one there that day and they allowed me to drive the truck within the yard.
I was able to find several Penske trucks that had good maintenance records. I was outbid on a Freightliner but I picked up a 2012 Volvo for a fair price.
The truck was from Penske and leased to UPS its whole life. The maintenance records, engine and exterior all looked good. However, the interior looked like it had not been cleaned since it was new. I suspect that's why Penske sent it to auction instead of selling it themselves. They had the same year truck with the same miles on their lot marked for $15k more than I paid at auction. It took me 2 days of solid cleaning to get the interior back to presentable. Now I just need a set of seat covers and the truck will look almost like new.

 

Richie brothers is an auction house. You need eyes on the ground to look at the truck. I have bought four from them, each one no one bid on them and I got them as no reserve for cheap.

Like I said, you need eyes on the ground with them.

 

Not really. Main difference between lease and buy. Is 100% deduction in the year it happens. Vs depreciation (which by the way your first year you can take a HUGE amount)

 

I have a relative that only ever bought his trucks at RB in Nisku, AB. He only lived 30 mins away, he would go the day before to check them out, fire them up and crawl under them.
Over the years he bought three there. Never had any real issues with them afterwards, just standard old truck maintenance wear and tear stuff.
He only put up his hand to bid if the price was cheap.

 

Yes. A 10 speed will work fine.