If you are in need of a serious off-roading truck with amazing awesome towing power, a 4×4 diesel truck is a perfect choice. Diesel trucks are work mules, often overbuilt in order to take thorough thrashing in a work environment without breaking down. They are more often better at towing and off the road than most SUVs.
They are so good you can rarely go wrong when buying used lifted diesel trucks. Actually, buying used is a good idea – especially if you will be doing a lot of bodywork wrecking off-roading.
The biggest thing people look at when buying second hand is mileage. This is sometimes a simple way to gauge how much proverbial steam is left in the diesel truck.
How Much Mileage is Too Much?
Diesel engines are versatile and can keep pulling for thousands of miles as long as you take good care of them. A used diesel truck with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer is a great find. You should get worried and pay more attention when the readings start approaching 200K miles.
While avoiding high mileage diesel trucks is understandable, you might still get a good deal even if you buy a truck well beyond 200K miles. Here are some things to do to get a good deal and get perfect service from your new truck.
Scrutinize the Service Documentation
Well-maintained diesel trucks can easily hit 800k miles without showing signs of running out of torque and horsepower. Going through the recent owner’s service records with your mechanic will give you an idea of how well serviced the truck is.
If the seller has documentation showing a good servicing history or recent engine and transmission overhaul, you can expect the truck to serve you well for thousands of miles. Such trucks will, however, cost a bit more.
Have a Mechanic Go Through the Truck Before Buying
Never buy a used truck without getting an opinion from your mechanic. Service records can be falsified. Only a physical inspection can guarantee that the truck is in good working condition.
It will do you no harm to service the engine and transmission before you hit the road especially if the two components haven’t been worked on recently.
Don’t Forget the Chassis
Many second-hand buyers focus too much on the engine and transmission while totally ignoring the suspension. You have to inspect the shocks, steering components, the brakes, bushings and other components of the chassis to ensure that they are in good condition.
Use the results of your inspection to price the truck by chopping off the cost of fixing any obvious damage or wear on the suspension. Don’t pay too much attention to the bodywork. It’s a used truck. No one expects it to be in mint condition.
Buying a second-hand vehicle is always a gamble. However, you can stay in the know and anticipate repairs or replacements by doing a proper inspection before sealing the deal. This will not only help you price the used truck but also know what to expect of it once you start off-roading or towing with it.