Buying a Semi Truck is never easy especially when you want to buy used semi truck. When you are buying a new semi truck it is easier because you don’t have doubts’ about the functionality of the truck and the equipment.
However in most of the cases many people are choosing to buy used semi truck over the new truck to save money but in these cases you need to perform detailed truck inspection in order to protect yourself from additional repair expenses or in the worst case from ending with a used semi truck that can’t be properly repaired to serve you well.
In this article I will list 20 things that need to be checked before you decide to buy a used semi truck, so let’s start.
1. Check if Someone of Your Friends Have a Used Semi Truck for Selling
When you want to buy used semi truck first thing that you need to do is contact your friends and ask if they have a used semi truck for selling.
Buying from people that you personally know is always a step forward from a good deal. That person will never sell you a used semi truck that is in a bad shape.
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First and the most important they will inform you about the history of that used semi truck and the possible problems that you may face in future and next may give you a good friendly price.
We all know how the selling of used vehicles is performed. In the first look, the used semi truck can be extremely polished that you won’t be able to notice the cracks of that deal until is too late.
Anyway a person that you know will never sell you a story how that truck is in the perfection shape if that is not a true, he will point the negative side and let you decide if you still want to but that used semi truck or he will honestly tell you ,,Sorry but this used semi truck is not for you”
2. Check the Online Platforms
If you can’t find a friend that is selling used semi truck the second option is to check the online platforms.
These platforms are great for finding used semi truck. The cool thing is that you can search through hundreds of trucks and choose the one used semi truck that fulfills your needs.
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These online platforms can make the job easier since you have the information like
- Power of the truck engine
- Information about the 1st Registration
- Capacity
- Mileage …
But wait… after you find the right used semi truck for you now you need to go there and check the condition in person. You saved precious time for searching and now you need to be careful with the checkups.
3. Check the Papers
Check the papers to see if they match with the used semi truck that you have in front of you. Respect everybody but most of all yourself. Don’t let the flow take you away from the important things. Always trust the facts, not the face.
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Be present and don’t let be charmed and disrupt from the important things.
4. Check the Truck Surface for Rust
This step is very important and needs to be made because if the surface of the used truck is rusted the safety of the load is compromised. The rusted truck surface can make your semi truck to be not reliable for transportation.
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- Check the surface of the used semi truck in daylight, and do that very carefully and detailed. I will tell you that the rust checks are the first things that the dealerships are inspecting on a used semi truck so you conclude how important is to make this right.
- Be aware that the rust may be under the surface and not easy for revealing. Lean your head to check the surface for raised spots and if you find one know that one sneaky rusty spot is hiding from you under that bubble.
5. Know the Reasons for Selling
Asking direct questions especially when you are face to face with the person that you are expecting the answer is the number one tactic to get the honest answer even if the person is not telling you the truth. The body language will tell the right information.
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Remember it is your right to know what happened to that used semi truck before ending up in that lot. Everything you need to do is to ask the question and wait for the reaction. Like I said before be focused and don’t let to be charmed with that salesman talk.
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If he tries to change the subject be aware that he might be hiding some defects that can cost you a lot if you decide to buy that used semi truck.
6. Check the Doors and the Windows
Check every part of the used truck that can be opened. Defects of these parts can be a sign of bad maintenance of the trucks. If the previous owner didn’t care for the doors he might not be that concern for the other parts of the truck.
Source: truckdrivingindustry.blogspot.com
However, for the doors and the windows important thing is to be in perfect shape because if the air circling in and out it will affect your health and it will slow the truck down which will affect the consumption of the truck.
Be sure that the door panels of the used semi truck are a perfect fit and properly fixed on the joints.
7. Check the Truck Tires For Cracks or Defects
Checking the tires for proper tread is the first thing that you need to perform when you are checking the truck tires of one used semi truck but… don’t forget to check the tires for cracks and other deformities.
The defects can be sign for:
- Overloaded truck
- Underinflated tires
- Truck that was parked on wet places/moisture
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Let be honest, you need used semi truck in good condition, not a truck that can harm you and harm the other participants on the traffic. The tires are the parts of the used semi truck that are connected to the highway and sudden tire blow can cause chained road catastrophe.