The content of the article:
- Wide range of
- Nuances of choice
- Subcompact or heavy truck
- Defining criterion
- Listen to the engine
- Transmission
- Undercarriage and frame
Contrary to popular belief, buying used vehicles is profitable in every sense. It's no secret that many modern vehicles are equipped with Chinese parts that are not durable. Thus, automakers reduce the cost of production. But before the cars were made conscientiously. It is for this reason that old vehicles can give odds even to a new model. In particular, this statement also applies to trucks. However, the overwhelming majority of domestic motorists continue to follow the established stereotype and acquire new cars. Although the situation is completely opposite abroad.
Nevertheless, Russian drivers are gradually beginning to adopt Western fashion. And not only them. If earlier domestic enterprises and organizations renewed their vehicle fleet at the expense of new trucks, now they are actively buying used equipment. So they manage to save considerable financial resources.
But, despite the advantages that older trucks have, they have one significant drawback. Choosing a similar technique, the car enthusiast actually buys a "pig in a poke". There is a high probability that a used vehicle may soon turn into a heap of scrap that cannot be repaired.
Wide range of
Currently, many firms and companies sell old trucks. Consequently, this market is characterized by high competition, which in turn obliges sellers to sell cars in good technical condition, otherwise they risk losing their customers.
At the same time, you should not completely trust the companies that sell used trucks. A novice driver should be especially careful. Due to his inexperience, he can purchase a supported truck, which sooner or later breaks down and requires additional investment for repairs. As a result, the owner of such a vehicle will pay a considerable amount, which will be comparable in cost to a new truck.
Specialists who are well versed in used trucks will help new motorists to avoid unforeseen problems. The latter, for a certain fee, will advise the buyer, point out to him the flaws of this or that truck, and, possibly, even get a discount from the seller.
Nuances of choice
But before buying a used truck, the driver must clearly know for what purpose he needs it. If he plans to transport, for example, bulk cargo, then dumping equipment will be the best choice. If its activities are related to the supply of goods from abroad, then it is necessary to buy a tractor.
Also, motorists should pay attention to the carrying capacity. It is best to buy used cars that provide for an increase in this parameter. It is possible that later the driver will need to deliver more bulky goods.
The brand of the truck is also important. You should buy a vehicle that is economical to maintain. And it will have to be repaired quite often, because after all, this is a used car, in which various auto parts will regularly junk or completely fail.
When choosing a used truck, experts recommend first of all to assess the condition of the engine fuel system. At the same time, you should not ignore the appearance of the car. It is required to carefully inspect the vehicle frame. It may have subtle damage and rust on it.
Car enthusiasts should not forget that some owners of used trucks do not pay due attention to their vehicles. And when they put them up for sale, they try to hide the flaws of the car in front of potential buyers.
There are often cases when the same dents on the frame are simply putty and painted over.
Other tricks are used to give the impression that the used truck is in perfect condition.
This is why buying a used truck that is owned by an individual is not the most forward-thinking decision. It is best to contact one of the transport companies with a large fleet of vehicles. They will not only provide more truthful information about the used vehicle, but also show the conditions under which it was operated. Based on the data provided, the buyer will be able to make an informed and correct choice.
Subcompact or heavy truck?
It is not possible to answer this question. Everyone chooses a supported truck based on their needs and requirements. If we talk about a car, which is equipped with a small-displacement engine, then its "filling", in the sense of auto parts, and the general technical condition are of paramount importance.
As for the mileage, when choosing a subcompact truck, you should not rely on this parameter. Often, sellers of such vehicles "twist" the mileage, bringing it to the desired level. But when buying a heavy-duty truck, nothing should be overlooked.
In general, there are general recommendations for choosing used trucks, which experienced mechanics are advised to adhere to. They urge motorists not to be guided by the parameters that are reflected in the price list. For example, you might not guess with the "carrying capacity". The same dump trucks are a very specific technique.
A truck that is designed to transport construction waste simply cannot be converted into a vehicle for the delivery of rubble or other materials. Given this nuance, the buyer must clearly formulate his request, naming the seller a specific brand of dump truck and its functional purpose.
There are many nuances inherent in heavy-duty vehicles. It is extremely difficult to examine a flaw in such cars with the naked eye, which is why some motorists make a fatal mistake. History knows many examples when drivers bought a truck, which not only externally, but also internally did not cause any complaints. But 2-3 months passed, and he started to junk. All this resulted in long downtime and costly repairs.
Of course, used trucks will break down more often than new ones. But the task of the car enthusiast is to purchase a vehicle that will require minimal repairs in the future. In this case, it will be useful to agree with the seller of the equipment and its after-sales service. So a car enthusiast or a company will be able to count on high-quality and timely truck repairs.
Defining criterion
And yet, despite the numerous technical nuances, any buyer of equipment first of all pays attention to the mileage of a used truck. This indicator is divided into 3 categories:
- trucks, the mileage of which reaches 500 thousand km;
- trucks with a mileage of 800 thousand km;
- trucks that have run over 1 million km. and more.
As a rule, vehicles with a mileage of up to 500 thousand have a large margin of safety and have good performance. Therefore, it is not surprising that sometimes their average cost differs slightly from the prices for new models.
But when choosing a truck, the mileage of which reaches 800 thousand km, you need to be more careful. There is a high risk of stumbling upon a real wreck, which, upon a cursory examination, will not arouse any suspicion in a potential buyer. But in less than a few months, all the hidden flaws will come out.
You can save a significant amount of money by purchasing a supported truck with a mileage of 1 million or more. But there are many pitfalls behind the low price. The owners of such vehicles automatically fall into the risk zone - after all, such old cars break down with enviable regularity. This means that their drivers will have to spend the lion's share of their time on car repairs.
So it makes sense to buy trucks that hit 500 thousand. In this case, the car enthusiast will become the owner of a predictable and relatively reliable car. These are exactly what transport companies need, which often hire drivers from outside to deliver goods.
Listen to the engine
Nobody buys a used truck without first starting its engine. Naturally, a good motor starts up within one second and runs smoothly and consistently. Moreover, he should not make extraneous noises and knocks.
However, before turning the key in the ignition lock, pay attention to the oil level and color. To do this, carefully remove the dipstick. If the oil adhering to it is gray and bubbling, then coolant has penetrated into the motor system. Consequently, the liners are damaged or the cylinder head gasket is frayed.
The turbine should also be in perfect condition. If there are oil smudges on it, it will soon need to be replaced.
Transmission
As with the engine, the gearbox should also be free of oil stains. At the same time, shifting from one gear to another should be smooth and soft. A used truck with a gearbox in good technical condition starts off quietly, without jerking. In the event that the latter cannot be dispensed with, this indicates a gearbox malfunction.
Undercarriage and frame
The drive axle must be dry. Otherwise, this means that the oil seals are worn out or overheating of the bearings occurs.
The so-called wheel hubs also require special attention. As for the frame, there should be no "bugs" and traces from the welding machine on it.
Virtually all modern trucks are equipped with an electronic computer. It captures and accumulates information regarding the systems of the machine's functioning, which can tell a potential buyer a lot about the getaway truck. However, the vehicle owner can delete all data from the computer.
Conclusion
There are also many other ways to determine the technical condition of a particular supported truck. But if you do not neglect the basic recommendations, you can buy a completely reliable car. Nevertheless, it should be borne in mind that any used car requires careful attention and regular maintenance. Otherwise, the car will literally start to "crumble", bringing its owner not profit, but only waste.
