Buying a second hand heavy vehicle gives you the advantage of getting it at a cheaper price. It provides an easy start to your business. However, before buying a used heavy vehicle, it is absolutely necessary to be armed with some good advice. Know what your exact price range is, and don’t deviate from that original plan. Find out if the seller has maintenance records available. Don’t ever allow yourself to be rushed.
Here are some advices to help you with your heavy vehicle buying process:
- Examine the vehicle only in daylight; even a well-lit lot will conceal defects and hamper a good inspection.
- Check each opening and body-panel joint for fit. Run your hand along the bottom of the doors and check for hard, rusty edges. Check the panels along the body from back to front; if they seem wavy or uneven, check them with a magnet (plastic body repairs won’t attract a magnet).
- If there are any raised spots on the roof, it means rust underneath. A more extended inspection of that area might be necessary if you want to buy that vehicle.
- Start the engine. Make sure there are no knocks or thuds. These sounds may indicate a bad crankshaft or connecting-rod bearing, and both of them are costly repairs.
- Drive the vehicle, shut the engine off, allow it to cool for a moment and then start it again. If the engine hesitates upon starting the second time, have it checked by a mechanic.
- At a safe place, try a panic stop to see if the brakes behave. Next, try a rough road to see if the shocks control after bouncing.
These simple checks won’t take long and are about as comprehensive as you can manage. If any seller hesitates to allow such an examination, it’s a very good indication that you should be looking elsewhere.
Make sure you contact Dynamic Diesel Services for repair and maintenance of your heavy vehicles. Our serviced areas are from Northern NSW, through the whole Gold Coast region and hinterland, and right up to Brisbane