The 3 Most Important Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Used Heavy-Duty Truck
Buying a used heavy-duty truck or semi-truck for business is not like buying a typical pickup truck for personal use. The amount of weight that heavy-duty trucks pull puts extra wear and tear on the engine and other major components. If you're going to use the truck for commercial purposes, you need to consider the size and weight of the load it will haul.
Before you purchase a heavy-duty truck or semi-truck for commercial use, consider the most important factors you'll want to note about the vehicle. This will ensure you make the best investment.
1. Check the brake pads
Brake pads for heavy-duty trucks and semi-trucks are usually very expensive to replace, but they suffer quite a bit of wear and tear because of the weight they need to stop with each use. It's always good to open up the brake area behind one wheel and check the life remaining in the brake pads so you know if you'll need to replace them soon. Look for information about major brands of brake pads used for semi-trucks, which should tell you how much life is left in them according to their wear.
2. Note any maintenance logs
A semi-truck should have maintenance logs kept, so you can ensure it's been properly maintained over the years. This would include even routine oil changes. Note if there is a date written on the air filter under the hood; many mechanics will write the date of an oil change on this filter, and you can see if they correspond with the dates on a maintenance log.
If the truck does not have a maintenance log, you want to ensure you see receipts for oil changes and maintenance. This is important even for a smaller car, but with a heavy-duty truck, you need proof of that maintenance because of the excessive wear it suffers on all its parts.
3. Size and capacity
Never assume that you should just get the largest truck you can find for commercial use, as more weight means more fuel consumption. Instead, note the average size and weight of the load you'll be hauling and look for a truck that will sufficiently pull that load, but not one that will be too large for your standard needs. This will ensure you get a truck that's big enough but which isn't going to cost you extra in fuel and maintenance because of its size alone.
If you have questions about which truck to choose, turn to a reputable company like Atchison Truck Repairs Pty Ltd.