Shopping for a used truck is not the same as shopping for a new one. For one thing, your sales person is less likely to know the ins and outs of every used truck. Instead you need to be on your toes, ready to find answers yourself.  Here’s what you need to know.

Truck Sizes

Used trucks can confuse with their names and bed sizes.  You need to look at each one and evaluate what it can carry based on its actual specifications.  Backseats may be cramped in one and spacious in another.  The bed may be extra deep on one and shallow on another.  

Conveniences

There are so many amenities available on used trucks these days that it can be hard to narrow down what the must-have list is.  Considering used truck prices, however, you have every right to expect certain conveniences.  Good dash tech, preferably with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, is a logical expectation. A rearview camera is another.  Higher quality appointments even in lower trim levels should be on anyone’s list.  

Getting the Right Towing and Payload 

If you expect to be hauling, and that’s probably why you want a truck, you need to do your own research about towing and payload numbers.  Be careful to find the exact model specifications of each truck that interests you.  Used F150 trucks are all strong, but they may differ greatly in how much they can haul. 

Compare Values

Unfortunately, prices can be deceiving. You may find an expensive used truck that seems wonderful. Then you find out that it is geared toward luxury buyers and it doesn’t have good tow ratings.  A less expensive truck may not have leather seats, but it can handle a big payload.  Online review sites, such as U.S. News and World Report, can assist with comparisons.  

Safety Systems

It used to be common for trucks to have less effective safety systems. You don’t have to put up with that anymore. You should look up each make and model on the NHTSA website.  If it doesn’t have five stars, move on to a truck that does. Likewise, if you can find modern driver assistance features on a truck, that’s a big bonus.

Judging the Truck’s Condition

A truck may not look like it has been overworked and poorly maintained. It’s up to you to figure out just how much punishment it has taken.  A CarFax report will get you started, but it can’t tell the whole story. After all, if a driver overloads a trailer or bed one time, they have put incredible stress on the truck’s system. If it happens again and again, there will be some damage.

You may be able to get permission for your own mechanic to take a look. You want someone knowledgeable to put it on a lift, stand under it, and examine the condition of the suspension and steering. 

The truck’s fluids can also tell a story.  Have your mechanic look at each kind: engine oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, transfer case fluid, coolant, and so forth.  Does it look like sludge? Does it appear to have been drained and replaced at some point.  These things will give you clues as to how well the truck has been maintained and how hard it has been driven.

When you take used truck shopping seriously, you have the best chance of finding the right model. Hopefully, it will be one that lasts a long time and handles hard tasks without too much complaining.