used truck question

• FatHobbit

  

  I'm looking at a used 2003 truck with 53k miles and a clean carfax. I'm not thrilled about it being 10 years old but the price is right and the miles are low. What should I look for to make sure it isn't a POS? Does anyone know of a decent place in the brook park area to have it checked out? (I live close to Columbus so I'm not really familiar with the cleveland area at all.)
  
  Thanks!
• justincredible

  

  Just curious, what kind of truck and how much? I'll be looking to sell my truck this spring after some house projects. I've got an '05 F150 with 52k miles.
• Raw Dawgin' it

  

  Form and function, boom!
  
  
• sportchampps

  I would stark by checking the tires. You can make sure they are not the same tires from 10 years ago that are rotten. Also check out the condition of the bed. Make sure these no cracks in the hoses and that the radiator hose is hard. Check the ac, heat, and radio. See if they have a service history? When you test drive it make sure the breaks are good by going about 25-30 and pressing the breaks so you stop pretty fast and hard. Look for leaks where it has been parked. If you want check the transmission fluid if it's real dark it probably means it hasn't been flushed in a long time. Check the timing belt because they are only good for about 70-100k miles and are expensive. Let someone look over the engine.
• FatHobbit

  

  justincredible;1366731 wrote:Just curious, what kind of truck and how much? I'll be looking to sell my truck this spring after some house projects. I've got an '05 F150 with 52k miles.

  It's a 2003 F350 XL (manual windows and locks) and they currently have it priced at $13k. I need something to pull a horse trailer.
• FatHobbit

  

  sportchampps;1366735 wrote:I would stark by checking the tires. You can make sure they are not the same tires from 10 years ago that are rotten. Also check out the condition of the bed. Make sure these no cracks in the hoses and that the radiator hose is hard. Check the ac, heat, and radio. See if they have a service history? When you test drive it make sure the breaks are good by going about 25-30 and pressing the breaks so you stop pretty fast and hard. Look for leaks where it has been parked. If you want check the transmission fluid if it's real dark it probably means it hasn't been flushed in a long time. Check the timing belt because they are only good for about 70-100k miles and are expensive. Let someone look over the engine.

  Good ideas. The carfax has some of the oil changes, but it seems to be missing some of them. It looks like they changed the oil every 5k, but there is no record for the 30k oil change. I'll definitely drive it but I have no idea who is reputable in that area to have it checked out.
• FatHobbit

  

  Raw Dawgin' it;1366732 wrote:Form and function, boom!
  
  

  I like it!
• derek bomar

  

  I will sell you my 2007 F-150 for less than 13k. 66k miles.
• FatHobbit

  

  derek bomar;1366745 wrote:I will sell you my 2007 F-150 for less than 13k. 66k miles.

  Thanks but I need something to pull a 6 horse trailer. I'm looking for Diesel (not required) and 4 wheel drive.
• WebFire

  FatHobbit;1366753 wrote:Thanks but I need something to pull a 6 horse trailer. I'm looking for Diesel (not required) and 4 wheel drive.

  Have a mechanic check over the drivetrain really well. That is where money can pile up fast in a 4x4 truck.
• GoChiefs

  

  FatHobbit;1366738 wrote:It's a 2003 F350 XL (manual windows and locks) and they currently have it priced at $13k. I need something to pull a horse trailer.

  
  Diesel and 4x4? If not, that seems a bit over priced. Pay attention to ball joints and injectors. Notorious problem areas in the '03's.
• FatHobbit

  

  GoChiefs;1366762 wrote:Diesel and 4x4? If not, that seems a bit over priced. Pay attention to ball joints and injectors. Notorious problem areas in the '03's.

  Yup. Everything in my area that is Diesel and 4x4 has 100k miles and is $20k.
• LJ

  

  Take my word for it..
  
  Just sell the horses
• derek bomar

  

  in a bit of sad irony, my drive shaft went out today.