Checking for Wear and Tear When Purchasing Your Truck

At DW Lift Sales, we’re confident that the trucks we supply, both the new ones and the used ones, have been spot-checked meticulously for any blemishes and/or mechanical errors. To put it another way, you know that when you buy trucks, trailers, or forklifts from us, you’re going to be getting your full dollar’s worth in terms of reliability. That being said, it’s always a wise bet when purchasing a truck – particularly a truck that’s already seen some roughage on the highway – to inspect it thoroughly to know what you’re “getting yourself into”. A lot of trucks out there might look nice and shiny on the sales lot, but as is the case with a lot of different things, it’s the inside that counts (i.e. the structural integrity, the driveline, the suspension system, stuff like that) when you’re going about your daily business.

On that note, we want to give you a couple of things to look out for when purchasing a truck (and the same things should also be checked periodically in terms of maintaining your truck):

1. Make sure the cab mount is well compromised with the proper bushings. Insure likewise that the cab is well isolated from the truck engine itself. Ignoring these things can mean you compromise the overall structural integrity of your cab mounts to a dangerous degree: you don’t want the front part of your truck to start grinding against the front tires – let alone get close to the engine.
2. A slight imbalance in the components of the driveline might not seem like a big problem upon first inspection, but don’t kid yourself. Given an especially bad angle, driveline imbalances can lead to impacting the performance of your truck’s transmission, not to mention the possibility of worn-and-torn wheel-ends. Be sure to inspect the assorted components of your driveline and note if they are aligned properly.
3. Here’s a huge one to look for: your truck’s suspension system. Your suspension system should isolate your cab from the main body of your truck, but don’t discount the long-term effects of road vibration or rough, gravelly terrain. If your truck’s been around the highway a few times, you’d best be checking that all components are structurally sound, as well as mounted rigidly. There’s no telling what happens otherwise!
4. Last, but hardly least, comes frame rigidity. You better be certain that the frame assembly (along with all its sundry cross-members) is structurally stiff. Otherwise, your trucking career may come crashing to a halt in a way that anyone would find unpleasant.

Just some helpful tips and guidelines from your friends out here at D.W. Lift Sales. Drop by our website or call us today for more info on the vehicles, platforms, and accessories we carry.