Buying Advice - 150k+ Mileage Trucks?

[MB4x4]

I am still looking to buy a 1998-2007 truck, and I often stumble across ads of trucks with high mileages. Such as 150,000 miles and more. What can I expect from these? What usually breaks? The tranny maybe? What should I look for besides of rusted fenders? Would you recommend to buy one for the "right price" (around 6k$)

[MarkD]

Where do you live?

 

If they don't salt the roads, I haven't seen rust to be a problem.

 

Get a more basic model.

 

The more "stuff" on a truck, the more "stuff" that can break

 

I would buy from an individual instead of a dealer.

 

You woul get more of a feel for how the truck had been used. Most used car warranties "in my experience" exclude whatever typical problems that model vehicle have.

 

2000-2001 ABS controller

 

More to come, I am sure...

 

BTW, I own an 03 Sierra close to the mileage you are looking for.

[pennzoil29]

At a 150K a lot of things are probably in need of replacement or repair. Then on the other hand, a lot of thing's might have already been replaced or repaired. I agree with a private sale over a dealer. Hope you find what your looking for.

[Nick The Great]

I would find a good mechanic that you can trust. Look for oil leaks, coolant leaks, etc.

 

Depending on the truck and engine, and for the right price, it might not be a bad decision.

[ALange]

I would find a good mechanic that you can trust. Look for oil leaks, coolant leaks, etc.

 

Depending on the truck and engine, and for the right price, it might not be a bad decision.

 

I agree with looking for a private seller. You can tell a lot about how it is treated by looking at the guys garage and house. Ask for maintenance records and what has been done to it. Accidents are a good thing to verify. I personally would steer clear of anything that was lifted. That to me would indicate harder than normal application and if poorly done can pose drive train woes you don't need.

 

+1 on having a shop inspect it. Well worth an hours labor cost. The GM components last a very long time when well treated. With today's economy in the crapper, you may find equal deals on low mileage rigs. My wife traded her 06 Avalanche in with 20k on it mainly because I hated it. That one probably went cheap. She did trade my loaded 04 dually duramax for it and it only had 18K on it. That one tested the strength of our marital vows. You know when the man says for better or worse, sickness and health? It don't get worse or sicker than that.

[2000DV4.8]

I bought my truck with 154k, and I'm at 175k now. It's had its fair share of problems, but nothing too major, and I did a lot of work that wasn't really necessary. The biggest things have been fuel pump, power steering pump, and a water pump (well, gasket really, but I did the pump too while I had everything apart). If you are buying a '99 or early '00 truck with only the third, door, check the drivers side rocker panel and cab corner for rust, I've seem quite a few trucks (mine included) with some pretty nice rot back there. If you're in a salt areal, also check for rusted fuel and brake lines.

 

If possible, definitely take the truck to a mechanic and get it up on a lift. Have them take a look at it, and inspect it yourself. If you can afford something with less miles, do it, high mileage vehicles are never trouble free, but these are great trucks that run a long time if taken care of.

[lrymal]

I am still looking to buy a 1998-2007 truck, and I often stumble across ads of trucks with high mileages. Such as 150,000 miles and more. What can I expect from these? What usually breaks? The tranny maybe? What should I look for besides of rusted fenders? Would you recommend to buy one for the "right price" (around 6k$)

 

The truck in the signature below has about 135,000 miles on it and we tend to not get rid of our vehicles here on the farm. I'll type up the experiences with this truck which might give you some additional ideas as to what you can possibly expect.

 

My experience has been failure of the starter (good-will warranty) and water pump (good-will warranty). 4-wheel drive switch module has been replaced under warranty three times. Steering shaft three time replacement as well. All this stuff has been through the dealer under warranty and much of it was at their discretion.

 

No issues with the transmission... But, there was some transmission valve warranty problem which was replaced very early. Much later, I went through an aggressive preventive maintenance program and had the transmission serviced, and whatever else is required at 100,000 miles as well.

 

Concentrated on the suspension next. Replaced all bushings, shocks, etc. Suspension was basically renewed.

 

Belts were replaced, coolant system hoses replaced.

 

No failures on items I expected to fail, such as universals, spine sloppiness, rear end seals. Brakes have been simply AWESOME but this model truck had a major redesign of its braking system. Simple pad and shoe replacement has been marvelously uneventful. No failure on the air conditioning.

 

Disappointments have been in the interior. The plastics in these trucks is "criminal". Fortunately, the plastics are somewhat cheap and cracked, warped, and creaky plastics with their loosey goosey fastener clips are easy to replace.

 

Seats are awful. 'nuff said. Look for replacement seats at 120,000 or so. The fabric is fragile for high mileage and the foam really flattens out. Now, this is for the cloth seats. No one who rides who drives this truck is particularly overweight.

 

That's basically it. I haven't added up the cost for keeping the stuff above happy, but overall, with it being a farm work truck, bouncing in a pasture and hauling feed, etc., with the 4-wheel drive having to do REAL STUFF, the upkeep has been worth it. Over-all, we saved money and knowing the total personality of the truck makes it worth it.

 

Now, if you buy a truck like mine, you better get the repair and preventive mainteance records, and realize you will NOT know the truck's personality and eccentrics.

[MB4x4]

Thanks for the replies. I am looking to buy one in Manitoba. So rust will be an issue. So where to look for rust?

 

- Fenderwells

- Cab Corners

- Rocker Panels

- Cab Corners

- Fuel- and Brake lines

 

Anywhere else you can think of?

 

I saw some low mileage pre 99 models, too. Should I rather buy a let's say 1995 model with low mileage (approx 60k) or rather a 01 model with higher mileage?

I personally like the design of the late trucks more but I'd would buy an older one if it makes more sense.

I don't plan to spend more than 10k CAD.

[zxcv]

Here's a few in your area that I would take a look at:

 

(In order of what I would look at first)

 

 

http://www.canadatrader.com/result/detaili...gno=5&srt=1

 

 

http://www.canadatrader.com/result/detaili...gno=6&srt=1

 

 

http://www.canadatrader.com/result/detaili...gno=6&srt=1

[mints33]

Make sure the truck wasn't used for excessive towing, I sure am regretting my purchase!!!

[MB4x4]

Make sure the truck wasn't used for excessive towing, I sure am regretting my purchase!!!

 

How do I know it was used for excessive towing? Ok a gooseneck hitch would be an indication. But what else?

[Nanotech Environmental]

Nothing wrong with buying a high mileage vehicle- if the miles were all put on in a short period of time(and the vehicle was maintained)

 

You're far better off to buy a 2 year old pickup with 100,000 miles(160,000KM) than a seven or eight year old one with only 50,000 miles on it. Time is the worst enemy of vehicles.

 

Often guys that own businesses will rack up a lot of miles on their personal truck and turn them over every couple years. Those can be good vehicles to buy for a cheap price, assuming they weren't towing a heavy trailer all the time.

 

As for towing, besides the tell tale gooseneck hitch evidence, look for evidence of the under-dash trailer brake controller and if the guy has a big trailer sitting in his yard.

 

BJ

[Nick The Great]

Nothing wrong with buying a high mileage vehicle- if the miles were all put on in a short period of time(and the vehicle was maintained)

 

You're far better off to buy a 2 year old pickup with 100,000 miles(160,000KM) than a seven or eight year old one with only 50,000 miles on it. Time is the worst enemy of vehicles.

 

Often guys that own businesses will rack up a lot of miles on their personal truck and turn them over every couple years. Those can be good vehicles to buy for a cheap price, assuming they weren't towing a heavy trailer all the time.

 

As for towing, besides the tell tale gooseneck hitch evidence, look for evidence of the under-dash trailer brake controller and if the guy has a big trailer sitting in his yard.

 

BJ

 

My 99 didn't have a trailer light plug on it when i bought it. So it either didn't tow, or towed illegally. Which does happen.

[kylea]

My 96 has 198,000 on it and when i was looking to buy it this is what i looked for:

 

- rust under the rocker panals

- rust under the chrome wheel well molding

- how it looked under the hood

- If the tranny shifted strong (If it had park and reverse etc..)

- Listen to everything on the test drive

[BuckFeverZ]

I'm not keen on buying trucks with over 100,000 miles let alone 150,000 miles

 

The way I figure it, you'll have repairs regardless of the truck with that many miles. If you would take an extra $3-$4k and put it towards a newer truck with less mileage you SHOULD come out ahead. Not always the case but odds are in your favor at least IMO.