The public’s demand for trucks continues to be on the rise nowadays. Light commercial vehicles like utes, light trucks, and vans became very popular to cater to individuals and businesses’ transportation needs. These vehicles provide ample cargo space and payload that companies need for delivering their goods. But among all these types of trucks for sale, the utes can be considered the most preferred vehicle type in Australia.
Utes, short for “coupe utility,” traditionally refer to vehicles with cargo trays attached to the passenger body. The term is commonly used in Australia and New Zealand, while other countries call these vehicles pickup trucks. Because of the comfort and convenience that this type of vehicle brings to most drivers, utes remain a hot commodity in the market.
If you dream of having your own ute but have a limited budget, you may consider looking at used truck dealers to check out if they have something you need. Used utes provide everything that a new one can give without the huge tag price. You may consider these tips to help you buy a used ute to get the most value for your money.
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Tip #1: Conduct A Transmission Check
Before buying any used trucks for sale, you must always check the automatic transmission before finalising the transaction. You need to see a reddish fluid with as little smell as possible whenever you pull the dipstick. If the fluid has a burned brake pads aroma and a brownish appearance, it could mean that the ute’s transmission is having problems.
But if the ute that you like is a manual transmission, you may also check if it has internal problems by short-shifting the vehicle into high gear when you do the test drive to figure out the truck’s clutch condition. You must not encounter any chatter of slippage during your drive to ensure that the vehicle is still working properly.
Tip #2: Check Out The Service Record
You must ask the car dealer to provide you with a detailed service record or logbook of the ute you intend to buy to know if it is still working properly. The dealer must be able to shop receipts of previously performed repair works like regular filter changes or other repairs.
The vehicle’s service record must notify you if the ute has outstanding financing obligations by checking the Register of Encumbered Vehicles. You may also verify the car’s service history by looking at a National Vehicle Security Register record.
Tip #3: Avoid Flood-Damaged Utes
Some used car sellers offer vehicles that have been submerged in flood. They may have refurbished the vehicle to make it look functional, but it would show signs of trouble after a while.
You need to look for obvious signs like bubbles under the exterior paint, watermarks or moulds on the seats, seatbelt, and headliner, or rust and mud in any parts of the cab. It is also important to do a more thorough inspection by lifting the vehicle’s carpet to check for corrosion signs. It is also best to check under the hood to see if there is any moisture in the instrument panel. If you notice any of these signs, you need to find other utes to buy.
Purchasing a used ute does not have to be a painstaking experience. It will help if you search for a reputable car dealer in your area to ensure that you will only get a fine working vehicle without any glitch or problem.
