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I wonder how they would feel about taking it to a shop before purchasing. If they have faith in the truck and are honest about its history (fire dept.) I would think it wouldnt be a problem. Or mabey a mobile mech could meet me on site...hmmmm
Id wanna kill someone if I bought a lemon like Monkey.
Im so sorry that happened to you.
Long way home too....
Are you saying that the block was cracked? How did oil get in the radiator?
The rust issue is serious but if the integrity of the truck isnt compromised then I dont see that as too big of a problem since its hot here and there is no salt on the roads ever.
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Sounds like you were watching Forest Gump when you should have been learning about trucks. I am sure you don't want to hear from me but what the hell, I am sucker for punishment.
Treeco is right about the F series trucks, we actually have the same truck. The saying in the auto business is that Ford is better and Chevy is easier and Dodge don't count. You need to look around your neighborhood for an older 1 ton that you can build a wooden box or have a stakebody. Nevermind anything that has an "ALLISON TRANS" in it. Just because every tree guy drops that name doesn't mean that it is good. In fact to save you tons of money go with a manual trans. Can't drive it? I thought so.
You are kidding me if you can't find a dump truck for a few grand with no rust close to home. Driving that distance for that piece of crap(it is a frankenstein, no wonder M.B. likes it) sounds like an act of a desperate man. That truck used to be a tractor for a car carrier or something before some jackass put a box on it and called it a tree truck.
If you are wondering about being able to check a truck out before you buy it, it is very common and you really should. The only person you have a right to kill if you bought a lemon would be yourself. (go ahead I'm waiting) It is not as much of a gamble when you check the truck out first. Look for things like missing or broken springs, bent or damaged frames(ripples in the steel), put a oil pressure gauge on it and drive it for a long time, check for oil or hydrocarbons in the cooling system, funny tire wear, door and sheet metal alignment(check the door hinges),look for rust. Anything else is condsidered "easily fixed" and you should know that you will have to. A tire for an F series is way less exspensive than one for a real tree truck. Most likely the guy who fixes your car will be able to work on it and parts can been easily gotten. You are not going to want to have to chip with that 625 all week to pay for maitaining a big truck like that. Towing it with one would be hysterical. I don't think the shute on the 625 would reach that high. I would hate to load into it by hand.
To be honest I broke up laughing at you when I read this post but hope you find a nice little truck that doesn't bleed you dry. Ever think about a dump insert for your pickup? A ten yard box way big enough to do some work. You can dump it on your lunch break.
Was that 1500 mile round trip? What would you do if it broke down on the way home?
The things I like best about Az is that you can carry a gun, , party like animals in the dessert, live on 2 dollars a day, and get liquered up in a supermarket. You just can't jaywalk.
I will be thinking about you in your quest. Find one local, take it to your mechanic, put it up in the air, take it back and hammer the price down. You need to know how to play hardball. Just come out and tell the guy your price, if he says no walk. He will call you when he sees you drive by slowly the next day when you are acting like you are still intrested. When you come to a deal that is when you say" Only if you pay ALL the other costs". Try it just once and you will be an addict. I wish you good luck, as for me I don't need it.
One more thing, if when you are trying to close the deal and the guy keeps going away to"ask his boss", follow him. Keep on him like white on rice, it will break him down and that is good for you. But honestly your best bet is a private seller.
