Things You Should Know Before Buying A Used Mini Truck

The approximate price of a mini truck (Japanese Kei Truck) is usually between 9,000 USD to 12,000 USD. Even though that is not a big amount for some people, however, for some people, it is a huge amount, and they cannot invest such a big amount to buy mini trucks.

Due to this, many people opt to buy used mini trucks instead of new ones. However, purchasing a used Japanese Kei truck (Kei-class truck) is not as simple as buying a brand new one. Bearing in mind that it is a second-hand product, it is important to look for several things to make sure that you get the best value for money.

Buying a truck is the second significant investment people generally make (Property acquisition being the first). So, you must ensure that you invest in the right thing. We understand if you don’t know how to do things the first time. However, first-timers face the issue of a lack of significant knowledge.

Furthermore, when you are looking to buy a used Japanese Kei truck, you need to consider the following things:

• Be within budget
• Fuel economy
• Perform like a beast
• Capacity to haul anything

So, if you are buying a used mini truck for the first time, here is a detailed guide on things you should know before buying a used mini truck and tips on things to keep in mind before you make the purchase:

Five Things to Remember When Buying A Used Mini Truck

If you are looking to purchase a used mini truck, you need a careful approach to make the most of it. However, you must consider the features and prices that can fulfill your needs.

Simultaneously, you must be mindful of the fixed costs you must pay even when the truck is not in use.

List Of Fundamentals For Buying

• Learn the history of the mini truck (you wish to purchase) as widely as possible so that it does not bother you lawfully or else later.
• You must at all times have alternate possibilities for used mini trucks and not be limited to only one seller.
• You must essentially be aware of the budget.

Tips For Buying a Second-Hand Truck

Buying a used mini truck can be scary if you have not purchased it before. It would help if you looked at a few things before buying one. Here are a few tricks and tips you must know before you buy a used truck:

• Look for options and select a reputed seller
• Check for the availability of financing options
• Look out for the best insurance option
• Seek sources to replace several parts of the vehicle
• Gather reasons for why the used truck is being sold

Five Things You Should Know Before Buying A Used Mini Truck

Let us look at five things you should know before buying a used mini truck to ensure that you are buying a truck worth your money:

1. Previous Purpose Of Use

The majority of people believe that mini trucks are only used for modest activities such as gardening. However, this is not the case. The mini trucks are designed for other activities, including carrying loads and heavy-duty transportation. Moreover, several people use the Kei trucks for human transportation, too.

So, if you plan to buy a used mini truck, it is important to consult the dealer about the prior usage of the vehicle. This is important because a mini truck used for ordinary transportation will not be in the same condition as the mini truck used occasionally.

2. Check The Repair & Maintenance Report Thoroughly

If the dealer is someone you don’t know, they may lie about the previous purpose of using the vehicle. Well, this is where the repair and maintenance report can help you out.

It would be best to ask for the dealer’s repair and maintenance report to check the vehicle’s repair history. Suppose they do not provide this report; that could signify that they are hiding something about the vehicle you should know.

3. Bed Condition Inspection

The entire point of buying a used mini truck is to benefit from innovative storage solutions such as a cargo bed at the back. However, if you purchase a mini truck that is bad in bed condition, the purpose of utilizing innovative storage solutions is already crushed. So, it is essential to inspect the integrity of the bed condition before you decide to buy or not.

Even though there is no powered indication that can show a good or bad bed condition, it would be best if you inspected the condition for corrosion, scratches, paint staining, dents, sagging, etc.

4. Get The Odometer Reading Indication

Odometer, also known as an Odograph, is an apparatus that indicates the distance traveled by a vehicle. If the dealer selling you the truck is new, and you feel that he is not being honest, you must demand the odometer of the mini truck. By inspecting the readings on the odometer, you can check the vehicle’s details, such as how long the mini truck has traveled.

Japanese Kei trucks travel 5,000 to 6,000 miles (approximately 8046 to 9656 km) each year. Suppose the mini truck you are looking to buy has an odometer that indicates the reading beyond this, then the truck has been in use for many years or long-distance haulage.

5. Inspect Physical Defects

In addition to inspecting the odometer, the condition of the vehicle can be measured by inspecting several physical parts of the mini truck, including:

§ Mini Truck Mileage

Mini truck mileage tells you the distance traveled by the vehicle. Moreover, it also shows how much wear the mini truck has sustained over time. However, a vehicle in better condition would be one with lower mileage.

§ Tire Condition

A physical inspection of the tire through the Penny test can help you check if the tire is still good in condition or worn out. Moreover, the four common types of tire problems are:

• Cupping or Scalloping
• Bulging or Cracking
• Feathering
• Heel-Toe Damage

§ Lights Inspection

The easiest inspection can be done by checking the working condition of head and tail lights, signal lights, etc.

§ Body Parts

In the majority of the cases, the Japanese used mini trucks designed with a body frame painted white. So, you can easily spot the rust, corrosion, scratches, or dent. A mini truck with corrosion or paint bruising is likely in bad condition.

Moreover, it would be best to take a professional mechanic with you for inspection if you plan to buy a used mini truck from a dealership shop. However, if you are buying the mini truck online, you need to rent the services of a reputed mechanic to inspect the mini truck.

Conclusion

While Japanese Kei trucks provide all the features one is looking for in the mini trucks, you need to wait a long time to get them imported from Japan. However, with resilience and consistency, you can easily find the spare parts of used Japanese Kei trucks. The best thing is that Japanese Kei Trucks are available in both two-wheel and four-wheel-drive.