When purchasing a truck, quite often a buyer will have a specific make or model in mind and will search specifically for that brand. However even brands with the best reputations can deteriorate over time if it the vehicle is not properly maintained, so it’s best to keep an open mind and carefully compare all of your options. The ideal way to make sure that you’re getting the best vehicle for your money is by test driving as many vehicles as possible to really get a feel for which make and model works best with your driving style.

When you first get in the vehicle, check the mileage and make sure it matches up with previous service documents and mileage recorded under the hood or in the door jam. Try to look for whether or not the odometer has been tampered with by looking for scratches or any suspicious markings around the gauges and the dashboards.

When you begin your test drive there should be some additional signs that will tell you whether the vehicle has had more than its share of wear-and-tear. If the brakes are squealing or grinding, that may mean that there have been improper adjustments made. If the steering is pulling the vehicle too much to one side or another, that is a sign that the alignment will need to be fixed shortly. If you experience a lack of control when turning a corner, or an unnecessarily bumpy ride, this could indicate steerage linking problems or work-out shock absorbers.

Also, look for blue smoke coming out of the tailpipe, as that is a sure sign that you will need to pay for costly engine repairs in a very short time. In fact, all of these abnormalities can be a sign that you are going to be spending more money on the box truck in the near future. If the truck is exhibiting any of these signs you may want to re-think purchasing the vehicle, or you can use this as leverage when negotiating the price that you’re willing to pay to purchase the truck.