Inspect it before you buy it

Class 8 Semi Tractor Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used Class 8 semi tractors, sleeper or day cab: Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Volvo, International, Mack and Western Star, with Detroit, Cummins, PACCAR, Volvo and Mack engines. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from records, idle hours and emissions to air brake tests, fifth wheel, engine, aftertreatment, transmission, tires and the sleeper or day cab, plus a road test.

Full-Size Cargo Van Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used full-size cargo vans, current and older: Ford Transit and E-Series, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (all years), Ram ProMaster, Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana and Nissan NV. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the engine, transmission, brakes and tires to the cargo area, roof, doors, shelving and upfits, plus known problems by make. Not for small vans such as the Ford Transit Connect or Ram ProMaster City, or for cutaway box trucks.

Light-Duty Pickup Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used half-ton pickups: Ford F-150, Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, gas, diesel or hybrid. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the engine, transmission, 4WD, brakes and tires to towing equipment and hybrid systems, plus known problems by make. For 2500 and 3500 pickups, use our Heavy-Duty Pickup checklist.

Heavy-Duty Pickup Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used heavy-duty pickups: Ford F-250 to F-450 Super Duty, Ram 2500 and 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD, gas or diesel. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the diesel engine, emissions system, transmission, front end, brakes and tires to fifth-wheel and gooseneck hitches and plow equipment, plus known problems by make. For half-ton pickups, use our Light-Duty Pickup checklist.

Medium-Duty Dump, Flatbed and Utility Truck Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used medium-duty trucks with a dump, flatbed or utility (service) body, Class 3 to 7. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the frame, engine, transmission, brakes and air brakes to the body and its hydraulics, plus known problems by make. Not for box or refrigerated trucks: use our Medium-Duty Box Truck checklist for those.

Medium-duty Box Truck (including refrigerated) Pre-purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used medium-duty box trucks, Class 3 to 7 (about 12,000 to 33,000 lb GVWR), gas or diesel. Covers Isuzu NPR and NQR, Chevrolet and GMC cab-overs, Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso, Ford E-450 cutaways, Freightliner M2, International and similar trucks. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the frame, engine, transmission and brakes to the cargo box, roll-up door, refrigeration unit and liftgate. Includes air-brake tests, diesel exhaust checks and known problems by make. Not for dump, flatbed or utility trucks: use our Medium-Duty Dump, Flatbed and Utility Truck checklist for those.

Hydraulic Excavator (mid-size) Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used tracked hydraulic excavators above mini size, from Caterpillar, John Deere, Komatsu, Hitachi, Volvo, Kobelco, Develon and other makers. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from ownership and hours to the boom and stick, swing system, hydraulics, engine, undercarriage and cab safety. For machines under about 10 metric tons, use our Mini Excavator checklist.

Backhoe Loader Pre-Purchase Inspection

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used backhoe loaders from Caterpillar, John Deere, CASE, JCB, Komatsu, New Holland and other makers, 2WD or 4WD, with or without an extendable dipper. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from ownership and hours to the frame, kingpost, pins, hydraulics, transmission, brakes, steering and tires, plus a guided operating and driving test.

Rollback/Flatbed Tow Truck Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used rollback (flatbed car carrier) tow trucks on Ford, Ram, Isuzu, Freightliner and International chassis, with Jerr-Dan, Miller, Century, Vulcan and other beds. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the engine, transmission, brakes, air brakes and tires to the bed subframe, slide and tilt hydraulics, winch and cable, plus known problems by make. For wheel-lift-only trucks, use our Wheel-Lift Tow Truck checklist.

Wheel Lift Tow Truck Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used wheel-lift and wrecker-style tow trucks on Ford Super Duty, Ram HD, Chevrolet and GMC HD and Isuzu chassis, with Jerr-Dan, Miller, Century, Vulcan, Holmes and other units. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the engine, transmission, brakes and tires to the wheel-lift, crossbar, boom, winch and hydraulics, including a drift test, plus known problems by make. For flatbed car carriers, use our Rollback Tow Truck checklist.

Mini Excavator Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used wheeled skid steer loaders from Bobcat, Caterpillar, John Deere, Kubota, Case, New Holland, JCB, Gehl and other makers. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from ownership and hours to the safety interlocks, lift arms, hydraulics, chain drive, tires and engine, plus a guided operating test. For track loaders, use our Compact Track Loader checklist.

Skid Steer Loader Pre-purchase Inspection

A step-by-step pre-purchase inspection for used wheeled skid steer loaders from Bobcat, Caterpillar, John Deere, Kubota, Case, New Holland, JCB, Gehl and other makers. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from ownership and hours to the safety interlocks, lift arms, hydraulics, chain drive, tires and engine, plus a guided operating test.

Compact Track Loader Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used compact track loaders from Bobcat, Caterpillar, John Deere, Kubota, Takeuchi, Case, New Holland and other makers. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from ownership and hours to the safety interlocks, lift arms, hydraulics, engine and a detailed undercarriage inspection of tracks, rollers, idlers and sprockets, plus a guided operating test. For wheeled machines, use our Skid Steer Loader checklist.

Enclosed Cargo Trailer Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used bumper-pull enclosed cargo trailers with one or two axles, from Haulmark, Pace American, Carry-On, LOOK, Interstate, Wells Cargo and other builders. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the VIN and ratings to the frame, coupler, floor, roof leaks, ramp door, axles, bearings, brakes and tires, plus a short tow test. Not for gooseneck, refrigerated, food or living-quarters trailers.

Gooseneck Trailer Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used gooseneck flatbed and equipment trailers from Big Tex, PJ, Load Trail, Diamond C, Sure-Trac, Carry-On and other builders, single or dual wheels. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the VIN, ratings and your truck's payload to the neck, coupler, frame, deck, ramps, landing gear, axles, bearings, brakes and tires, plus a short tow test. Not for enclosed, livestock, dump or living-quarters goosenecks, or fifth-wheel trailers.

Open Utility Trailer Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used open utility and landscape trailers, single or tandem axle, from Big Tex, Carry-On, PJ, Load Trail, Sure-Trac and other builders. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the VIN and ratings to the frame, coupler, deck, gate, axles, bearings, brakes and tires, plus a short tow test. Not for dump, tilt, car hauler, gooseneck, enclosed or boat trailers.

Tandem Axle Flatbed Trailer Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used bumper-pull tandem axle flatbed and equipment trailers, deck-over or between the fenders, from Big Tex, PJ, Load Trail, Diamond C, Sure-Trac, Carry-On and other builders. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the VIN, ratings and licence rules to the frame, coupler, deck, ramps, tandem axles, bearings, brakes and tires, plus a short tow test. Not for gooseneck, dump, tilt or air-brake trailers.

Food Truck Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used food trucks on Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Freightliner, Workhorse, Isuzu and Mercedes-Benz chassis, with fryers, griddles, grills, charbroilers, steam tables and pizza ovens. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from permits and your health department's approval to the chassis, hood and fire suppression, propane, generator, water, refrigeration and every cooking appliance, plus a full service test. Not for food trailers.

Food and Beverage Trailer Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used towed food trailers and coffee or beverage trailers, from full kitchens with fryers, griddles, grills and steam tables to espresso and drinks trailers. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from permits and your health department's approval to the trailer frame, axles, bearings, brakes and tires, hood and fire suppression, propane, generator, water, refrigeration, espresso machines and every cooking appliance, plus a full service test. Not for self-driven food trucks or push carts.

RV/Motorhome Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used motorhomes of every class: Class A gas and diesel pushers, Class B camper vans, and Class C and Super C, from Winnebago, Thor, Jayco, Tiffin, Forest River, Newmar and other makers. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from hidden water damage in the roof, walls and floor to the chassis, tires, slide-outs, leveling, generator, propane, plumbing, refrigerator and air conditioners, plus a road test. Not for travel trailers or fifth wheels.