Buying a Used Box Truck

Box trucks offer a whole lot of utility for small and large businesses looking to transport and deliver cargo and goods. There’s nothing quite as reliable for this kind of work than a medium-duty truck with a secure, spacious box trailer. From movers to local providers, box trucks occupy an important niche in the transportation industry. Because of how popular they are, there are many used models available for consumers looking to save some money. 

At DeBary Truck Sales, we understand that like any used vehicle purchase, buying a used box truck takes some extra work to ensure you’re getting what you need and nothing you don’t. In that spirit, we’ve put together this short guide with some tips to buying a used box truck. Read on or, if you’re interested in taking a look at our stock of new and used box trucks, head into our location in Sanford, Florida, near Jacksonville. We also proudly serve Miami, Orlando, and Tampa.

Size and Use

Start your box truck search by thinking about what you want it for and what specific requirements that kind of work or cargo needs. While you might think you need the biggest truck with the largest box just to cover all your bases, this isn’t going to be the best solution to your transportation problems. It’s one thing if you’re hauling a load of loose material vs a couple pallets of building material. The type of cargo you want to carry can influence the size and load to pick as well as rear door type, chassis wheel size, and cargo flooring. 

For the size of the chassis, you’ll want a good compromise between space for cargo and total weight limit. This means you shouldn’t just get a chassis cab and slap on an oversized box; the chassis and box still need to be compatible. You’ll find the vast majority of box trucks come in GVW classes 3 through 6, which means up to 26,000 pounds of cargo. Going bigger than that means the driver needs a commercial driver’s license to operate the truck, which could restrict you or your drivers’ ability to actually use it. 

A used box truck should already conform to the above restrictions on weight. Finding a truck with a too-big cargo box is a sign the previous owner didn’t know what they were doing. Feel free to walk away from these units. Box trucks should have a chassis cab-to-axle or wheelbase length that can safely accommodate the length of the body to be mounted. Verify the right ratio by contacting the body’s original equipment manufacturer. 

Vehicle Condition

Once you find a box truck that fits your needs, it’s time to inspect it for possible damage. Make note of anything obvious, especially signs of clear damage or misuse. The cab is a good place to check; you’ll be able to see how previous drivers treated the truck from how worn out the controls are and the overall condition of the interior. Matching the apparent wear and tear against service records will help you determine if the condition is worth a particular asking Price.

There are a few specific features to check on box trucks. The box floor will show you a lot about the truck’s condition. Hardwood isn’t good at carrying food and liquid, as water can deal serious damage to the wood. Anomalies with the floor can also make for important questions to the seller. Likewise, the condition of the tires shows you a lot about the truck. While the tires might be new, it’s likely they’ll be the same tires the previous owner had installed. Check the treads for wear and damage. Tires with well worn treads might mean a lack of regular maintenance, and at the very least you’ll know another component you’ll have to replace or repair to figure in with your final budget.

Buyers Beware

The risk of buying a lemon are just too high not to perform your due diligence with background checks on any used vehicle you might have your sights set on. While you can certainly trust a dealer like DeBary Truck Sales, we know there are other options out there that might be less trustworthy. If you can’t verify a seller is worth your time, then they’re not. Move on to a dealer who’ll do honest business with you and who’ll be there to offer the support of service and repair down the road.

It’s never a bad idea to run a background check on a vehicle you’re ready to make an offer on. Write down the VIN and run that through a private service to find out the box truck’s history, whether it’s been reported stolen, totaled, etc. Buying a vehicle that doesn’t have a clear title or has a lien against it may forfeit ownership to another institution, so it is important to verify ownership.

Finding the right used box truck takes the right research, diligence when inspecting, and budgeting to make sure you don’t overspend. If you need more help finding a used box truck, head into DeBary Truck Sales in Sanford, Florida, near Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. We proudly serve our neighbors in Atlanta, Georgia and across the sea to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Panama!