Kjd2023

Looking to buy our first truck that we'll use to do general hauling once a month or so, maybe drive to work once a week and potentially pull a pop up camper once a month. Found a 2011 that had 1 owner, which was our state government. Asking price is $3500. It seems to drive fine. Interior is fine with exception of ripped drivers seat and exterior is fine with the exception of some missing paint where the emblems on the tailgate were taken/fell off. The problem - 291,000 miles. I can only assume a state truck was well maintained and we plan to have it checked out by a mechanic. But is it even worth it?

2008__XL

With out pics, trim, engine, 4x4 or 2wd, etc, no one can give you a good answer.

winchested

At $3500 for a full size truck regardless of mileage, that's a good deal, and you know it's been fleet maintained. Likely better maintained than 90% of private sales. I'd jump on it.

D-H

I've seen how gov't-owned vehicles get treated. I would stay away from this one, unless you can get them to come way down on the price.

svenny

Seems like a lot of highway miles.
I’ve worked a government job and they were pretty good about fleet maintenance.

No visible leaks, no hard shifting? I’d go for it.

my current truck was from a private sale on Craigslist for $7,000 and only had 66k miles. no regrets

char

I bought my 2013 FX4 SuperCrew cab with it all optioned out(not even sure what it comes with on the FX4), leather, navigation/large screen, triple black, etc. It had 198,000 miles, one owner that was a GC driving around from site to site. I paid $10,000 for it 1 year ago. I assumed it would be a project and so far I have done all the fluids changed, brake job, rear shock was blown, replaced both. Front spring broken, replaced both sides with new struts from KYB. Replaced the sway bar links, replaced the lower steering shaft (old was sticky). Leaf spring pads worn out, have the parts, have not done yet. New water pump and thermostat, driver side valve cover gasket replaced for oil leak, new a/c condensor and compressor.

I still have to put on a new windshield, maybe a RMS leak, I hope not, and has the cab corner rust issue in the early stages.

montanaman

Don't walk away - RUN

My 2011 has only 208,000 miles on it, and If I put down the entire list of what I've fixed on it you would think it not possible.

SSSam311

Not sure what your experience with "fleet" vehicles but what you are supposing is the complete opposite of the reality.
I owned a construction company for 20+ years and can tell you first hand how fleet trucks get treated.
I had one truck that had ZERO coolant in it for months... from the end of summer to the beginning of winter. It went into the shop for a "heater not working" issue first time the temp got below 40 degrees.
Not only was there no coolant but the radiator cap was on the battery. After that I started assigning vehicles to drivers as their primary responsibility for basic care.
Sure they did get maintained... typically the vehicles aged out of service with 250,000 miles or more. Many of them weren't pretty when sold... but certainly ready to work.

Bruski

They usually sell them when the cost of maintenance is not worth the vehicles value (I might be saying that incorrectly) but you get my point.

svenny

I’m confused, you said “the trucks are treated poorly” but also “ready for work when being sold”?
so should OP buy or not?
Also, Governments typically have each vehicle scheduled way ahead of time. They’re strict.

When I worked for govt, my work truck was taken from me on my lunch break because oil change was due. And it didn’t even need an oil change.

I know it didn’t need an oil change because, unlike a privately owned construction company, all govt CDL drivers are taught ahead of time to pre-trip our trucks daily (not everyone does it still)