Get it inspected before you buy

Three ways to get a used 4x4 inspected

Run the VIN before you go

• NHTSA recall lookup ↗ FreeShows any open safety recalls. Ask the seller for proof the work was done, or plan a dealer visit.
• NICB VINCheck ↗ FreeThe National Insurance Crime Bureau’s check for vehicles reported stolen, or declared a total loss and not recovered.
• carVertical vehicle history report ↗ PaidAccident, odometer, title and damage-photo records from registries, insurers and repair shops. Cheaper than Carfax, though Carfax has more service records.

History reports only know what was reported. They need a 17-digit VIN, so trucks built before 1981 aren’t covered; for those, the paperwork, the frame and a specialist’s eye matter even more.

What to ask the inspector to check on a boxy 4x4

1. Frame and body rust, from the insideFrame rails behind the rear wheels, body mounts, rockers and sills, floor pans and the tailgate. Surface rust is normal; flaking or soft metal isn’t.
2. Every 4WD mode, on a loose surfaceEngage 4-high and 4-low, and the center diff lock if it has one. Listen for clunks and check that the dash lights come on and go off.
3. Each locker, one at a timeLockers that are rarely used often stop working. Engage each one and check that it locks and unlocks.
4. Leaks at the axles, knuckles and transfer caseWet axle seals, weeping front knuckles and a leaking transfer case are common and add up fast.
5. Steering and suspension playSteering box, tie-rod ends, ball joints and bushings. Lifted trucks wear these faster.
6. Signs of hard off-road useDented skid plates, bent tie rods or rock sliders, scraped diff housings, and crude wiring for lights and accessories.
7. The quality of any modificationsBrand-name lift kits, correct driveline angles and re-gearing for big tires. A cheap lift on a nice truck is a cost, not a feature.
8. Codes, readiness monitors and fluidsStored and pending codes, monitors that haven’t reset, and the color and level of every fluid.

Each truck also has its own weak spots. Find yours: best years and years to avoid, or open the guide for that generation and go to its Problems page.

Specialists who inspect these trucks

Shops and independent inspectors whose own websites say they inspect vehicles for buyers. Call first: availability, price and whether they’ll travel all vary. We have no business relationship with these shops.

Know a specialist who should be here? Email boxytrucks@gmail.com.