Buying a lorry from Miles away/Unseen?

3Beasties

3Beasties

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I've been lorry hunting for a few months and have struggled to find what I want within my budget, they either get snapped up really quickly or are way over priced (IMO anyway).

I've seen one advertised that looks to be exactly what I want, it's slightly older then what I want but is the right size, looks tidy enough and is within budget.

The problem is it's 3 hours drive away! I probably wouldn't consider going to see it in normal circumstances but it is in the same town as the rest of my family live so I don't mind going to see said lorry whilst paying all my family a long over due visit . We were planning to go up there a week on Friday anyway (having not been since Xmas - fate?!) but I'm panicking that the lorry will have been sold.

Have you ever put a deposit on a lorry before viewing it? or bought unseen etc?

It's my first lorry so don't want to end up with something that is going to be nothing but problems but at the same time I'd quite like a lorry that I can get some use out of before going into the winter! As I'm quite specific in what I want there are not that many about that fit the bill :o

So what would you do? hold fire and hope it isn't sold before I view it? or put a deposit down in the hope that it's as it's advertised? Any other ideas?
 
How much can you afford to lose? For the seller to take it off the market they would normally expect a healthy deposit. If you then come along and decide that you don't want it then you stand to lose that money.

But it's only three hours away. Why don't you just nip down and see it sooner?
 
Just DON'T buy a vehicle unseen. Even if you have photos, they often don't tell the whole story. I'm normally an optimist but when it comes to vehicles if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Phone the owners and ask a few questions first, including how much interest it's had. How long has it been advertised for? That may give you some clues as to how good it is.
 
Dee O'Dorant said:
But it's only three hours away. Why don't you just nip down and see it sooner?
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I can't else I would. I've got college and work all week and my dad is coming to visit at the weekend for Fathers day (typically he's coming from up where the lorry is! :rolleyes: ).

I guess the only other option I have is to beg my Step dad to come with me to see it on Friday afternoon, can see him not being all that keen on that idea though! :cool: :rolleyes:
 
Ask lots and lots of questions, including the all important unladen weight of the vehicle, and ask for some up to date pix.

If it really fits the bill get a specialist to inspect it for you; the inspection should cover roadworthiness, mechanical and main electrical functions, soundness, previous body repairs and so on, and a road test. If the report is OK you might then consider putting down a deposit before you can get to see it. Not ideal, but a little safer than buying a vehicle unseen.
 
Slightly Foxed said:
Ask lots and lots of questions, including the all important unladen weight of the vehicle, and ask for some up to date pix.

If it really fits the bill get a specialist to inspect it for you; the inspection should cover roadworthiness, mechanical and main electrical functions, soundness, previous body repairs and so on, and a road test. If the report is OK you might then consider putting down a deposit before you can get to see it. Not ideal, but a little safer than buying a vehicle unseen.
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I've seen recent pictures, got the weights and details etc :)

Getting someone to check it over is a good idea, will try and find someone that does it in the area that the lorry is! (Merseyside if anyone knows of a company).
 
OK, so you have family in that area, and let's face it, the important bits on a lorry are the bits that you would really want a mechanic to look at - so in your shoes I would use your local family contacts (if they are of any use) or yellow pages, and get a reliable commercial vehicle mechanic to go and give it the 'once over'.
If he gives it the thumbs up, you're most of the way there, photos will tell you pretty much want you need to know about the rest, I'd be happy to leave a decent deposit then - or if I was really sure about it, I'd pay up front.
In fact.... as another lorry hunter I may try this approach myself as not finding much locally! :D
 
Absolutely agree with CrazyDancer .... when looking for a lorry we did go and see one but agreed with the vendor that the purchase would be subject to a full "vetting" by a mechanic. We sent in a mechanic from the OHTO (this was a few years ago). Whilst this vehicle looked and ran fine, the list of problems with it was as long as your arm and would have cost nearly 2/3rds of the purchase price to put right. Needless to say we didn't go ahead with the purchase - lucky escape !!!!

Cannot recommend enough having a lorry checked out by a reliable mechanic - could save a lot of heartache in the future.

Good luck with your search.
 
Yes agree with above post - go with someone knowledgeable or get it checked over by a mechanic who has delt with boxes before.

I bought mine off a 'lovely' lady. She lied about the weight and I went to turn it on next day and it didn't start.
 
Ooh I wonder if it's my box?! (because clearly there couldn't be more than one in the merseyside area! Lol)

Good luck with the mechanic and box, if it is mine I can honestly say that absolutely everything in the ad is true and I really don't want to sell it, sadly needs must and all that :(
 
I used a company based in Kent to inspect the lorry I bought. The lorry was in Wales,and from what I could gather this company (and others) are quite used to travelling the length & breadth of the land to inspect horseboxes. Sorry, can't remember which firm it was but they did advertise on this forum at one time, that's how I found them.

I got a very thorough report, by phone, the same day of the inspection. I went on the train the next day and bought the lorry on the strength of this report, and I have been very pleased with it. I had to travel from North Devon to Wales but I'd been looking for months to find the perfect lorry, so it was worth the effort.
 
Dont buy it unseen - photo's only show you what the seller wants you to see. We brought a lorry two years ago from a lovely lady ??!! - it was supposed to be a 3.5 tonne (my driving licence restriction) for two horses. I did not get it inspected - but did drive to see it before we purchased it.

However, when it was due its MOT - it need £1100:eek::eek: worth of work doing on it to get it through . Brakes, fuel pipes etc etc. I bitterly regret not having it professionally inspected first. We finally took it the weigh station to check the weight and unladen it is 2.9tonnes, with a max laden weight of 5.5 tonnes.

So I can only drive it with one horse on and not much else !

It is currently off the road awaiting a new exhaust but will be up for sale pretty sharpish once its repaired !
 
I would never part with any cash unless I've seen what I'm buying.... Eek seriously if its really what u want drive and see it. If u want a younger one hang on and wait a bit. No need to settle for something on impulse. :)
 
We've done it (paid a deposit for a lorry we hadnt seen in person).

But we did so knowing that the £200 might be written off if it was no good when we went to inspect, and we also didnt expect it to be perfect. Unless you have that approach, it isnt a sensible thing to do.

NB re the last but one post, few 3.5T lorries can legally carry 2 horses plus their tack, riders, fuel and water so those wanting that combination really are going to be limited to new or nearly new ones made of very lightweight materials and be strict on what they carry (and weighbridge it before buying), or else (unless licence is pre 1.1.97) take a test to drive lorries above 3.5T. Most 3.5Ts have a payload of 800-1200kg.....

A licence restriction of 3.5T (all licences after 1.1.97 unless the lorry test is taken spearately and additionally) means that the licence holder cannot legally drive a lorry with a MAM over 3.5T so they are not allowed to drive a 5.5T or 7.5T lorry, whether empty full or part loaded..... maybe it's a good thing the 5.5T is off the road and to be sold, as you wont get 'done' :-))
 
Lol blair, if you've had lots of annoying message requesting pictures, measurements, weights, etc then it could well be your box.

I know the box isn't going to be perfect as it's old so the main thing is it's safe and isn't going to die as soon as I get it home!

My dads on the case for me, browsing his local yellow pages to find me someone to go and inspect it for me, think that is the best place to start :D
 
Lol probably not me then, I've had several enquiries and it's only been on the market a week or so, but none have been particularly annoying and the ad has unladen weight and quite comprehensive pictures.

Mores the shame...I might have been persuaded to take the gorgeous grey beastie as part payment...he's been in my thoughts!
 
I wouldn't buy unseen and you need a mechanic to look it over. I don't think lorries are selling that quickly at the moment so don't do anything rash.
 
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