First Bucket Truck... Pull the trigger or walk away

[burtonbc1400]

Hi I am looking at this 07 international 4300 60' terex rearmount. This would be my first bucket truck. It has 17000 hours, They're asking 60k CAD. The rearmounts are less common, This is the only one I've seen available in Western Canada. The exchange rate is prohibiting importing a vehicle. I'm concerned about the hours, but I think a full engine replacement for the DT466 would cost around 15000 CAD.
Thoughts, inputs, advice are appreciated.

 

[lone wolf]

Hi I am looking at this 07 international 4300 60' terex rearmount. This would be my first bucket truck. It has 17000 hours, They're asking 60k CAD. The rearmounts are less common, This is the only one I've seen available in Western Canada. The exchange rate is prohibiting importing a vehicle. I'm concerned about the hours, but I think a full engine replacement for the DT466 would cost around 15000 CAD.
Thoughts, inputs, advice are appreciated.

That's high hours for sure ,pass! Also the boom could need work, that main rotation bearing is a big cost.

 

[Chainsaw Pete]

Is that the correct hours, 17,000? Can you find an independent mechanic who knows these vehicles to look this over for you? Are maintenance logs available? The truck looks clean from your one picture, what is your impression of the vehicle (assuming you have seen it in person).

The engine is only part of the picture. The hydraulic system could be expensive to repair, not to mention the main bearing noted by @lone wolf.

 

[lone wolf]

Is that the correct hours, 17,000? Can you find an independent mechanic who knows these vehicles to look this over for you? Are maintenance logs available? The truck looks clean from your one picture, what is your impression of the vehicle (assuming you have seen it in person).

The engine is only part of the picture. The hydraulic system could be expensive to repair, not to mention the main bearing noted by @lone wolf.

Yup, those rotation bearings are stupid expensive. Put the boom all the way up as high as it goes and rock it with the controls and note how much play is there. 17000 is roughly what was on my old Bucket truck and it had lots of problems.

 

[burtonbc1400]

Is that the correct hours, 17,000? Can you find an independent mechanic who knows these vehicles to look this over for you? Are maintenance logs available? The truck looks clean from your one picture, what is your impression of the vehicle (assuming you have seen it in person).

The engine is only part of the picture. The hydraulic system could be expensive to repair, not to mention the main bearing noted by @lone wolf.

It's 5 hours away I am planning on looking at it on Sunday, but don't know if I should just save myself the trip. The truck seems clean, I'm waiting on the maintenance records and vehicle inspection. My brother in law is coming with me he's a commercial truck mechanic. Pricing, buying and selling is not necessarily in his scope of experience, just inspections, repairs, maintenance.

 

[lone wolf]

How about check out the seller's reviews on his Facebook or website before you go.