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#1
08-03-10, 15:28
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Thinking of buying a race truck
Just wondered if anyone could highlight key things to look out for, pitfalls, positives, negatives etc etc. I see a lot of folks using Merc or Ford 7.5tonne trucks and it makes a bit of sense for me instead of motorhome plus trailer.
Never had one so dont even know where to start looking other than Pistonheads or racecars direct or the right age/ model / engine size. etc. Any advice most welcome. George 
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#2
08-03-10, 15:38
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George
I have trucked for many seasons now first in a DAF roadrunner with my Mallock / then Dallara - and now in a IVECO. As you say in your thread it makes a lot of sense - you can get a good truck for what most pay on their box trailers and with a modest budget can add suitable accomdation Some key issues: I have always had a 16FT box which are quite rare - 20ft is very common - this always allows you to fit them into paddocks where trailers are normally allowed - some are still tight !! You dont need one as groovey as Wallaces !! Buy a pre 2000 model - no speed restrictor....... The flexibility of a truck being able to arrive late slot into the paddock and crawl in the back to sleep I have found very good !! Buying something - people often have dillusions of granduer with what they are worth with accomodation in. You should be able to get a good truck for 4-5K I have seen similar to mine with old bits of Caravan bolted in for 10 K ...... allow 1K for tail lift mods and 1 K for accomodation. Any other questions PM your number and i will give you a call. Cheers Piers
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#3
10-03-10, 22:13
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George you have a PM
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#6
11-03-10, 20:42
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Try a 7.5 tonner with a sleeper-cab. It should have a working night heater as a very welcome bonus. You also get more 12/24v plugs depending on model/age etc.
Ex removal box trucks have extra storage/sleeping space in the body, over the top of the cab. Mercs are slow with a tractor gearbox,bits are expensive, but last forever. Ivecos rot in front of your eyes. Don't buy anything that's done local,50 deliveries a day type work. Thrashed to death. Check things like brake discs and calipers etc. Hellish expensive. Join a recovery network. Getting a broken truck home will involve the sale of your house..... Most trucks post 02/03 ish are 150bhp. Some are 120 and they lose 10mph in 5mph crosswind. Fuel consumption should be averaging 17/18 to the gallon. Keep your eye on the oil level. It WILL use oil. Older Ivecos have oil-filled front hubs. Generally speaking, if the cab is well looked after inside and out, the rest of the truck will be as well. It is a minefield though. Best advice is to get someone who knows what they're looking for to go with you. Costs could be significant if you buy a lemon. Have a look at Trucktrader to get an idea what the basic vehicle would cost before it's been kitted out for racing so you don't pay too much for the "modified" version. It is only a truck with a bit of mdf and foam after all.... Bodies are only bolted onto the chassis, so if it's the right truck with the wrong body , you can always look for a swap. If you've ever bought a bad car, multiply the cost by ten and you have a bad truck. In the commercial world, a truck has to be safety checked at a garage every 6 weeks and can only be tested at a Vosa station. I'm not sure if this still applies for personal use but worth checking,as is tachograph use etc. PP racing should have good info regarding this. Good luck and happy trucking!!
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All bound for moo moo land Last edited by siany1997; 11-03-10 at 21:42. Reason: more info
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#7
11-03-10, 22:39
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All but the latest generation of Iveco's use oil filled front hubs...
The latest generation moving to unitised sealed for life bearings.... You'll be hard pressed to find one with less than 150bhp these days and the pre common rail engines (75E15) are the most reliable.... The common rail models ,badged Tector , suffer with electrical faults quite regularly and engine management issues..... I would have no hesitation buying one of the older engined models (6 cylinder engine) and parts can be had quite cheaply as there are a lot of non genuine parts available for these....
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If your not confused.....You dont know what's going on..
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#9
12-03-10, 08:04
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Quote:
Pretty much the same as any other truck really.. Older pre common rail models are less problematic due to a significantly reduced amount of engine management and complex electrics....
__________________
If your not confused.....You dont know what's going on..
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#10
12-03-10, 09:08
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Make sure it has facilities equal to the famous Red lorry
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Everwhere I go I hear whats going on, and the more I hear the less I know
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