What do you think about this truck?

[Optimistic Paranoid]

So a local dealer has a 2013 F250 4x4 6.2 gas engine with about 50,000 miles on it.  It looks like it would be perfect for me.

However . . .

When I ran the carfax, it reported that the vehicle was originally sold and registered in Albert, Canada, as a "rental vehicle".  Not a "lease vehicle", a "rental vehicle".

That makes me vaguely uneasy, although I'm not sure just how much of a red flag it should be thought of as. 

I suspect that rental vehicles are often "driven like you stole it!".  And I wonder what somebody in Alberta would rent a truck like that for?  Work on ranches? In an oil field?  How much abuse should I be worried about, and why would the company that was renting it out dump it after only 50,000 miles?

Anyway, I'll throw the floor open to any thoughts or opinions any of you have on it.

Oh, yeah.  The dealer is asking $31k for it.

Regards
John

 

[ramblingvanman]

IMO, as a rental truck in rough country like that I would probably avoid it. I interviewed with Budget in their truck rental division once and did not take the position because I did not like their "patch it and get it on the road" way of doing things. Not saying all companies are like that, but caveat emptor rules imo. YMMV.

 

[jimindenver]

Well it was a lease vehicle, people just leased it for very short periods of time. LOL

Unless you find signs of abuse like a unlevel bed (overloading) it should be in great shape. We have a 11 year old F150 with 45000 on it and it runs like the day we bought it new. It has had oil changes, air filters and a set of tires but that's it. I am still waiting for the original battery to go out.

 

[cyndi]

My 96 e350 Clubwagon was a rental vehicle. I bought it with about 50,000 miles and traded it in with 250,000. It was still running strong, I just get twitchy when a vehicle gets close to 250,000 miles

 

[DannyB1954]

I think the people that want to hot rod something will rent a Mustang instead of a pickup.
50,000 miles isn't much wear and tear on today's vehicles. The price seemed high until I went on Craigslist to see what they are going for.

 

[LeeRevell]

In June 2014 I rented a new F150 4X4 V8 dual cab truck from Avis.  A mistake basically, as I wanted a small SUV but did not 'reserve' it early, so only the danged truck was available for my trip.  Nice truck, drove great, was fairly comfy for a big guy, and got quite good mileage (25 MPG).  I drove it from north Florida to middle Indiana and back with no problems.  Getting my elderly 78 year old Mom in and out of that tall monster was a job (and we carried her Concentrator and my C-PAP machines), though I did carry a small step stool for her.  That rig had bells & whistles my top-o-the-line 2005 Grand Caravan envied.  Did I say it was a nice truck?
No signs of abuse, and they require the vehicle be clean and fueled before returning it.  They feel like a sort of 'fly by night' operation here in Tally, but have been here many years.  So I likely wouldn't be worried buying a good looking and driving used vehicle from them, though only after a very thorough mechanic's inspection.

 

[highdesertranger]

what's the difference between a 4x4 and a rental car?.................(insert Jeopardy music here).........................................................................
................................................................................ a rental car can go anywhere.
highdesertranger

 

[DannyB1954]

They say if you want to get stuck take a 2 wheel drive off road. If you want to get really really stuck take a 4 wheel drive. If it don't have tank treads on it, one must use discretion.

 

[ilovemyvan]

Hi Optimistic Paranoid,

I'm originally from Montreal and so the fact that the truck is from Alberta raised a flag for me. It might have change but it used to be a lot of trouble to move a car permanently from Canada to the US. It involved all kind of paperwork and inspections. So why did the rental company move the truck here and not sale it in Canada? I would make sure that I have a few of these questions answered as well as prove that the paperwork is done right before I put out 31K of my hard earn money.

Good luck

Nicole

 

[Rackley]

Car Salesman here.

I deal in mostly new cars but I also sell used cars every now and then. First of all I love in the south and I dont like cars from up north. Other than that I am not a big fan of rental cars. If I rent a 4x4 I plan to take it somewhere I am going to need the 4x4. If I rent a truck I am going to need to tow something with it. If I rent a sports car I am going to smoke the tires and race it.

People dont just rent a truck because their car is in the shop. My bet would be that someone has dogged out that truck and that you might be better off with a different one.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Thanks to everyone who replied.  The question is now moot.  I bought a different truck yesterday and will pick it up from the dealer next Saturday.  2012 F250 4X4 Crew Cab, 40,000 miles, 6.2 gas engine, full tow package and factory electric locker on the 3.73 rear end.  It was a Ford Certified Pre Owned vehicle, so I get a 12 month/12,000 mile warranty, plus the original 7 year/100,000 mile power train warranty stays in effect. It was even my preferred color, white.  The price was more than I really wanted to spend, but not quite enough to make me scream and pull what's left of my hair out. 

Hopefully, I will soon start a separate build thread, complete -of course! - with pictures.

Thanks again, everyone.

Regards
John

 

[jimindenver]

Nice! Can't wait to see it.

 

[ilovemyvan]

Yay! Let the games begin.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I'm planning to do a variation on Bob's Van - Cargo Trailer set up.  In Phase One the truck will be set up as an Overlanding/Backcountry rig.  A winch bumper and winch, a cap with sleeping facilities and some under bed storage for tools and recovery gear, an AGM house battery and a single solar panel on the roof, and I'm going to pull the back seat out and convert that space to more storage for cooking gear and a 12 volt fridge.

Phase Two will be to acquire a Cargo Trailer and convert it into my fulltime living space.  It will serve as my base camp.  The timeline is to have it all done by next fall.  Expect it to be a somewhat slow build, but, hopefully, an interesting one.

Regards
John

 

[akrvbob]

OP, whoever dreamed up that plan was a genius!!! That's a great plan.
Bob