Model-Specific
Inspection Guides
The exact things that go wrong on specific machines, and what we look at to catch them before you buy. 67 guides and growing.
F-150
2011–2020Great trucks, but the 3.5 EcoBoost has two signature issues and the automatics can shudder. The engine choice drives everything you check.
ChevroletSilverado 1500
2014–2019The AFM-equipped 5.3 and 6.2 are the headline risk — lifter collapse and oil consumption. The 8-speed can shudder. Engine internals are the whole game here.
GMCSierra 1500
2014–2019Mechanically the Silverado's twin — the AFM V8s collapse lifters and burn oil, and the 8-speed shudders. Same checks, dressier trim.
Ram1500 (5.7 Hemi)
2009–2018Comfortable and capable, but the Hemi tick, broken manifold bolts, and air suspension are the recurring bills. The ZF 8-speed is a bright spot.
ToyotaTacoma
2005–2023Famously durable and famously resold high — but frame rust on older trucks and the 2016+ transmission's manners are the real inspection points.
ToyotaTundra
2007–2023The 5.7 is a tank with minor leaks and an air-pump quirk; the 2022+ twin-turbo is a different animal with its own engine concern. Identify which you're buying.
NissanFrontier
2005–2019Tough and simple, but one failure can total the truck: the radiator leaking coolant into the transmission. Check the trans fluid first, always.
NissanTitan / Titan XD
2016–2024The gas 5.6 is a solid sleeper; the Titan XD's discontinued 5.0 Cummins diesel is a parts-and-emissions risk. The badge hides two very different trucks.
Chevrolet / GMC2500HD Duramax (LML / L5P)
2011–2023Strong HD diesels backed by the bulletproof Allison — but the 2011–2016 LML carries the catastrophic CP4 fuel pump. The 2017+ L5P fixed it.
FordRanger
2019–2023A capable midsize with the 2.3 EcoBoost and 10-speed. Watch for the oil-pan leak and transmission manners; light-duty by full-size standards.
Chevrolet / GMCColorado / Canyon
2015–2022Midsize twins with a gas V6 or the 2.8 Duramax diesel. Timing-chain wear on the V6 and diesel emissions are the watch items.
JeepGladiator
2020–2024A Wrangler with a bed — which means the 'death wobble' and Pentastar leaks come along too. The optional EcoDiesel adds emissions risk.
HondaRidgeline
2017–2024A car-like unibody pickup — comfortable and reliable, but the VCM oil habit and early 9-speed manners carry over. No frame means collision history matters more.
Ram2500 / 3500 Cummins
2007.5–2018The 6.7 Cummins is a strong engine, but emissions tampering, front-end wobble, and exhaust leaks are the real story. Tuned trucks need extra caution.
FordF-250 / F-350 Power Stroke 6.7
2011–2019A strong diesel overall, but the CP4 fuel pump is the headline risk, and the early trucks had turbo and cooling issues. Fuel-system failure can be catastrophic.
FordSuper Duty 6.0 Power Stroke
2003–2007The infamous one. Untouched 6.0s are a gamble — head gaskets, EGR and oil coolers, and FICM define it. A properly 'bulletproofed' truck is a different conversation.
FordSuper Duty 6.4 Power Stroke
2008–2010Twin-turbo torque with thirsty habits — radiators crack, regens dilute the oil, and tuned trucks crack pistons. Short production run, real quirks.
FordSuper Duty 7.3 Power Stroke
1994.5–2003The legend. Mechanically tough and emissions-free, so condition and age beat any model-year worry — but watch the CPS, cold-start, and turbo pedestal.
Dodge / Ram5.9 Cummins
1994–2007The diesel people chase. Which version matters enormously — 12V dowel pin, 24V VP44 and the '53' block crack, then the strong common-rail. Transmission and front end are the soft spots.
Chevrolet / GMC2500HD Duramax (LB7–LMM)
2001–2010The classic Duramax era behind the bulletproof Allison. The variant is everything — LB7 injectors, LLY overheating, the prized LBZ, then the LMM's emissions.
Ram1500 EcoDiesel
2014–2023A torquey, efficient half-ton diesel — but EGR coolers, oil coolers, and a tangled emissions-recall history make service records essential.
320 Excavator
All seriesA workhorse excavator where the money is in the undercarriage, hydraulics, and final drives. Hours mean little next to measured wear.
KomatsuPC200 Excavator
All seriesKomatsu's volume excavator — same priorities as any 20-tonne machine: undercarriage, hydraulic pump health, and final drives, verified by measurement.
Caterpillar950 Wheel Loader
All seriesA heavy wheel loader where the transmission, articulation joint, axles, and very expensive tires carry the cost. Loose center-pin play is a major red flag.
BobcatE35 Mini Excavator
All seriesA popular compact excavator where rubber-track life, hydraulic drift, and the house-swivel are the cost centers. Rental units hide hard hours.
Caterpillar259D Compact Track Loader
All seriesA best-selling CTL where the undercarriage and final drives are the whole game — they wear fast and cost big. Rental hours are often brutal.
John Deere310 Backhoe Loader
All seriesA versatile backhoe where pin-and-bushing wear, transmission, and hydraulics carry the cost. Loose joints are the clearest sign of a hard life.
Case580 Backhoe Loader
All seriesThe other backhoe staple — same logic as the Deere 310: pins and bushings, the power-shuttle transmission, and hydraulics tell the truth about its life.
Caterpillar336 Excavator
All seriesA 36-tonne production excavator where undercarriage, main hydraulics, and final drives dwarf every other cost. Measure, don't eyeball.
Caterpillar308 Mini Excavator
All seriesA popular compact excavator. Track life, hydraulic drift, and the house swivel are the cost centers, and rental units hide hard hours.
John Deere350G Excavator
All seriesDeere's big-class excavator — same priorities as any 35-tonne machine: undercarriage, hydraulics, and final drives, verified by measurement and samples.
KubotaKX057 Compact Excavator
All seriesA top-selling compact excavator. Reliable, but rubber-track life and hydraulic drift still decide the price — and rental hours run hard.
TakeuchiTB257 Compact Excavator
All seriesTakeuchi built its name on compact excavators. Strong machines — but tracks, hydraulics, and the swivel still tell the real story.
VolvoEC220 Excavator
All seriesA 22-tonne Volvo excavator — undercarriage, hydraulics, and finals lead, with the D-series engine and emissions worth a careful look.
HitachiZX210 Excavator
All seriesHitachi excavators are prized for hydraulics — but undercarriage and finals still set the price, and the pumps deserve a real cycle-time test.
BobcatS650 Skid Steer
All seriesA best-selling wheeled skid steer where the hydrostatic drive, chaincase, and Bob-Tach reveal a hard rental life.
BobcatT770 Compact Track Loader
All seriesA high-flow CTL workhorse where the undercarriage and final drives are the dominant cost — and they wear fast under hard use.
Caterpillar262 Skid Steer
All seriesA capable wheeled skid steer where the hydrostatic drive, chaincase, and hydraulics tell the truth about its hours.
Caterpillar289D Compact Track Loader
All seriesA popular CTL where undercarriage and final drives dominate cost. Rubber-track life is the first thing to measure.
John Deere333G Compact Track Loader
All seriesDeere's high-capacity CTL — undercarriage and finals lead the cost, with EH controls and aux hydraulics to verify for attachment work.
KubotaSVL75 Compact Track Loader
All seriesA strong-selling CTL with a good reputation — but the undercarriage and final drives still wear fast and decide the price.
8-Series Forklift
All seriesToyota's benchmark lift truck — reliable, but mast, chains, and forks still wear to limits, and the SAS stability system must be working.
HysterH50FT Forklift
All seriesA common IC counterbalance forklift. Mast chains and forks are safety items; the transmission and engine carry the cost.
YaleGLP050 Forklift
All seriesA workhorse IC counterbalance lift. Same priorities as any sit-down forklift: chains and forks, hydraulics, transmission, and engine.
CrownFC Electric Forklift
All seriesAn electric counterbalance lift where the battery pack and drive system are the whole cost. A tired pack quietly halves the value.
CrownRR Reach Truck
All seriesA narrow-aisle reach truck where the battery pack, reach mechanism, and load wheels carry the cost. Built for high-cycle warehouse life.
RaymondReach-Fork Truck
All seriesThe narrow-aisle benchmark. Battery, reach mechanism, and load wheels are the inspection — built for relentless distribution-center duty.
CaterpillarGP25 Forklift
All seriesA common IC counterbalance lift in the 5,000-lb class. Chains and forks, hydraulics, transmission, and engine are the inspection.
KalmarContainer Handler
All seriesHeavy port/yard iron where the spreader, twistlocks, and massive tires are the cost. A failure here is expensive and dangerous.
CrownPE Electric Pallet Jack
All seriesA high-cycle electric pallet jack where battery and drive condition are everything. Cheap to overlook, costly to replace a worn pack.
510-56 Loadall Telehandler
All seriesJCB invented the telehandler and the Loadall leads the market. Boom wear pads, cylinder drift, and the load-chart system are the inspection.
GenieGTH-636 Telehandler
All seriesA common compact telehandler on rental yards. Boom wear, cylinder drift, and forks lead; frame leveling and stabilizers round it out.
GenieGTH-1056 Telehandler
All seriesA high-reach telehandler where boom condition and the load-chart system matter even more. Reach amplifies every bit of boom wear.
JLG1055 Telehandler
All seriesA workhorse 10k-class telehandler. Boom wear, cylinder drift, forks, and the tilt/level system are the inspection points.
SkyTrak10042 Telehandler
All seriesA fixed-frame telehandler relying on frame sway control rather than outriggers. Boom and cylinder condition plus frame leveling are key.
CaterpillarTL642 Telehandler
All seriesA common 6k-class Cat telehandler. Boom wear pads, cylinders, forks, and the load-chart system define the inspection.
S-60 Telescopic Boom Lift
All seriesA staple telescopic boom lift. Boom drift and structural condition are safety items; turntable, controls, and a current annual inspection round it out.
GenieZ-45 Articulating Boom Lift
All seriesA popular articulating boom lift with a jib and multiple pivots — more joints to wear, and boom drift is still the headline safety check.
GenieGS-1930 Scissor Lift
All seriesA best-selling electric scissor lift. Battery pack health, cylinder drift, and the pothole-protection bars are the make-or-break checks.
GenieGS-3246 Scissor Lift
All seriesA taller electric scissor where battery health and platform drift matter even more. Same checks as the GS-1930, higher stakes at height.
JLG600S Boom Lift
All seriesA common telescopic boom lift. Boom drift and structure are the safety story; turntable, controls, and a current annual inspection complete it.
SkyjackSJIII 3219 Scissor Lift
All seriesA simple, popular electric scissor. Battery pack, platform drift, and pothole protection are the core checks — known for straightforward serviceability.
RT9130E Rough-Terrain Crane
All seriesA 130-ton rough-terrain crane where wire rope, the load-moment system, and a current certification are non-negotiable.
National CraneBoom Truck
All seriesA truck-mounted boom crane where the boom, wire rope, outriggers, and load-moment system carry the same safety weight as a mobile crane.
CS56 Soil Compactor
All seriesA single-drum soil roller where the hidden cost is the vibratory eccentric system and drum bearings — not the paint.
LeeBoy8616 Asphalt Paver
All seriesA staple commercial paver where the screed and conveyor/auger system make or break mat quality. Heat and wear plates are the tells.
WirtgenW100 Cold Milling Machine
All seriesA cold planer where the milling drum, picks, and tool holders are the dominant cost — they wear constantly and cost a fortune to renew.