SWAT310

I am picking up a truck next week ( that I'm being given by a family member ) in pensacola. I plan to use the truck for pulling the boat and hunting ( it's a 2001 f150 4x4 ) and not much else. I don't know much about the rebuilt titles. From what I gathered the rebuilt title comes from a salvage title that was repaired and inspected in Florida.

I am keeping the truck because of the very low amount of money I will have in it. I was told by the owner ( Uncle ) that the truck washit in the sideabout a year ago and the bed of the truck was replaced with a new one. The frame was not damaged ( so I was told ). The new bed was installed by a body shop and painted to match the rest of the truck. I know that it's not uncommon for an insurance company to " total " a vehicle that was wrecked, even though it can be repaired.

I need the name of a good body shop in Pensacola that I can take the truck to for a quick inspection. I just want to be sure that the frame is straight. I looked at the tires and all 4 have an even amount of wear on them, but that is about the extent of my observation. I do know that the truck has been driven about 5k miles since the repair.

Anyone think that I'm wasting my time with the inspection ( since one was performed before to make the title " rebuilt " as opposed to " salvage ").

I'm just wanting a place that I can stop in, give the mechanic some cash, and have him check it out. I'm not worried about resale value or anything else, I'm just worried about structural problems that may come up while pulling the wife's boat.

angus_cow_doctor

I would not pay money for what you are describing. (the inspection, that is)

If it goes down the road and pulls the boat ok, then let it be.

If you are worried about structural problems, take it to a regular mechanic, not a body shop. If the alignment of the wheels is ok, and nothing crazy happened (like driveshaft being knocked out or axle springs getting splayed out due to impact) then it should be fine.

Point is, it is a cheap ride. Don't make it an uncheap ride by pouring money into it that is not necessary. Otherwise you could have gone and bought a "regular priced" ride. JMHO

wld1985

Pretty Much the same thing the doc. Said... As long as it drives straight down the road, and the frame looks straight from underneath and thebody panels line up pretty goodit should be good.. Just make sure when u get insurance on it, you take it and have it inspected by a shop ( No charge to you) they will charge your insurance company.. But it just says that all the body panels and glass is in place.. If you get insurance on it and get in a wreck, they will just have some fuel to start a fire with saying they would'nt pay for everything..

swhiting

My knowledge is a couple years dated.... but, this is a fishing forum so I'm casting anyway....



In Florida, if an insurance company settles on a claim, they may take possession of the vehicle or not. In either case, title work is processed and, depending on the ratio of the monetary damage versus the value of the vehicle, the title is branded Rebuildable Salvage or NONREBUILDABLE Salvage.



If the title is branded Rebuildable Salvage, then there is a process of repair and inspection in order to get a tag again. The title will retain the Rebuildable Salvage forever, though.



If the title is branded UNREBUILDABLE Salvage, guess what??????



(edited....and don't think about going to AL and bringing it back to get a FL title....., this is a nightmare scenario for some unsuspecting buyers, OUCH!)

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Buckyt

I have bought several rebuilt, salvaged vehicles in Ga and have gotten good service from all of them. If I were "given" a free truck by my relative, I wouldn't worry much about it. Surely they wouldn't give you a vehicle that would not be safe to operate. If it goes straight and stops when you tell it to, it's probably ok.

My Dad told me "not to look a gift horse in the mouth". Hmmmm, I never knew what that meant.