Looking into trying out GL and see an operational truck at a base a few hours away... Under security procedures, it says "Driver's license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance." --- would I be right in assuming this is just for the vehicle you are driving into the base? Anything else needed to drive a truck out of the base other than EUC/paid-in-full invoice? Trying to clear up the first-time butterflies.
I have access to a semi/dovetail if that would be of any advantage over just checking and driving. I could always get the dovetail if I broke down en-route; would prefer the truck moved as far as possible under its own power unless I'd have to do time-consuming paperwork to do so.
Thank you
Tow/Haul it home.
You are buying an unkown truck that you have zero clue about the operating condition of. At a minimum it sat for 3-6 months before the sale, often a year or more, with zero maintenance. During this time it is likely parts were stolen or swapped. If you are a fits time buyer the truck will sit another 1-3 months while you wait for an EUC to clear.
By military standards a truck that has a unkown maintenance history that has sat like that is not considered safe for operation until the annual service/PMCS has been conducted. That means start with the -10 manual, do every step there under PMCS, then go to the -20 manual and do every step there under quarterly, semiannual and annual service.
You can't do that on the lot.
That military guideline is a good safe one for everyone to use when determining if their new GL purchase is ready for the road. It is good for your safety, good to avoid damaging your truck, good to avoid expensive tow bills, and most importantly good for the safety of all the people you are sharing the road with. I have seen GL fresh vehicle where the wheel bearings were shot and they lost wheels, where the brakes were mostly full of water, where the tires had been sitting flat for months and were just pumped up, and they failed 5 miles later- I could go on and on.
In addition you will not have a valid title or registration in your name. You can insure it, but you still won't be legal for highway operation. Are your pockets deep enough to handle the lawsuit if something goes wrong and you hurt somebody and the lawyers drag you into court for operating an unsafe, unregistered, just sold as salvage vehicle on the road? Trust me, the hauling bill is far cheaper than the potential legal bills.
