Salvage Title/Copart Tahoe?

[CJ Rodarme]

I'm currently in the market for another truck, preferably a Tahoe/Yukon/especially Escalade, but I would also be ok with a 1500 truck, even with the 4.3. Basically, unless there's some screaming deal I want a GMT800 half-ton truck, outside of that I could care less about drivetrain. I am realizing that lifting the truck I will be taking to college/dailying just isn't going to be practical lifted with a bunch of mods. But, I have a bunch of parts that I don't want to go to waste, and still want a "cool" truck. So I came up with getting a copart/salvage title truck. It'll be way cheaper, and I wont feel bad about ruining it with a big lift etc. Plus if I wreck, blow it up, etc. I wont be stuck, I can just pull my parts, junk it and get another junk rig. I'm not looking for resale value, so I don't care about the compromised title. I don't really have the money to buy a whole good truck, nor am I interested in it. As far as fixing a truck up, I am mechanically inclined to do most of the potential work to a truck. I used to work at a junkyard, work at a Les Schwab right now and have quite a bit of tools. I understand that I'd be taking on a project, but I feel that its smarter to save the truck that I know the full history on that's been well maintained instead of compromising it.

I wouldn't be comfortable with any body damage that can't be fixed by new panels. Body doesn't have to be perfect by any means but I don't want anything with a crushed in rear quarter panel. Front end damage would be "ideal" so I could do a cateye swap. Blown motor isn't ideal, but I could work with it. Blown tranny also not ideal, but I'd be more inclined to get one with a blown tranny than a blown motor since I can rebuild the transmission a lot easier than I could rebuild a motor (not that rebuilding a transmission is easy lol). Scratches, rust etc. I don't care, cosmetic damage really isn't an issue. No busted frames for sure.

So I would like opinions and advice on this. Especially if anyone has personal experience with something like this.

 

[Woodblocker55]

Salvage title . I made call not to buy one as I think gm service bulletins are enough to deal with .. now your adding buster bad socket in between. But everyone has there own opinion on salvage titles .
How good of rig inspector you are . What company rebuilt the rigs a big issue . Not says there isn't good ones out there . But it's a variable adder.

Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk

 

[Kraig]

I bought a 2002 Tahoe from copart—mine had a clear title although it had clearly been in an accident immediately prior to its arrival at the tow yard. It was a gamble but I’d do it again, and if I wasn’t worried about resale I wouldn’t worry about the salvage title.

 

[massivespl]

Search Craigslist for a ppv Tahoe or ssv. 2000-2006 are like 1k-3k and 07-2013 are like 5k-15k... pretty good deal

 

[iamdub]

Salvage title doesn't necessarily mean the vehicle suffered extensive damage. It just means that the vehicle suffered enough damage that the cost of repairing it met or exceeded a percentage of the vehicle's book value. With a GMT800, the book value is low enough that relatively minor damage is enough to "total" it, so you can get a structurally sound truck for cheap.

It seems you clearly know what to look for, so I'd say go for it.

 

[CJ Rodarme]

Search Craigslist for a ppv Tahoe or ssv. 2000-2006 are like 1k-3k and 07-2013 are like 5k-15k... pretty good deal

Unfortunately where I live tahoes carry their value very well and even ones with 250k+ are 3k. And don’t even get me started on how much Escalades are lol

 

[CJ Rodarme]

https://www.copart.com/lot/30426329

Seriously considering this one. Looks like someone hit the door while it was open. What could I expect to pay for a truck like this?

 

[Shaggy]

I bought a 2002 Tahoe from copart—mine had a clear title although it had clearly been in an accident immediately prior to its arrival at the tow yard. It was a gamble but I’d do it again, and if I wasn’t worried about resale I wouldn’t worry about the salvage title.

Exactly what I would do. Buy it to fix it and keep it. Not worry about selling it. Either way though, if you are keeping it, you would still need to get it off its salvage title to be able to insure it and license it.

 

[mountie]

" Hit the door when it was open"...... I tend to worry about the hinge areas......

That is quite the trick to fix correctly.

 

[CJ Rodarme]

" Hit the door when it was open"...... I tend to worry about the hinge areas......

That is quite the trick to fix correctly.

Good to know. I figured 4 bolts and a harness

 

[adriver]

the 4.3 gets worse fuel mileage than the 4.8 v8. I would never try towing with that v6. If you think you are comfortable with it, go test drive one to see if you are ok with that lack of power. If you are also going to put a lift, bigger tires, or go off road with it, there's more of a reason to avoid the v6 in the pickup. You can always do a swap with a low mileage pullout, but I would keep that in mind if a v6 pickup is your plan.

Considering you sound like you are willing to put up with a lot more cosmetic damage than most, I actually wouldn't go with a copart vehicle. I would bet that you could make an offer on something that most people would pass on locally. You could always act a little more uninterested when making an offer because of that damage, but at least you would know its a running driving vehicle. You then get to talk to the owner, who could ( HOPEFULLY; HONESTLY) tell you the history and current condition.

 

[mountie]

Good to know. I figured 4 bolts and a harness

A body shop can fix a door, when hit open..... BUT if the hinge post is not PERFECT it will never be right. Don't forget........ the hinge on the DOOR EDGE itself could also have been bent / repaired.

Even if it gets fixed, it very well could re-warp a year later. Repaired metal is not as strong at hinges, in the long term. So be cautious !! Have a warranty for the work, if you need work done.

Trust me on this...... I went through this with my ( since sold) '88 GMC C2500.

The GM bodyshop has a "tweak trick" to align the door.... It is only a band aid trick.
Which may have been already done, to close the door better, before you met the seller.

 

[BG1988]

Salvage title doesn't necessarily mean the vehicle suffered extensive damage. It just means that the vehicle suffered enough damage that the cost of repairing it met or exceeded a percentage of the vehicle's book value. With a GMT800, the book value is low enough that relatively minor damage is enough to "total" it, so you can get a structurally sound truck for cheap.

It seems you clearly know what to look for, so I'd say go for it.

my old car was worth 500 $ (many many problems )but they still sent me a 900$ check on my old car. and i still got to keep it which i sold it for parts for 900