Problems I've personally had/seen on GL vehicle auctions in only the
last three months:
- GL description said dead batteries - during preview I saw that the truck had NO batteries
- Two of the 5 trucks I've bought had NO BRAKES. Only one of those two could be partially fixed by just adding fluid and bleeding.
- Saw a M35A2 with all new bows in back - except one that was rusty, pealed paint, and broken in half.
- None of the 5 trucks had any tools like a lug wrench or jack
- Two trucks of the 5 trucks were damaged by GL forklifts AFTER the auction photos were taken. (To be fair, GL did provide a partial refund, but I still need to repair them)
- The air conditioner in the aution photo of an M109, and which was there when I previewed it, was removed by DRMO while I was waiting for the EUC. They said it policy said it could not be sold with the truck - I now have a hole in the front of the Shop Van for free ventilation and natual flushing during thunderstorms. (We happened to have over 6 inches of rain between the close of the auction and the time I got it home.) I suspect they also damaged the soft top while removing the AC to the point that the stitching came undone along the front during the trip, and I need to buy another top.
![Evil or Very Mad :evil: :evil:](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/icon_evil.gif)
- Saw lots of trucks during preview auctions that had flat tires (not just M35A3s), missing spare tires, missing tool racks, engine shut off switches that could not be pushed in (can't start the truck), missing ladders, other missing instruments, starters and engine parts that did not show up in the auction photos. Some photos have been of the wrong truck entirely, or have photos of a different truck mixed in with the correct photos.
- Only one of the 5 trucks ended up being exactly what I thought/hoped I was getting! And that was with a preview inspection on three of them.
![Exclamation :!: :!:](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif)
I'm still bidding, but I do so by fully accepting the risk that the next truck may end up being an expensive parts vehicle without all the parts. If you are only wanting to buy one or two vehicles, I'd recommend buying from an honest private party, where he can tell you what he knows is wrong with it (most of these trucks are around 40 years old, so there is
always something that needs fixin'). You can take your time checking it out before you commit to buying it, maybe even test drive it. You can also pick it up on your schedule, and not just limited to Tue, Wed and Thurs in the two weeks following approval of the EUC.
Good luck bidding, cause you're going to need it.