Buying a Refurbished HOWO Truck? Check What Was Actually Replaced

Buying a Refurbished HOWO Truck? Check What Was Actually Replaced

Two refurbished HOWO trucks can look almost identical in photographs. Both may have fresh paint, a clean cab and tyres that appear new. The quotations may describe both as “fully refurbished.”

The work behind those photographs can be quite different.

One truck may have received routine servicing and cosmetic repairs. Another may have had specific mechanical faults repaired, worn components replaced and the completed work checked. Before comparing their prices, you need to know what each quotation includes.

Start with a simple question:

**Can you provide a written refurbishment list for the exact truck being offered?**

That list gives you something useful to discuss during a factory visit, compare with another supplier and check before accepting the vehicle.

1. Establish which truck the refurbishment list belongs to

A general description of the supplier’s workshop process tells you how the business operates. For a purchase decision, you also need information about the individual truck.

Ask the supplier to connect the quotation, photographs and work list to the same chassis or vehicle identification number.

Record the advertised model, original manufacturing year, engine information, drive configuration and steering position. If the cab, engine or body has been replaced, ask for the details of the assembly now fitted.

For a HOWO 371 truck, the horsepower description alone does not establish its full specification or condition. Confirm the engine and transmission information on the actual vehicle.

Keep the original manufacturing year separate from the refurbishment date. A truck prepared for export this year may have been manufactured much earlier.

2. Ask what “engine refurbished” means

Engine work deserves its own discussion because the same phrase can describe very different jobs.

Replacing oil, filters, belts or external seals is different from opening the engine and repairing internal components. Cleaning or repainting the engine does not establish that an internal overhaul took place.

Ask the supplier to describe the work in ordinary terms:

- Was the existing engine retained?

- What fault or condition led to the work?

- Which parts were repaired or replaced?

- Was the engine dismantled? If so, what was inspected?

- What checks were completed after reassembly or servicing?

- Are workshop photographs, replacement records or test results available?

If the quotation says “new engine,” clarify whether that means a factory-new assembly, a rebuilt assembly or another used engine fitted to the truck.

Request the model and identification details of the fitted engine. Where replacement parts are specified, confirm the part numbers and whether they are genuine manufacturer parts or another agreed brand.

A short starting video can be useful, but it cannot establish every aspect of internal condition. Discuss any additional testing with a qualified technician and agree what the results need to show.

3. Make the tyre description specific

“New tyres” is a small phrase that can hide several unanswered questions.

Does the quotation include all road tyres or only selected positions? Is the spare included? What size, brand and load rating will be fitted?

If existing tyres will remain on the vehicle, ask for their condition to be recorded individually. Useful information includes tread measurements, production markings, visible damage and uneven wear.

Request close photographs of the sidewalls as well as the tread. A distant photograph of a freshly cleaned wheel tells you very little.

Write the agreed tyre specification into the order. Do the same for any promised replacement batteries, lights, seats or other accessories. This makes it easier to verify the finished truck.

4. Separate chassis and driveline work from paint preparation

A clean, painted chassis is easier to present in a sales photograph. You still need to understand its condition before preparation.

Ask whether photographs are available from before cleaning and repainting. Discuss any known structural repairs, corrosion, deformation or previous modifications with the person inspecting the truck.

The gearbox, clutch, axles, steering, suspension and brakes also need clear descriptions. “Checked” and “replaced” are different entries on a work list.

For each significant item, establish:

- What was inspected.

- What condition or fault was found.

- What work was completed.

- How the result was checked.

There is no reason to assume that every original component needs replacing. Equally, retaining a component should be supported by an assessment of its condition.

For safety-related systems and structural concerns, use a qualified commercial-vehicle inspector or technician. An exterior walk-around cannot settle every mechanical question.

5. Include the equipment that makes the truck useful for your work

A refurbished HOWO dump truck needs attention beyond the cab and engine.

Include the dump body, subframe, hinges, tailgate and hydraulic equipment in the discussion. Ask what was inspected or repaired on the pump, power take-off, cylinder, hoses and connections.

If a replacement body is included, confirm its internal dimensions, material specification and agreed plate thicknesses. Body volume alone does not establish the truck’s permitted payload.

For a refurbished HOWO tractor truck, include the fifth wheel, its mounting and locking mechanism, along with the air and electrical connections used with the trailer. Confirm compatibility with the trailer you intend to operate.

Any operating demonstration should be arranged and carried out by trained staff in suitable conditions. Agree in advance which functions will be demonstrated and which inspections require separate equipment or testing.

6. Turn the promises into a short, usable record

The refurbishment record does not need to be a glossy brochure. It needs to make the work traceable.

A useful record contains:

- Vehicle identification and the date of inspection.

- The condition found before work.

- The work agreed with the buyer.

- The repairs and replacements completed.

- Identification of major replacement assemblies or specified parts.

- Photographs and the results of agreed checks.

- Outstanding work, known defects and exclusions.

- The person or organisation responsible for the inspection.

Be precise about the scope of an independent inspection. Confirm what will be examined, what report you will receive and which tests are excluded. Inspection services use agreed procedures and reporting scopes; the package should match the questions you need answered. [SGS explains its used-vehicle inspection and reporting process here.](https://www.sgs.com/en/services/used-vehicle-inspection)

If records of earlier work are unavailable, note that limitation. Current photographs and a new inspection can help establish present condition, but they do not recreate a missing maintenance history.

7. Compare quotations against the same requirements

Suppose two quotations offer a refurbished HOWO dump truck with similar advertised horsepower.

The first includes servicing, cab repainting and selected tyre replacements. The second includes a different tyre package, specified mechanical repairs and a replacement dump body.

Those are different offers. Put the included work side by side before deciding which price is better.

Confirm whether inspection, transport to the departure port, loading and shipping are included or quoted separately. Ask how any additional repair discovered during preparation will be approved and priced.

Where a warranty is offered, request its written terms. Check the covered components, period, exclusions, claim procedure and responsibility for parts and labour.

The comparison becomes much clearer when both suppliers are responding to the same vehicle requirements and refurbishment scope.

8. Use the visit to check the truck and the paperwork together

A visit to China is most useful when you arrive with a specific vehicle and a clear list of questions.

Before travelling, confirm where the truck is located, whether it is available for inspection and what stage the preparation has reached. Agree which checks can be carried out during your visit.

At the site, match the vehicle identification to the quotation. Review the work list beside the truck, discuss any changed specifications and ask for unclear items to be explained.

If preparation continues after your visit, agree how the remaining work and final condition will be verified. An inspection of an unfinished truck and acceptance of the completed vehicle are separate stages.

At Jinan Mingxinhua International Trade Co., Ltd., we supply used and refurbished HOWO trucks and welcome overseas buyers to visit our facility in China and inspect the vehicles before making a purchasing decision.

When contacting us, tell us the truck type, quantity, destination country and intended work. We can then discuss the vehicles you are considering and the arrangements for a visit.

Before you confirm the order

You should be able to identify the truck, describe the refurbishment included in its price and explain how the completed work will be checked.

If the quotation still relies on phrases such as “fully refurbished,” “new engine” or “new tyres,” ask for the details while there is time to clarify them.

For model and configuration background, see our [HOWO 371 specifications guide](https://mxhtruckexport.com/article/howo-371-truck-specifications). If you are choosing a tipper for a project, our [used HOWO 6x4 dump truck buying guide](https://mxhtruckexport.com/article/used-howo-6x4-dump-truck-buying-guide) covers the operating information to prepare before requesting a quotation.