you're thoughs on buying used tri-axle trucks

I could really benefit from having a pusher axle. not for permitted heavy haul but in nd you can be up to 105,500 as long as you can bridge it. witch having a pusher would give me 92k on my side and 88k on my belly. i could maybe get a pusher on my current truck but id have to move a ton of stuff and even after removing the headache rack and sleeper fairings im not sure if i could get my trailer far enough forward to get the weight to the pusher. i would need a truck with a 2 line wet kit and a pusher. i also need no taller than a mid roof because i have a 12ft overhead door on my shop.

i would like something with at least a 13 speed or 18 would be preferred. would prefer a 60series or n-14 but would consider cat. it seems finding a truck with everything i need would probably be pretty slim. i think i would be best trying to find a truck that is already a tri axle with the motor and trans that i want and adding the wet kit, the last wet kit i had put on was around 4k. iv seen used pushers sell for that much before you even put them on.

my concern is buying a truck that has a pusher has probably been run heavy its whole life and wore out.

here is a few trucks i saw on truck paper that sparked my interest.

price seems good for the age, not sure on the mack motor as iv never drove one
http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=4990237

nice looking pete but 1.1mil on a 3406e
http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=5217815

i like this 2000 freight liner. but i think it would be a early isx vrs a n-14 and i would prefer a steerable pusher guessing that truck has been used for permitted heavy haul and price seems a little on the high side
http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=5270215

t-800 but 10 speed with 3.90's 60 series det
http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=4668934

id really like this western star if it wasn't a acert cat
http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=5159657

its cheap it has a n-14 and a 18speed and double frame
http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=4475651

not quite ready to buy a truck yet but looking and thinking and when i do i think i will keep my current truck as well and just use it as a spare truck. have a break down or need service or something i can just hop in my current truck and keep working.

you're thought's on double frame trucks, i need the extra axle for bridge not for permitted heavy haul need to be mindful of empty weight would double frame be worth it?

 

although i know my fuel millage is going to suck its still a concern. my current 60 series seems to average about 60-70 dollars less per day than guys i work with running acert cats. even though my millage can be crappy by otr standards at 4-6mpg depending on the haul. 4-6 is still better than 3-5

i think i agree with sticking to trucks with steerable pushers. i would rather have a steerable anyway. if i did end up with one with a heavy dual pusher id probably single it out and take two of the rims and tires off as they wouldn't be gaining me anything. the fact they have probably been run heavier would be a concern as well.

id also like to stay older than 03 newer than 1990. and prefer to stay under 30k and i don't have a issue with in framing the right truck as long as its got a good year or more before needing one.

 

http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=5159657
this should be the western star

 

im not quite ready to pull the trigger on a new truck quite yet just looking and comparing options right now. probably wont be ready for a few months yet. so i wouldn't ask you to go out of your way to check it out quite yet. i do appreciate the offer though