Dually w/3-4 wedge, Medium duty w/ 4-5 car or semi w/7-10? Please help

I too started with a 1999 F-350 Dually 4x4 with 7.3 Diesel, (NO 6.0's) here! Pulling a 3 car Take 3 wedge trailer and running 100-700 mile hauls. I found that

it takes 1 car to pay for the fuel, 1 car to pay for insurance,wear and tear, and maintenance, and the 3rd car I guess you could say is your gravy???

And just bought a 2000 Pete 379 and looking for a 6-7-8 car hauler to haul more for around the same fuel burned? Insurance will be higher and tires are

higher, as well as oil changes, but hey! you can haul 300 gallons of fuel, less stops= More Productive.

Now this is my opinion after 7 months behind the wheel of a 3 car operation.

Good Luck in whatever you choose.

 

I just recently lost my job and i am tired of working for other people, i want to get into the car hauling business. Ive been a truckdriver for over 10 years now and have driven long distance and local. What is the best way for me get started? Right now i have a 03 gmc 2500hd extended cab truck and an 18ft car trailer with an 8k lb winch. I have about 3k to invest and i can sell my truck and trailer that i currently have. I really need some good advice as to what will be my best option, while keeping in mind that i feel like god is telling me to go for it right now. Also im currently getting unemployment and i want to take full advantage of my situation right now so i dont have to work another regular job trust me im just not made to work for anyone but myself, even when i was working i was scrapping cars on the side, buying and selling im just an entrepreneur at heart, i cringe at the thought of working for someone else. Thanks

 

Hey IF your a huslter, ready to SUFFER a bit for your money... you will do great! LOL, .. DOn't go into this thing with just $3k to play, 10K is the absolute minimum.. especially if you have dependent's.. There's a learning curve... Forget about not working for someone...Your trading one boss that must pay you something for several who might pay you nothing.... Be prepared for that .. I get guys calling me all the time that wanna lease purchase, " don't wanna work for anyone" they tell me.. then when the truck breaks n eats their pay check..I'm the bad guy... Even NEW TRUCKS break down... N your going to have Damages, real or imagined .. they all cost the same.. n they get paid before you eat.

 

I figured I would get a rather negative response but I'm gonna go with the sarcastic part of your comment and turn it into the truth, yes you're absolutely right I am a hustler who is ready to suffer a bit for my money, so i guess "i will do great", I mean why not I've been suffering working for the man all my life always afraid to step out on my own because of what people might say or think about me but this time I'm gonna go for it and just to prove to myself that I'm serious(notice I said to myself) I just bought a nice 2 car wedge and traded my 1 car trailer last night. I'll keep everyone updated because I am laser focused on my goal and no one can stop me but the all mighty.

 

Alot depends on where you are too, if you're in an area that isn't really busy, you're gonna have alot of dead head just to get loaded. Also, be aware, every Tom, Dick and Harry thinks they can jump in with a 3 car wedge and make money, and in this bad economy, with people looking for work, it's even worse, they underbid just to get work and most are gone in 6-8 months. Also be aware auto transport insurance is expensive!!!!! Really look into this before you make the jump, if you look it over and decide it's for you , Good Luck.

 

Thanks for the advice, right now I'm trying to get my 2 car wedge trailer titled in my name and im also trying to sell my 03 gmc 2500hd gas 6.0 and get me a diesel dually I've located a 1994 diesel ford dually with a 350 engine for 3000 bucks so if I play my cards right it shouldn't really cost me to make the switch also I feel like I have absolutely nothing to lose right now even if it doesn't work out, worst case scenario I fail miserably and go back to a regular job and I still have a need for the dually and the 2 car hauler because I buy cars from people often to make money whether it be reselling or scrapping. Ive been wanting a 2 car hauler for a long time and this one is really nice and built tough and I could use it for other things such as changing oil and cutting off cats and stuff because it has the big opening in the center it's also fairly new and was converted from a 3 car hauler but it can still haul 2 large vehicles and 3 small cars I also want to mention the guy I bought it from lives in an amazing 1.3 million dollar home I was totally blowed away.

 

That 1994 is TOO old and doesn't have the power, you're wasting your time and money doing that. Be aware, you're downpayment on insurance, being a new operator is gonna run between $2000-4000.

Just because he lives in a $1.3 million dollar house, doesn't mean it's paid for.

 

Thanks for telling me i probably wont fool with the 94 dually then. Heck i may just use what i got at least i wont have any payments except insurance and whatever other expenses i have to deal with. Are you sure my insurance down payment will be that much? Somehow i just dont believe it.

 

I have seen the price on hauling rise very little when the fuel went up and now hauling prices are dropping rapidly and fuel is going back up? By the time the load boards catch up with the fuel prices we are still hauling for minimum wage. Just find a good source to get loads and calculate your mileage and expense. A 3 car hauler usually takes 1 car for fuel, 1 for hotel, and 1 is yours for: tires,oil,tags,insurance,food,etc......