I have a 2000 FLD. It it is excess of 1 million miles and is in constant need of repair. I am a port driver, formally a otr driver. I worked like a hebrew slave to pay for this truck and am afraid of having to do the same again. I haven't had an inframe. Recently replaced the clutch. I get discouraged sometimes when I think of this list of repairs I need. But on the other hand I dont have a truck payment. My credit isnt all that, so I would have to trade this truck in along with down payment. Would like to hear from drivers who were faced with this dilemma.
Should I continue to repair truck or trade it in?
Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by 30 Minutes, Sep 13, 2014.
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Keep it. Do the repairs. Get a rebuild done, rebuild or buy a reman trans, do the rears and repaint it. All this doesn't need to be done at once, but over a year, year and a half it can be.
C-WALSH, 30 Minutes and Joetro Thank this. -
Fix the mechanical stuff first so you can keep working, the cosmetics can wait till later.
C-WALSH and 30 Minutes Thank this. -
Eventualy all truck needs repairs. I would keep it .
C-WALSH and 30 Minutes Thank this. -
I am with all these other guys. It's nice to not have a truck payment. Hang on to the old girl and put some money into it.
30 Minutes Thanks this. -
he just might be on that one thing after another thing sympton. and might be a good idea to trade it in.
we don't know what engine he has, but the cost of a rebuild could also buy another truck.
op will have to sit down and do a cost analysis. of fixing his truck including rebuilding. compared to what he may find he might want to buy. but if he worked like a hebrew slave to pay for what he's got. and doesn't want to do it again. and he needs a rebuild and repairs. sounds to me like he's going to be working like a slave either way. not to mention loss of revenue for downtime repairs. that rebuild won't be a quick job.
i know a few, that just simply traded in for a new/er truck. when i was in that situation, i gave the truck back while i still had money in the bank.
to the op, what's your repair list and a estimated figure to fix everything back up????? so that the truck might be reliable once again.
then figure out your loss of revenue. for those repairs.tsavory and 30 Minutes Thank this. -
Who is to say that the next truck won't hit you with unexpected repairs. If you get a newer truck with a payment and get hit with downtime and repairs it could suffocate you. I would keep making repairs and work to improve your credit. I was never faced with your situation. For many years I simply bought a new truck and made payments. Now I have an old truck and make repairs. I like this approach much better. I miss the shiny truck but I LOVE no payments.
jbatmick and 30 Minutes Thank this. -
I like no payments also. I do the repairs and keep old truck. My truck has 1.5 million miles. I bought it used with 1 million. IF you can continue to work while doing repairs that's great. You say you work port. Do you have to get a newer truck because of where you run. Such as California.
30 Minutes Thanks this. -
Your costs in up keeping your old engine/truck will not exceed what it costs to do the same on a newer truck with emissions .You KNOW what you have now and KNOW whats needing to be done to your FLD.
Cant say the same for an emissions truck .30 Minutes Thanks this. -
why is the truck in need of repair so much at one time/ do you replace things only when they break? or is it the port trucking not generating enough revenue to keep it maintained?
30 Minutes Thanks this.
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