Buying a cheap, old cabover.

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by 8-j, Sep 23, 2013.

  1. 8-j

    8-j Light Load Member

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    I don't plan to do this for a while yet. I'm on with a flatbed company as a company driver, starting tomorrow. System Transport. They also employ O/O drivers and some of their freight requires cabovers. I've been thinking maybe my next move after I get settled in with them would be perhaps to go buy a cheap, old cabover and then go O/O next.

    But here's what I'm wondering. The price of some of these cabovers left over from the 80's and 90's can be as low as $5,000. I'm curious what kinds of problems can I look forward to if I go that option? I'm thinking it might be possible to save up $5,000 or so and just buy one outright. No loan.

    Are these trucks actually worth buying? Can I expect to get from point A to point B, or is it going to always be more like getting from point A to .... the side of the road, then a wrecker, then a shop, then point B?
     
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  3. Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    entirely depends on the truck, as with any truck 20+ years old condition is everything.
     
  4. ROBERTCADAMS

    ROBERTCADAMS Light Load Member

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    The most money I ever made in trucking was with a 1985 Peterbilt 362 cabover,this was in 2002 until 2007 when it was involved in an accident. I gave $1600.00 for the truck,it had a 3406 B cat,10 speed transmission,air ride suspension,tight old cab,frame was straight. the guy who owned it was trying to become a full time preacher and drive a truck at the same time and it wasnt working out so he had to decide what to do and the truck lost. After sitting in his yard 3 months his wife said she wanted it gone. He lived near me and we knew of each other and he knew i had a bunch of truck at the time so he stopped by and asked me if I was interested and being and old cabover fan and already running a 1982 362 on a dedicated run i said I would take it,I paid him and told him to just drop it off at the shop at my house with the paperwork.When I came back in a few days later the truck was there along with 16- 20' 3/8 tiedown chains, 8 ratchet boomers,8 breakover boomers,4 like new steel tarps and a couple of boxes of rubber bungee cords,breaker bars,height measuring bar and a bunch of other flatbed hauling equipment including a aluminum head ache rack. We didnt haul flatbed at the time but i was glad to get the bonus and i called him and he said he hoped i didnt mind him cleaning out his garage and getting rid of all the truck stuff he had!!!!! I said no are you sure you looked everwhere and got it all??? LOL a few days later he shows up with 2 extension ladders and some dunnage and says that he has it all,then he looks in the toolbox on his truck and hands me 2 cobra 29 c.b. radios!!!! I said thank you that is enough!!!! We checked the truck over,it had a 3 month old DOT inspection sticker on it,changed all the fliuds,air pressure on the tires, the oldest tires were 2-1/2 years old with the dates on the steers being 5 months old. We lettered the truck up,cleaned it real good and put it on a dedicated run i had hauling roof trusses of all sizes all over the place out of Nashville TN . for two years we run that truck on that run only replacing 1 air bag,a couple of airlines,shocks and winsheild wiper blades in adition to servicing it every 10,000 miles. Then after that contract expired and they started using there own trucks we started using it over the road until it was involved in an accident and tore the cab up to bad to fix. So we stripped the truck,sold the cat to a buddy as a core to rebuild for $1200.00 the transmisssion for 500.00 the rear cutoff for 750.00 then sent the rest to the scrap yard!!!! It would tote the wagon just like the 2 year old Peterbilt 379 we were running just didnt have the truck payment they did. In all the years we owned it it never left us stranded on the road!!! So you should find a good straight body,rust free frame,airride suspension cabover with your choice of power train for as cheap as you can get it and plan on restoring it,you will have a new truck for a small portion of what a late model truck will cost,and one of the first things i would do is have the wheelbase stretched to 250-260" to improve the ride and get you a good seat!!! some of the best sleep i ever got in a truck was sleeping on that feather matterres laying on top of that cat engine running and it raining outside-memories!!!! Some people will say I am crazy,i can only share what worked for me,cabovers are a little hard to get dressed in,but you get used to it,nothing is perfect if it was you would be rich and not worrying about driving a truck. My Papaw told me when I was young,everything in life has a certain amount of Bull connected with it,you just have to decide how much bull you are willing to take and go from there!!!!! Good luck on your future,Old abovers Rule!!!!! If you have any questions or I can help you dont be afraid to ask!!!!! Robert
     
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  5. OLDSKOOLERnWV

    OLDSKOOLERnWV Captain Redbeard

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    One of the best trucks I ever drove was a 1978 KW cabover with a tall sleeper and bunk beds, at 6ft-2in I could stand up and dress with no problem, truck had no power steering and no a/c but was a good truck.
     
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  6. FLATBED

    FLATBED Road Train Member

    Theres are still some good old COES in decent shape and not all that much $ being asked for them , as well there are some PAINTED UP , pieces of junk for sale, so take your time and check them out.
     
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  7. CobraDane

    CobraDane Light Load Member

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    I see CHEAP old cabovers pop up on http://www.truckpaper.com/ a lot. I have been curious and interested, but to much of a fraidy cat to become an o/o to seriously look at them. Please let me know what you end up doing. I am pretty interested in seeing your progress.
     
  8. Guntoter

    Guntoter Road Train Member

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    Im confused about a company "requiring" that you own a non compliant truck. Im guessing you were told about the old length laws. If thats the case, be careful. What is really necessary is a short wheelbase 2008 or newer truck (good luck finding a COE built after 2005). John Teresi (http://www.teresitrucking.com) had all COE's but had to go to 389's a few years ago. He still has a few Freightliner COE's on the road but they will be taken off the road in December (CARB makes them non compliant then). If you insist on a cabover and do not care about going to any ports or to California, Colorado, or Nevada, you should call them about their old trucks. I bought a few 362's from them and they were all very well maintained.

    BTW I dont know what law they may be referring to so it must be a (strange as it is) company policy to have COE's. Every state (even California) extended their length laws when nobody in the states offered cabovers as standard production trucks anymore (about 2005). You can still buy new Scania or Mercedes COE's but thats $200K or more to get one on the road here.
     
  9. spacetrucker88

    spacetrucker88 Heavy Load Member

    I still run a cabover. Have had it for 12 years nowhave been everywhere but Alaska and Quebec with it. 1994 Frieghtliner 3406C cat and 10 speed 6 miles to the gallon. Leased to a company my insurance is 540.00 a year paid 9500.00 for the tractor 12 years ago ,same engine clutch transmission and rears. Buy one and treat it like it is your grand mother and you should be fine,but if you hammer the pee out of it you will have trouble
     
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  10. Freightlinerbob

    Freightlinerbob Road Train Member

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    System has a bunch of old COEs in the truck paper right now. Ask them to sell you one.
     
  11. Milktanker

    Milktanker Medium Load Member

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    Sorry to burst your bubble but I'm with system now and have been talking to them about becoming an owner op. trucks are required to be 08 or newer
     
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