Thinking about trading my truck

I’ve got a 2016 prostar with a Cummins. I really like the machine, she’s been good to me and I’ve taken great care to do all my maintenance. Buuuut… I’ve got this itch. Possibly more than an itch. I’m a car guy at heart and I want to get back into a pre emissions truck.

i know those trucks weren’t all that great on fuel, I got about 5.5-6 mpg in the old Mack. I’m averaging 6.3-6.8 now with my prostar at 78k. With fuel costs being guaranteed to soar even higher in the near future I’m trying to justify this kind of move.

the emissions system on my truck is near problem free but it does require periodic maintenance and ever more expensive def. Urea shortage has made the price of def a lot higher. So I am starting to see a world where I can run a pre emissions truck for the same price. California rates have jumped off a cliff recently and fuel is insanely high so I can justify trimming them from the places I run. I run 64-68 mph most the time and I don’t want to run slower than 62mph. Are there any trucks with pre dpf emissions systems that can make these kind of mpg while running those speeds? I have searched for these kind of threads in the forums to no avail.

Bottom line it has to make sense from an operating cost point. I don’t want to be That Guy selling my 379 Pete dream truck because rates tanked and fuel is too high. I want a simple aero machine, good on fuel but without the complexities of these modern def trucks.

thanks for your time!

 

I’m already making $3.75 a mile. I don’t want my main squeeze to run out of money, they have to make money so they can keep me on the payroll! But speaking of raising rates, how long do you think these shippers can keep up these all time high rates?