I want to be hands ON, how?

Hello everyone, I'm a 24 year old owner operator looking to become more knowledgeable in working on my own truck(s). I have had my CDL since January (long time I know) and I have a 2010 Prostar that I bought a few months after getting my CDL and I'm doing pretty good at running successfully. I have a pretty good amount of money in reserves around 40k of cash, and another 10k in credit. Like many of us, I want to someday own that 379 Peter or that W900 etc. (the dream trucks). But I know that unless I have mechanical abilities, owning one of those and staying profitable is a hard task (esp for a newbie like myself). I've been researching and reading threads like Blair and DY's noticing something needing hands on attention is a frequent occurrence and of course doing my own work will save cash, keep me from getting hosed as much, and overall feel more rewarding. I eventually want to have that dream truck (I like Old Mans!) running for Landstar, Mercer, or my own numbers. Making good money, while showing my old lady the road. I know a lot of guys learned from working with their fathers, uncles, etc. learning to work on things. Coming from a single mothers home, I didn't have this opportunity.

How can I learn to work on my truck things that may break, do preventive maintenance, and overall learn everything about how a truck works to keep my truck running A1 to avoid costly tows and mechanics.

I want a pre 99 truck anyway so I was thinking of maybe spending $10k on a truck and use it to learn.
What is there out there to teach me how to become mechanically inclined, Suggestions Please! How did you learn? This will help me be a better business owner, so its really bothering me to learn, but I can't just enroll in some Diesel Mechanic college because I still work. I just don't want to get hosed so much while away from my mechanic that I use now.

 

Thanks driver, everyone says "You have a truck already?! You haven't even had your license a year yet". So I want to thank you for actually offering help and not stating the obvious.