Buying a Truck

Help us out here a bit. What are you going to use it for? Where will you be operating? What kind of loads/weights? Are you more concerned with how "cool" you look driving down the road, or is it profit you're after?

Keep in mind that driver technique can influence your fuel economy by 30% or more.

 

if you have $115,000 to spend, save some of it.


There are allot of trucks under 400k out there for under 40k.


GO to truck trader.


I would go with a freightliner columbia or century. 10 or 13spd

You want 22.5 low pro.
You want no outside air filters, and stacks behind the cab.

detroit is best for fuel, but imho C-15 is more reliable.


K

 

You know what they say about opinions and arse's...

I'd go with one of the aerodynamic designs... should pick up about 1 mpg just because you're not driving the narrow side of a barn into the wind.

- Cascadia, Pete 387 or a T2000 - something along those lines.

Don't plan on hammering down at 70 mph. Get used to driving slower to help keep your costs down. Fuel will be going up when the world economy heats up again. Gearing to put the "sweet spot" in the 55 - 60 mph range. For a Detroit, that means 3.55 rears. 10-speeds are good. Spend some money on really good tires - low rolling resistance Michelin's. Might want to think about a secondary oil filter and monitoring program to cut your maintenance costs.

Now... with the used truck market at an all-time low, why do you want to spend all that money on a new truck, and take the chance that you just bought a clunker?

 

The guy's going to do dry van... rates are pretty low even in the best of times. Needs to be fuel efficient. Cats pull hills great, but dontcha think its going to be a little thirsty?

 

Cascadia and ProStar's are being reported as the fuel economy champs, last T660 I heard of was doing around 5.75? Just check carefully.

But for running and making money can't go wrong with a Columbia. If you look there is a new unsold 2007 with 13spd in MI. Well in your budget. The '07 Columbia I was driving was getting 7+ consistently. Understand though, that was team driven, express freight and less than 10% idle time.

 

Good choices are t600 ,t660 ,9400i.I drove a t660 got 6.7 mpg 08,cat 475hp.If buying a trailer get a reefer and you can go eather way.