When to trade trucks?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by istumped, Apr 16, 2021.

  1. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

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    You bet.

    I just sold three 2019 trailers for $5000 less then what I paid for them 3 yrs ago. Never did a thing to them but grease and get yearly inspections. Nothing at all. So, under $1700 per year in cost of ownership? That’s insane lol. So during that time I paid the loans off and then just flipped them into brand new trailers that are owned outright. That’s how you get ahead over time.

    I have a 3 yr old Kenworth that I could have sold for 85k but decided not too. It’s been rock solid and getting new teucks right now isn’t the easiest. So, I decided to keep it but 2 yrs from now I doubt I’ll be pleased with the decision. Trucks will be cheap but new ones will be even higher. It’s just right now rates are so high I couldnt afford to cut capacity.
     
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  3. roundhouse

    roundhouse Road Train Member

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    Nice looking rig if it’s the one in the avatar!

    I built a shower and chemical toilet in mine.
    And I had a much smaller sleeper than that.

    If you just keep repairing what breaks, and replacing consumable parts like water pumps and air compressors and alternators —before—- they go bad, it will last forever, or until a certain political party outlaws older trucks.
    The B-52 bombers are way older than any of their pilots and crew. But if the maintaiinance and repairs are vigilant any machine can be kept in service forever.

    you’ve already taken the depreciation hit , so the Maint and repairs Probabaly won’t cost any more than the depreciation on a new one.
     
  4. stillwurkin

    stillwurkin Road Train Member

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    True. Also certain brands mechanically and cosmetically in nice ,shape keep a decent value. What i am staying is once so old the market for resale is still there. I have a 2001 379 pete. I put 26k into it last year. But my situation like differs like most. That bill is paid and that gives me freedom that i like. Not a 1500 or 2400 payment over my head that keeps me to the grindstone. But that me.
     
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  5. bzinger

    bzinger Road Train Member

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    Agreed and I'm not concerned about resale because I know what I have and it will always be worth more to me than it is to anyone else .
    The truck has been payed off for 2 years and in 2 months the inframe new apu will be paid off ....deleted too.
    I'm looking forward to no 1800.00 a month payment on a truck that is good to go for a long time yet , Ill run as I have until late fall and drop back to about 6000 miles a month then focusing more on the improvements I want to make on my home .
     
  6. bzinger

    bzinger Road Train Member

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    In another 4 years when I fully retire from trucking this truck will go to Taylor Martin in South souix city Nebraska and most likely end up on a farm in Nebraska or Iowa... or go to Mexico to live out it's final days .
     
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  7. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

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    I doubt it. It’ll sit in the drive and you will get out and play trucker once a month. ;)
     
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  8. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    Around 1.6 mill on my 21 year old truck, do I trade?
     
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  9. bzinger

    bzinger Road Train Member

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    Lmao ...no my friend as good of care as i take of it its a tool for making money and when it doesent provide money it will go to the auction for whatever it brings...will admit tho while swapping trailers at a customer in Columbus Nebraska today it still smells new inside...but when it's time she'll be gone !
     
  10. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    Large fleets don't purchase.
    They lease.

    And like cars. The lease is 3 years.

    Cheaper payments to lease.
     
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  11. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    The old man used to trade them at about 4 years. Still 1 year warranty left and the costly stuff like brakes, clutch, suspension etc still have another year or 2 left on them.
     
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