Moving to New state to truck out of. Which is best?

Hey everyone. Brand new to the forum. I'm looking to move out of California and buy a truck to start my dream job, but i want to choose the state that best suits my wants and needs. I'm 28, and I've been driving a super-10 dump truck for 7 years. I have owned my own truck, but I'm currently driving for someone else.

Before I catch judgement for being from California I just want to reassure anyone from potential states that I'm not looking to "pollute" your state with "my" cali ways. I'm sick of everything California stands for, and with my choice of states being Arizona, Nevada, or Texas I think you will understand where I sit on the line from right to left if you know what I'm saying. Haha!

Some of my backstory...
I've dreamt of driving a truck ever since I understood what they were. I would be riding in my car seat when I was 3-4 years old telling my mom what kind of trucks we were passing and what kind of trailer they were pulling. "Thats a kenworth with a spread axle" was apparently one that stood out to a friend of my fathers who didn't even know what kind of trailer that was. I've ridden in trucks probably before I legally should have with my dad, I think the first time I got behind the wheel I was around 10 years old. (Off road, in a field, low gear lol) starting working on them around 16 with my father who owned bottom dumps and super 10s but also had a mobile diesel repair business. I bought my own truck when I was 21 and we swapped a 2009 series 60 with dpf into my 91 FLD 120 to be C.A.R.B. compliant. But that's where things went downhill. Dpf's, Def, is a load of cow pies and I want a state that isn't afraid of the "terrible, evil" black goodness from the 8 inch, 13' 6" flat top straight stacks every now and again. Carb compliant trucks are out of my budget, and also not what I want. Yes. If you can put 2 and 2 together, I want to run low, tall, and long with a real truck. A real engine. A real transmission. I'm not about these big aero cabs that are comfortable to drink your kambucha while some girl named "Alison" manages what gear your truck is in.

So. To get to the point. Which out of the 3 states I listed above will-
1. Let me have a straight exhaust (no dpf or def)
2. Let me build my truck to look how I want, low air ride front axle 290-320 wheelbase, Drop visor etc.
3. Not be D.o.t. nightmare like CA
4. Has good loads
5. Will let me park my truck on my own property

I'm looking to build a 379 long hood, preferably a 14l series 60, 18 speed, flat top sleeper, 8 inch stacks from the ground to the sky, pulling a flat bed, spread axle, curtain side or landall trailers. (Picture at bottom for reference of my buddies truck who recently escaped cali->texas.)

Thank you for your time reading and your expertise if you're from a state on my list.

Let's keep old-school trucking alive

-Chandler

 

I'm looking mostly at older trucks, 1 I found in the arizona that is perfect for me was $35k for just the tractor, found a flatbed in great shape for $17k. I'm trying to start the business spending under $70k but can go as high as $90k if needed.

 

Thanks so much for all the thoughts!

The only one to worry about it property taxes but compared to California it's way better!

Trust me, ill have a tall shifter. I just know there's mixed emotions about those and I'm already being judged for what I like so I may have left that out on purpose... haha