Picking up a Freightliner.

That sounds like a decent setup. The accerts can be worked on a little to help with the mileage. The only thing i would be concerned with is i don't think you will be able to take a pre 08 truck into cali after 2012 without a DPF retrofit.

 

That's pretty big money for an '06 FL IMHO. The outfit I used to lease to bought some '06 two years ago for $24K nicely equipped but with C13's. You should be able to find a comparable truck for around 20K right now... screw the warranty... buy a good truck and the warranty is meaningless.

There are too many inexpensive trucks for sale right now to pay full dealer retail for any truck.

A W900 is twice the truck that Century is... much more trouble free with a better suspension and stronger cab. Those Century's are basically beer cans with ten wheels. The FL is lighter as a rule (though not always) but the KW will probably cost you less per mile in maintenance.

IMHO Freightliner dealers have the poorest parts/service deptartments in the industry... that's the biggest reason I sold my FLD... I just got fed up with them.

Fuel economy? That's pretty much up to you... put your hoof in it and any truck will eat you out of house and home. My 379 with a 3406E has a lifetime fuel economy of 6.33... granted about 400K was when I pulled a flatbed, but many of my loads were wide, high or heavy.

Maybe some guys think the only reason to buy a Pete/KW is looks but there's a lot more to it that that. Here's what you SHOULD be paying for a truck... and don't forget this guy is still making a profit... www.baskintrucksales.com .

 

The Series 60 will have better fuel mileage and lower repair costs. I am not a fan of the 10 speeds, living in B.C. In our area you could buy Pete's at auctions with Cat's real cheap new, that was a year ago, I have not been to any auctions for a while but buying a Pete 379, with a Cat, you are trying to look good. Buy the Freightlinner with the Detroit and you will make money.
Ask for the maintenance and repair records and a full computer printout, be sure you have any passwords the engine has in it, and do not believe them have them go in and change a paramater, while you watch.

 

Wow, guess I should tell everyone I know with trucks like that. Seems we've only been making it by accident all these years.

Biggest BS line anyone ever preaches. News flash: If you can only make money by buying a cheap cookie cutter ex-fleet truck....your hauling the wrong freight! PEROID! And by wrong freight I mean CHEAP freight. Again it's not what you drive, it's how you drive.

 

I like the Series 60 engine a lot... but the new ones just seem way too complex to work on for an O/O...

I don't think odometer miles is very important... the way it's been maintained and driven is of more importance to me. I wouldn't buy ANY truck without seeing a recent dyno report on the engine. Get the engine serial # and call the local engine dealer and get it's history. Would you rather have a 900,000 mile engine with a fresh in-frame or a 500,000 mile truck that MAY have an engine problem?

I'd sooner buy a million mile truck that was team driven with little idle time than a low miler with 60% idle time.... you DO have a ECM printout from this truck, don't you?

If you save $10,000 on the purchase price your payments will be lower and you can salt away the difference in a savings account to use when you need it. In my opinion most of the guys who are concerned about high miles on a used truck are usually company drivers used to getting new equipment every 24 months, first time truck buyers or drivers with little mechanical knowledge.

You should be able to get 2,000,000 miles out of any truck you buy with good maintenance and driving habits.

 

i would definately go with the detroit--the older the better--but that is just me--most of my expirience has been with detoit
and mileage is money--thee more fuel mileage you get--the more in your pocket--its up to you want you want for looks/aerodynamics
--if in doubt--look at everything else in the world
ever see a square bird flying?
ever see a flat nose fish?
not many boxy aircraft
but if top money isnt an option--by all means go for a long nose--they look better/ride better and have better resale and more room to work them

 

buy the cat and go talk to PDI