what first truck makes more sense??

1) What are you planning to haul

2) Where are you planning to haul

Both factors in what Low $ tractor will be a good starter truck.

 

Very good point from flatbed the truck needs to be good for your plans. A flattop with a dry van is just as stupid as a condo with a flatbed also if you are running vans, reefers, or containers and get an 18 speed its just over kill. A sleeper as a log truck just screams bad idea. There's a lot more but the point is plan your truck for what you are going to haul. Other than that with the older trucks be sure to have a good third party mechanic check it out, and unless there is paperwork it wasn't done. Trust me when I say that just about any older truck will need repairs try to find one that is good mechanically and tolerable on cosmetics and interior. Also pay attention to where the truck was run. If it come from the mountains look closely at the drivetrain if it came from the south keep an eye on the cooling system the north has issues with rust in bad places because of the salt. I know my truck came from Michigan and the radiator is nearly rotted out of it because of the salt. If something is wrong get the price to repair from the dealer so you know the absolute worst scenario.

 

Why do you think a Condo with flatbed is STUPID. Not all flatbed loads are 4' high

 

I hope you are talking about having $10,000 - $15,000 and you are going to use part of it for a down payment, expenses and operating capital.

I only look at older trucks with fairly fresh in-frame overhauls, new virgin rubber and nearly new brakes and drums. I'd much rather have an older truck, with an overhaul by a reputable name-brand shop, than a newer truck with 500,000 - 700,000 miles.

If you are talking about paying $10,000 - $15,000 cash for a truck, I don't have any advice since I wouldn't consider a truck in that price range for OTR. That doesn't mean that it can't be done, I'm just not a gambler. You will find it nearly impossible to finance old trucks.

If you spend all your money on an older truck, you are betting on no major break down before you can accumulate an escrow for repair. At 0.15 CPM going to escrow it would take at least three or four months to have any level of comfort. I guess if it's paid of you could double your escrow amount.

To me it has little to do with truck or engine brand. It has more to do with the quality of equipment and the potential fuel mileage.

 

"the potential fuel mileage". Which has a lot to do with the truck and engine brand.

 

So what does that make your brand choice for fuel mileage for a van? For a flatbed?

 

At least you don't have the "new big and shiny truck" fever that many have. Some have to have the best truck to start out with. Grave mistake.

Although the truck and trailer are your largest purchases, they're just a piece of the overhead pie. Don't forget that.

My first truck wasn't anything special, but it was MINE. I paid under 10k for it and it had almost a million miles on it. Oil analysis came out very good and the truck checked out OK. My goal was to drive it and save for a nicer, replacement truck. I was hoping to get a year out of the 'ol girl. Not quite, but it worked for me.

 

why is a sleeper on a log truck a bad idea? they`ve come in pretty handy for me in the past.

 

why is a sleeper on a log truck a bad idea? Comes in handy to haul the chainsaw's

Seriously I do see a lot of KW log haulers with the mini sleeper on T800's , get held at the mill driver has a place to get some ZZZZ's