When buying a used W900 what year of truck would you prefer and what mileage?

Anything PRE-2003 is best. This was before the emissions came into effect so it should have a pre-EGR motor in it. As far as mileage, there are thousands of things to consider. I personally don't put much thought into the mileage at first, I check the exterior of the truck for damage, repairs and how well it has been maintained. Then the interior is next, you want it clean and odor free. If the exterior or interior is trashed, holes in seats, smells, dents or damage then the previous owner/driver obviously did not care for it very well and I would move on.

Next comes the maintance records, which are VERY VERY important!!! the truck can have 350k miles and no records, or 750k miles and ALL records....I'd take the higher mileage truck over the lower one becuase you have no idea when anything was repaired or replaced or the maintance intervals.

Lastly, any truck with a recent overhaul is moved ot the top of the list (if all the other conditions above are met) and if it has a factory warranty for the rebuild (CAT, Cummins, Detroit) then i would look even harder at buying it.......

But all of this also depends on PRICE and LOCATION!!!

 

I agree with SHC, don't go into buying a truck the same as buying a used car, mileage isn't such a major factor, it's paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. Show me the history!

 

That part is very important. Some guys roll in bearings and call it an overhaul. We bought a truck with a C12 that had been "overhauled" except the cam was flaking and needed replaced. I would almost rather buy a truck knowing the motor needed overhauled rather than one that had already been done. "overhauled" right before being sold is scary. Again paperwork is very important.

 

Anytime you are looking to buy a truck that the motor has been overhauled ask to see the paperwork from the ovehaul. It will show exactly what was done. If they say they don't have the paperwork, walk away. Then its was not a true overhaul. A friend of mine calls those rattle can overhauls.