Work fulltime weekends. Drive Mon-Thurs?

http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/365-511-cvsa-first-three-consecutive-19947911

 

Brand doesn't matter as much as what's under the hood. Some engines are great, some are junk. You can run 800,000 miles or more with no major problems. My truck is 10 years old, has 949,000 miles on it, and has had the water pump and the a/c compressor replaced. That's it. You figure on most engines 700-800,000 miles is time for an overhaul and mine does need one but it's still going for now.

I wouldn't buy a new truck. It's just not worth it. It will depreciate as soon as you drive it off the lot, it could have all kinds of problems and never run right as no two trucks will be the same, even though they come off the same assembly line. It makes no sense to me to pay $80,000 to $120,000 for a brand new truck when you can pick up a nice used one (that already broken in) for $20-30,000 or less.

If and when I do own my own truck, I'd put back every dime I could spare towards repairs. You just don't know when something will happen and you if you can't afford to fix it, you're screwed.

 

someone correct me if i'm wrong but isn't the price of trucks these days upwards of $200,000 these days?

and if you buy a 07 or newer model. you'll be lucky to get past that 100,000 mile mark without any breakdowns. i think 07 and 08 and possibly 09 models are the worst years to buy.

i've worked for 2 different companies. the first one bought a 07 pete and the mileage on that was under 3 mpg. the other company had a sterling that only held 100 gallons. he was done after 8 hours cuz he had to fill up at that point. while the 00 pete i drove would get me through the entire day on only 60 gallons of fuel.

 

You're wrong

 

WOW, A normal road tractor can be bought for way less than upwards of $200,000.

If you are driving a truck that is getting under 3mpg you have a problem.

 

Been about a year since I last shopped trucks, However, I talked with Fyda in Columbus about ordering a pretty loaded up 2011 Cascadia raised roof model with special order paint, nice interior package, DD15 Detroit, Fuller 13 spd, ten 22.5" aluminum wheels, stereo, tv, as well as many other special things and price was at $144,000 before negotiating price down. When all was said and done, BEFORE TAX (YiKeS!!, taxes) I got Fyda to $120,000. They had a black 2010 Cascadia raised roof with less than 100 miles on the clicker they said they would set up with all the same stuff for $118,000 AFTER TAXES. Even offered to paint, though no cost was discussed for paint.

Not sure what kind of tractor you have been looking at for $200k... Maybe ordering a loaded up Peterbilt 389 with an apartment sleeper; however, moving companies are about all you can lease onto if the need be.

 

That $120,000 + taxes was for a pretty loaded up truck with A LOT of custom interior stuff. Custom upholstery work, lighting system, speakers, tv with a surround sound system set up, APU, etc. That was just some of the items inside. Outside would have some fancy things as well like: lots of work lights on back, high and low, full skirts, spot lights, etc.

Have to compensate for getting older with lots of extra light at night so I can see.. lol

 

See, now you're spec'ing interior stuff....I couldn't care less about interiors.

Engine, transmission, rear gears, tires, steer axle rating, drive tandem rating, wheelbase, suspension type and rating, frame rail thickness, 5th wheel type and rating, locking diffs vs. open diffs.......THOSE are what's going to make/break the truck for me. I couldn't care less about the stereo, because I can change that if I feel the need or add whatever speakers wherever I want them. I can put a different seat in the truck if I'm not happy with the one that came with it. Interior stuff is usually easy enough to swap out on your own to customize the truck to your liking. The basic drive train and suspension, on the other hand, IS the truck.

Give me a solid truck with a drive train and suspension built to my specifications, and the interior could have a milk crate bolted to a bare metal floor to sit on for all I care...

 

I spec'd all drive line stuff as well... but felt the "Special fitments" required mentioning as I was letting those reading my post know that the price I listed included those items that most drivers would not care about (as you mentioned). Those special fitments cost about $2200 in all.

Incidentally, why is it that the standard interior lighting makes it so darn hard to see in storage compartments? I always have to use a flash light to find anything in them at night; the reason for my lighting options.