Which Freightliner should I buy?

I had a freightliner almost exactly like your avatar pic, had a red top cummins, flat top, 300++ wheelbase, 18 speed and ran like the wind!!!
Cab over trucks can be decked out and look really nice, that said they can be a little uncomfortable living in for long periods of time and not to mention should you crash, you will be the first on the scene

of the other choices, I think he Coronado is the dressed up version of them all

Nothing like the BJ and the bear K100 aerodyne though

 

that's exactly what I had, 2001 and owner spec'd, I loved the truck, just wanted to be able to stand up and also wanted a newer ride
if you have some time, research, research, and then research some more... the answer will come to you

 

When you are ready, either really know what you are looking for or get it checked out, pay the $$ now and it will save you down the road
I sold a 379 Pete to a guy from AR, he came down and was actually tasting all the fluids, so I asked him to taste my other trucks!!

 

Dude,
I would not worry about who makes the truck, that is a brand preference. What matters is the specs of the truck and what it is used for. Most trucks use one of three engines, a whole host of trans and pretty much the same front and rear axles so the rest of it is the cab/sleeper and chassis. Anyone can service the engine and trans, I have macks, I have taken them to freightliner dealers, Volvo dealers and a Kenworth dealer for work on them so it really doesn't matter who has the bigger dealer network. I have two favorite dealers who know me and my trucks, but if you do OTR or something like that, then it is hard to find and use a good dealer.

There is a system of checks to go through when you buy a used truck. Dyno, OA, ECM dump and so on. If you are smart, you would take your time, spend the $300 to have those things done when you find a couple trucks and use your head because a truck is a tool and it is more important to have a good tool than a crappy one everyone tells you to buy.

 

when it comes to trucks and even engines everyone has a preference, dont get set on a detroit, a cummins can be the right choice for you as well. Also one person might say a KW is much better for some reasons while someone else might say its crap and you want a freight or someone might say get a volvo....

my advice become a company driver for awhile, drive various trucks and get an idea what you like. I have driven a volvo, a couple internationals and a couple freights so far, I have not driven a KW yet but with my dedicated route I go to some tight stores and might not want to have a KW for them...out of the ones I have driven I have come to like the freightliner for all around comfort and turn radius, as for power it seems to have a little less get up and go going up hills with a heavy load compared to the prostar I had but other than that I prefer the truck. I do prefer a 13 speed but only driven one of them, been 9 speeds since.

The biggest tip though is to get some experience before you buy a truck, you state you have driven trucks and on a farm but once you do it for a living and go OTR you might decide you hate doing it....not saying you will but this industry has a high turn over rate and most drivers do not even make it to a year before they give up, get a couple years under your belt and a couple winters then decide your next path in business. It is a huge awakening choosing this career and then actually doing it. I still go back and forth about owning a truck right, as a company driver you can still make as much or more than some o/o's if done right especially compared to the o/o's who dont know what the hell they are doing but wanted their own truck without being ready. Its a business not a job.