Trucks, keep modernizing with the technology? Or keep rebuilding?

Well I am the rebuild kind of guy .
I will keep my 97 E model cat and rebuild the whole truck until I am forced to upgrade.
I can do a whole lot of stuff to the old girl for 2400 a month truck payment that allot of guys seem to have nowadays.

I can also take a whole lot more time with the family for 2400 less in bills a month .

The freight don't care how old your truck is just as long as gets to where its going.
The rates are darned sure not tied to the age of the truck !!!
If they ever do pay more for new then I might think about it for a little bit but it will have be a whole lot more !!!

 

Personally? Give me something older. But your hand will be forced eventually. If not by attrition and parts drying up, then by the politicians. CARB will either go away or spread out beyond the state boundaries, and I certainly don't see it going away. That's why we're dealing with DEF, DPF, SCR, and this crappy Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel in 50 states, rather than just in that one.

 

My truck is a 1987 model.......Ive owned it since 91'

Their is no way..NO way, I could ever buy a new truck....Overpriced...Rates DO NOT reflect owning a new truck.

Guys that want a New truck......best off paying for it in cash.....And is it smart? Not really..150,000 bucks can send 2 kids thru colllege..Pay off a mortgage..Or be a good retirement.

Just not feasable to me.

 

Kinda depends on your business plan and how soon/if other states start following Cali.

Is running Cali a remote possibility in your near future plans?

What do you perceive the possibilities of a nearby state adopting CARB standards and not allowing an older truck in?

keep in mind older DPF non DEF trucks (2008 to 2010) are fine for a while in Cali


If I were not from Cali, I would opt for an older lower cost well maintained pre-emissions truck to get started. Then upgrade/trade up as I could.

I would also look at it as: I can either make payments to a parts guy, mechanic, and breakdown/upgrade account or to the bank.

 

I was dumb , I upgraded in 08. I knew it was the first year bla bla bla. But they said they had tested and run these systems in other far off countries . None of it was true.

If I had a good truck pre 07 , I'd rebuild top to bottom all at one time. If not I'd glider it.


I've lived the $2400 a month new truck emissions nightmare . Never again....

 

I bought one brand new truck years ago. 1984 COE KW.
I will not do that again.Learned a lesson. And with these new model trucks giving so much trouble, I am not looking to buy anything newer than about 2003, and I could buy whatever I wanted ,money-wise.
The rates are just not there to pay for these fancy, sophisticated electronic machines, and getting them repaired can be nightmare.
My current ride, a 2001 F/Liner, I bought 7 years ago, and it has been a very good, dependable truck.I can get it repaired anywhere, and has made me money.
No way would I purchase a new headache.