Buying a new truck

Just a thought. My last boss bought a Volvo. It was a 400 something I forget. Volvo wouldn't turn it up to 500 hp because it fell out of the operating range. Something you might want to check. He traded it back after 3 months. His trucks of choice like the one below was Pete 18 speed, Cats, ungoverned in the 90 year range and it was the first Volvo he ever bought and the last one. Not that it wasn't a good truck but for some reason he believed all trucks should be 500 horses.

 

Hi TNMT, I agree, I wouldn't drive a truck nowadays unless it had at least 500hp. And I come from a time when 238 Detroits, 237 Macks, 270 Cats, 290 Cummins ( or if you were really lucky, a shiny 290) and 350 was a big motor. I had bosses that equipped their trucks with small motors and then complained "what is taking you so long"? I'd tell them, HELLO, we're going 35 mph up the hills, give us some power, and we'll cut the time in half. Their response was, " It's been our experience, you give a driver a big motor, and they will get more speeding tickets". Very frustrating, and I wouldn't work for someone again with that mindset.

 

im going to get new bullgears change the tires and put aftermarket detriot parts on the engine and im going to turn up the torque and hp. Why not look around for a truck that's already setup that way in the first place ?

i wouldnt need 500 hp unless im pulling produce Gee I have better get a bunch of new trucks as they are slightly under 500 HP and pull produce loads

 

You are set on leasing to Landstar, how do you know they will take you? They only hire about 3 or 4 out of every 100 that apply, better have a back up plan before you buy the truck. The bank will probably want proof or where you are going to work the truck before they close the loan. If you plan on pulling a step you will need securement equipment, maybe 1 to 2 grand.

 

Ha make sure when you purchaces the truck you inspect it from the front to the back and top to bottom and i got a good deal on my first coronado it was a detriot 515 in it and 13 speed and had only 275k on it for 65,000 was good but if you shall want to spec the truck go to freightliner and tell them to build you onr how you want it

 

i pull flatbed and i stopped now i pull reefers but i tried to give my tarps and straps away and i have a headache rack that i also wanted to give away but if someone greatly in need who cant afford them needs them ill give it to them

 

I need to be honest.

I think some of the other guys are feeling the same and dont want to come out and say it so I will. You say you have 9 yrs trucking experience, but after reading some of your comments, I'm of the opinion that your a bit confused,.. or full of BS.

Either way, I will leave you with my personal advise and what I feel is honest professional encouragement.

Pictured below is my truck.







Not the prettiest. Not the most powerful, nor the most fuel efficient. It was cheap, its paid for, its reliable and it does what I need it to do. I dont care what other people think of me while I go down the road. They dont pay my bills. Its my truck, I do what I want and only answer to myself. I have plenty of toys at home to ride around and look good in.

.

2005 Freightliner Columbia.
3.55 Gear ratio
22.5 wheels
Pre DPF CAT C15 @ 435hp
10 spd
1.2 million miles
5.5 - 5.8 over all MPG.


Best advice I can pass along, I feel is that what ever you think your budget and expenses need to be,.. you can pretty much double or even triple what ever numbers you originally came up with. Learn patience. Never rush into anything. Cash is king. Never finance anything if you can pay cash. Never deplete more cash than you can recover quickly. Never finance with out the immediate means to repay that debt. Above all else,.. have a sound plan laid out with some kind of goal to reach.

Hurst

 

I'll take those tarps!!

I'm all about goodwill to man kind and have no issues taking charity,..

But seriously,.. if someone else starting out needs them I can pass them along. My lumber tarp is in sad shape. Been so busy with my current upgrades I forgot to order new tarps. Heading back out this week, no time to order.

Hurst

 

Haha Hurst I might switch to landstar stepdeck division My grandfather pull for like a year with them but i hope my application gets approved. I think that Hardrunner is saying that he has 13k for stepbacks and he wants the coronado and he will put aftermarket parts on it but why wont he just buy one with like 300-400k miles on it