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The journey begins - purchased a truck.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by blairandgretchen, Dec 10, 2014.

Page 68 of 622
  1. May 23, 2015 #671
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    13,747
    74,829
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0
    7,000 miles shy of the big 1,000,000 . . . .
     
    blairandgretchen, May 23, 2015
    blairandgretchen, May 23, 2015
    #671
    stwik and Grijon Thank this.
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  3. May 23, 2015 #672
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    13,747
    74,829
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0
    By the way - love the new avatar. I think that's one hell of an achievement right there. I thought I heard KR anecdotally mention it in one of his blurbs the other day , something like "Well, when we've got old 9400 Internationals averaging over 9 pmg . . . . "
     
    blairandgretchen, May 23, 2015
    blairandgretchen, May 23, 2015
    #672
    double yellow Thanks this.
  4. May 23, 2015 #673
    Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

    12,647
    25,589
    Nov 23, 2012
    Yukon, OK
    0
    I can totally relate to what you are going through. I just finished my second week on a flatbed. Yesterday's load was the first time I felt like I wasn't nervous as a cat on a porch full of rocking chairs.
     
    Lepton1, May 23, 2015
    Lepton1, May 23, 2015
    #673
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  5. May 23, 2015 #674
    vikingswen

    vikingswen Road Train Member

    1,436
    1,990
    Jun 14, 2012
    In the Stratosphere
    0
    You guys are killing me with those fuel mileage numbers. I was exited to see 5.3mpg on my last trip going North. My goal is 5.5 to 6.0 on the North bound loads and 7.5 South bound, but for some reason it feels like it is up hill both ways.
     
    vikingswen, May 23, 2015
    vikingswen, May 23, 2015
    #674
    stwik and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  7. May 24, 2015 #675
    Ringo1

    Ringo1 Light Load Member

    89
    131
    Apr 20, 2014
    South Carolina
    0
    I have to chuckle a bit as I remember one guy stating that your fuel economy and rolling resistance gets better heading south as it's all downhill.....
     
    Ringo1, May 24, 2015
    Ringo1, May 24, 2015
    #675
    truckon Thanks this.
  8. May 24, 2015 #676
    Ringo1

    Ringo1 Light Load Member

    89
    131
    Apr 20, 2014
    South Carolina
    0
    Just need to remember one thing Blair, your tune is only as good as the weakest link. Plenty of guys out there with shattered transmissions and rears to testify that turning the screws to the max was a bad idea. When you go to Cummins they will take your CPL, trans torque settings, and rear end ratios to formulate a maximum safe setting that will work for all three components if you so desire.
     
    Ringo1, May 24, 2015
    Ringo1, May 24, 2015
    #676
    Grijon and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  9. Jun 2, 2015 #677
    TruckDuo

    TruckDuo Road Train Member

    6,394
    9,373
    Oct 21, 2012
    Chicago, IL
    0
    Long overdue for an update Sweet Dick
     
    TruckDuo, Jun 2, 2015
    TruckDuo, Jun 2, 2015
    #677
    blairandgretchen and Big_D409 Thank this.
  10. Jun 4, 2015 #678
    spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

    15,471
    25,077
    Mar 31, 2013
    sarasota, fl
    0
    Those shattered rears and tranny are the result of the monkey driving it. You could put a jet engine under the hood, and it won't break anything if you drive it like you have braincell working. it's the guys that think they are on the drag strip that rip out spider gears.
     
    spyder7723, Jun 4, 2015
    spyder7723, Jun 4, 2015
    #678
    spectacle13, rollin coal, truckon and 1 other person Thank this.
  11. Jun 4, 2015 #679
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    13,747
    74,829
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0
    Figures are in for May.

    14,751 miles driven
    $19,705 gross revenue
    $11,105 in expenses (which included $4,244 in maintenance)

    We keep 43.6%.

    Missing from the month, because of the lag in processed paperwork , is about $8500 in revenue for which I drove the miles, but not yet been paid - which would put the all miles at right around $1.80/mile. This will smooth out going forward - June has 5 pay periods in it, which will make it seem an unusually profitable month.

    Some of the maintenance costs . . .

    Bulk oil $800
    Exhaust repair $120
    Tire repair $40
    New starter and air dryer $900
    Ran o/head, install inverter, bypass $800
    Bypass unit $800
    Stock up on filters $300

    The truck hid in the shop for the DOT blitz - and I started the month with a $2200 bill. This time . . .

    Change out fluids in both rears and gearbox. Replace shocks (rear). Rebuild front left brake, replace ABS module (leaking) - these 2 items were picked up on the 120 day LS inspection. Swap out seats, bypass city horn to repair. Replace all belts. Some other stuff, I forget.

    That pretty much wiped out the maintenance fund. However, I'm attempting to repair/replace items that would potentially leave me on the side of the road later on, and keep a 'maintained unit' on the road. About half of the items I could be doing myself - instead I went to the house - Sunday evening till today, mowed lawns, gardened, drank beer, cooked . . . without the truck in the driveway.

    So yes - I'm seeing the obvious benefit of a glider kit, and it was our choice to go with an old truck, and it's my choice not to simply run it till it falls apart - we just weren't in a position, or had the confidence, to start up with high truck payments off the starting plate. We'll see how it averages out at the years end.

    Looking for something going back to KY today/tomorrow - next round starts on Saturday, early AM.
     
    blairandgretchen, Jun 4, 2015
    blairandgretchen, Jun 4, 2015
    #679
    Grijon, icsheeple, tsavory and 4 others Thank this.
  12. Jun 4, 2015 #680
    double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

    5,946
    10,066
    Aug 28, 2011
    State of Jefferson
    0
    I'm making the same gamble for the same reasons. Currently getting 6 new injectors/cups & a wiring harness. Few weeks back it was a new radiator, steering gearbox, & hoses. The month before it was new brakes & resealing the transmission & differentials.

    If that trend continues I would have been better off with a $2500/month new truck payment, but I'm betting things settle down. Like you, I'll see at the end of the year...
     
    double yellow, Jun 4, 2015
    double yellow, Jun 4, 2015
    #680
    spectacle13, Grijon, icsheeple and 4 others Thank this.
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